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Gillan | |
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Background information | |
Origin | London, England |
Genres | |
Years active | 1978–1982 |
Labels | Virgin, RSO, Acrobat, Edsel, Angel Air |
Past members | Ian Gillan John McCoy Colin Towns Steve Byrd Liam Genockey Pete Barnacle Mick Underwood Bernie Tormé Janick Gers |
Gillan was an English rock band formed in 1978 by Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan. Gillan was one of the hard rock bands to make a significant impact and commercial success in the United Kingdom during the early 1980s, with five silver albums. They sold over 10 million LPs worldwide.
In July 1978 Ian Gillan had become dissatisfied with the jazz fusion style of his band Ian Gillan Band and dissolved it, retaining only keyboard player Colin Towns, and formed this new band entitled Gillan. He added Steve Byrd on guitar, Liam Genockey on drums and John McCoy on bass, and initially pursued a progressive rock direction, releasing their eponymous debut in September 1978, although they could get a record deal only in Japan, Australia and New Zealand. This recording has subsequently become more widely available as The Japanese Album as a CD re-issue by RPM Records in 1994. However, the RPM CD issue replaces the original opening instrumental "Second Sight" with another instrumental, "Street Theatre". Genocky was unable to commit to the band beyond the recording of the album and the band's live debut at the Reading Festival in 1978. He was replaced for the subsequent tour by Pete Barnacle.
At Christmas 1978, Ian Gillan turned down an offer from Ritchie Blackmore to join Rainbow, [1] but Blackmore did make a guest appearance for Gillan at their Christmas show. It was the first time Ian Gillan and Blackmore had performed together since 1973.
The album was sufficiently successful to attract more attention and in 1979 the band secured a European deal with Acrobat Records. Before a new album was recorded, Byrd was replaced by Bernie Tormé and Barnacle by drummer Mick Underwood, Ian Gillan's former colleague in Episode Six. Torme's "screaming guitar" sound fundamentally altered the dynamics and Gillan took a more heavy metal direction. This line-up's first album was released as Mr. Universe and contained many re-worked songs from The Japanese Album. The album went straight into the UK album charts but stalled as Acrobat Records went bankrupt. This led to a multi-album deal with Virgin Records.
Meanwhile, in Japan, Australia and New Zealand a version of Mr. Universe was released with a different track selection to avoid repeating the Gillan tracks used on the Mr. Universe album. Several of the alternative tracks are included on the Japanese Album release.
The band caught the rise of the NWOBHM at just the right time and the group gained popularity in Europe.
In 1980 Gillan reached the peak of their success, releasing the album Glory Road , with initial copies containing the free album For Gillan Fans Only. However, the band remained unknown in North America and were unable to raise any interest there despite a long and difficult 1980 US tour.
By 1981 the band members had become disgruntled that their European and Japanese success was not translating into increased financial rewards,[ citation needed ] and after the Future Shock album, whilst on tour in Germany, Torme left just before the band were due to fly back to the UK to appear on Top of the Pops .
Tormé was replaced by White Spirit guitarist Janick Gers (who would later join Iron Maiden) and this line-up released the live/studio double album Double Trouble at the end of 1981. In August 1982, the final album Magic followed. By this time, tension over money had reached fever pitch and Ian Gillan needed time to have surgery as a result of damage to his vocal cords. After the Magic tour, the band performed a final show at the Wembley Arena on 17 December, and then Ian Gillan dissolved the group while he underwent surgery. He then accepted an offer to front Black Sabbath to the incredulity of the Gillan band members, particularly McCoy, and the acrimony remains to the present day. [2]
McCoy subsequently released compilations of studio out-takes to which he had the rights, known as The Gillan Tapes . Bernie Tormé and John McCoy collaborated on the GMT band project, releasing two albums in 2006 and 2009. Tormé passed away in 2019, [3] Underwood in 2024. [4]
Year | Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales thresholds) | |||||||
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UK [5] | AUS [6] | SWE [7] | |||||||||
1978 | Gillan (aka The Japanese Album) | Date: September 1978 Label: East World | — | — | — | ||||||
1979 | Mr. Universe | Date: October 1979 Label: Acrobat | 11 | — | — | ||||||
1980 | Glory Road | Date: August 1980 Label: Virgin | 3 | — | — | ||||||
1981 | Future Shock | Date: April 1981 Label: Virgin | 2 | 64 | 45 |
| |||||
Double Trouble | Date: October 1981 Label: Virgin | 12 | — | — | |||||||
1982 | Magic | Date: September 1982 Label: Virgin | 17 | — | — | ||||||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart. |
Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [5] | ||||||||||
1979 | "Vengeance" | — | Mr. Universe | |||||||
1980 | "Sleeping on the Job" | 55 | Glory Road | |||||||
"No Easy Way" | — | |||||||||
"Trouble" | 14 | Non-album single | ||||||||
1981 | "Mutually Assured Destruction" | 32 | ||||||||
"New Orleans" | 17 | Future Shock | ||||||||
"No Laughing in Heaven" | 31 | |||||||||
"Nightmare" | 36 | Double Trouble | ||||||||
1982 | "Restless" | 25 | ||||||||
"Living for the City" | 50 | Magic | ||||||||
"Long Gone" | — | |||||||||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart. |
The Ian Gillan Band were an English progressive jazz-rock band formed by singer Ian Gillan of Deep Purple in 1975. Their sound is a departure from the heavy metal of Deep Purple by featuring a progressive jazz fusion sound, more similar to bands such as Brand X.
