Ian Gillan
Roles
Ian Gillan is an English vocalist and songwriter. He is mainly known as the lead singer and lyricist for the group Deep Purple, an English rock band formed in 1968. Gillan joined the group in 1969, and impressively recorded six albums in four years. After leaving the band in 1973 and taking a short break from the music industry, he resumed his career as a solo artist, and later as the vocalist for the group Black Sabbath, for a year-long stint. He rejoined the restructured Deep Purple in 1984 for 5 years, and later in 1992 for their 25th anniversary. He contributed to making the group into a regular touring outfit, which he has been the lead man of ever since. Aside from his musical work performing with various groups and a solo artist, Ian Gillan also sang the role of Jesus in “Jesus Chirst Superstar”, a rock opera which was a hit on Broadway and across the world. He also performed in the charity supergroup Rock Aid Armenia, and has been involved in various projects as an investor, such as a hotel, music recording facilities, and more.
Education
He started attending to Hounslow College at the age of 4, and stayed there through his early teenage years. Like many others, he was influenced by Elvis Presley by hearing his records at home and at the local youth club. He switched to go to Acton County Grammar School later, but became distracted from studies after leaving the local cinema having watched a Presley film, deciding that he wanted to be a rock'n'roll singer. He subsequently took a job manufacturing ice machines in Hounslow before rising to fame.
Special Achievements
To contribute to the relief effort, Ian led a constellation of British rock stars in a cover recording of Deep Purple's hit, "Smoke on the Water" to help Armenian's after the earthquake in 1988. The recording was a great success, raising both funds and awareness for the plight of Armenia. In 1990, Ian Gillan took his personal efforts a step further, when he announced that he would give four concerts in Yerevan. At that time, though Armenia was moving steadily towards independence, it was still a part of the Soviet Union—where official opinion held rock music to be a dubious and unwelcome Western extravagance. Nevertheless, the concerts went forward at the Sports and Concert Complex in Armenia's capital city, and Armenian fans reveled in the music even as they saw that surrounding realities were changing. By the order of Armenia's president, Ian Gillan was awarded the country's "Medal of Honor". Ian has been named as the 2014 "Friend of the Armenians" by 112th Diocesan Assembly in New York City in recognition of his commitment to the rebuilding of 'The Octet Music School of Gyumri'. He also deals with the issue of the poaching of endangered species.
