Ian Gillan (born 19 August 1945 in Hounslow, London), is an English rock music vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lyricist for Deep Purple. During his career Gillan had a year-long stint as the vocalist for Black Sabbath and sang the role of Jesus Christ in the original concept recording of Andrew Lloyd Webber's rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar.
Gillan's father was a storekeeper at a factory in London. He grew up moving b...
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Ian Gillan (born 19 August 1945 in Hounslow, London), is an English rock music vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lyricist for Deep Purple. During his career Gillan had a year-long stint as the vocalist for Black Sabbath and sang the role of Jesus Christ in the original concept recording of Andrew Lloyd Webber's rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar.
Gillan's father was a storekeeper at a factory in London. He grew up moving between council flats before settling in a three-bedroom semi-detached on a council estate in Cranford, Hounslow.
Between 1962 and 1964 Gillan was in a band called The Javelins. He then joined Wainwright's Gentlemen until 1965. Between 1965 and '69, when he joined Deep Purple, he achieved minor success with Episode Six.
After Deep Purple members Jon Lord and Ritchie Blackmore saw one of his lead vocal performances with Episode Six, they approached him to replace Rod Evans in Deep Purple.
Gillan was a member of Deep Purple from 1969 through to...
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