Girl were an English glam metal band formed in London in 1979. They split up in 1982 with band members going on to join Def Leppard and L.A. Guns, among others.
Pete Barnacle is an English rock drummer who has played for various bands including Gillan, Girl, Broken Home, Spear of Destiny, Theatre of Hate, Yngwie Malmsteen, Sheer Greed, and Soldiers of Fortune. Barnacle now lives in Japan, teaching English, and occasionally working as a drummer.
White Spirit were an English heavy metal band from Hartlepool, best remembered for guitarist Janick Gers who went on to play with Ian Gillan, Bruce Dickinson, and ultimately, Iron Maiden. Other original members of the band were Bruce Ruff (vocals), Malcolm Pearson (keyboards), Phil Brady (bass) and Graeme Crallan (drums), with a later lineup including Brian Howe (vocals), Mick Tucker (guitars) and Toby Sadler (bass). Pearson and Tucker revived the band between 2022 and 2024.
Gillan's Inn is the fourth solo album by Ian Gillan in celebration of his 40 years as a singer. The first release was a DualDisc composed of both a CD and a DVD side. The CD featured re-recorded tracks from all eras of Ian Gillan's singing career. In a recent interview Gillan observed that, despite the number of participants and guest appearances, this was the easiest project he ever put together.
Ian Gillan is an English singer who is best known as the lead singer and lyricist for the rock band Deep Purple. He is known for his powerful and wide-ranging singing voice.
Glory Road is the third studio album by the British hard rock band Gillan, released on 8 August 1980. The album reached No. 3 in the UK album charts.
Future Shock is the fourth studio album by the British hard rock band Gillan. Released by Virgin in 1981, it reached number 2 in the UK album chart; this would remain the band's highest placing.
Gillan is the debut studio album by British hard rock band Gillan, released in September 1978 only in Japan then later in Australia and New Zealand. Although not released domestically in the UK, the album sold well as an import, aided by positive press reviews. The sleeve notes of the original release credit Liam Genocky as playing drums and percussion, while the 1993 release "Gillan – The Japanese Album" instead credits Pete Barnacle.
Mr. Universe is the second studio album by the British hard rock band Gillan, and the first with the classic line-up with Ian Gillan, Colin Towns, John McCoy, Bernie Tormé and Mick Underwood. Released in October 1979. The album reached No. 11 in the UK Albums Chart, and sold over 2 million copies worldwide.
Double Trouble is the fifth studio album by the British hard rock band Gillan, released in 1981. It was released as a double album, the first disc containing studio material, and the second containing live recordings. It reached No. 12 in the UK charts. It is the first album to feature Janick Gers, Bernie Tormé having left the group during the tour of Germany in 1981. Gers came in for the rest of the tour, his first show being on 25 June 1981.
Bernie Tormé was an Irish rock guitarist, songwriter, record label and recording studio owner. Tormé is best known for his work with Gillan, as well as his brief stint with Ozzy Osbourne replacing Randy Rhoads. He formed the band Desperado with Twisted Sister singer Dee Snider. He also toured with Atomic Rooster.
Guy McCoy Tormé is a British rock band, formed by Robin Guy and former Gillan members John McCoy and Bernie Tormé.
John Matthew McCoy is an English bass guitarist, who is best known for his work with Ian Gillan and Mammoth as well as numerous other bands and sessions since the late 1960s. He also played in British rock trio Guy McCoy Tormé with former Gillan/Ozzy guitarist Bernie Tormé and Bruce Dickinson/Sack Trick drummer Robin Guy. He is also an accomplished guitar, drum, trumpet, cello, and double bass player. Nearly as well known as his music is his appearance: he is always pictured wearing sunglasses, with the striking contrast of bald head and robust chin beard. Along with guitarist Vic Elmes and ZZebra colleague Liam Genockey on drums, McCoy can also be heard playing in the intro and end titles theme of the 1970s cult TV series Space: 1999.
Michael John Underwood was an English drummer. He first played drums at the age of 14 and was a professional musician by the time he left school.
Liam Genockey is an Irish musician, who is the drummer with British folk rock band Steeleye Span.
Live in Anaheim is a double live album from Ian Gillan, recorded live at the House of Blues, Anaheim, California on 14 September 2006 during the Gillan's Inn tour and released in February 2008 by Edel Music. The accompanying DVD of the concert was released in July 2008.
What I Did on My Vacation is an official compilation album from Ian Gillan, released in 1986 in UK by 10 Records. The album covers Gillan's recordings between 1977 and 1982 and was released in three formats. All songs from the album had been previously released. Although not credited on the cover, "Scarabus" is preceded by an instrumental piece by Colin Towns, which was used as the intro to "On The Rocks". The LP version set boasts four more tracks than the CD version.
Live at the Budokan is a live album by the Ian Gillan Band, recorded live on 22 September 1977 in Tokyo, Japan. Originally it was released only in Japan, in March 1978 by EastWorld Records, being Live at the Budokan (EWS-81112) and Live at the Budokan Vol. 2 (EWS81113). Each was a single LP in a gatefold sleeve. Several songs from the set did not make it to the albums, as evidenced by audience tapes.
The Glory Years is a DVD of the rock group Gillan, released in 2008 by Eagle Rock Entertainment. It consists of a live concert recorded at Oxford Polytechnic, England on February 18, 1981 for the BBC series 'Rock Goes to College', and several of the band's guest performances on German TV and BBC's TV chart show Top of the Pops.