Ian Gillan Band
Encyclopedia
The Ian Gillan Band was a jazz-rock fusion
band formed by Deep Purple
singer Ian Gillan
in 1975.
in 1975 prompted him to resume a singing career and form a new band.
Initially called Shand Grenade, Gillan was persuaded to change the band's name to the Ian Gillan Band. He recruited guitarist Ray Fenwick
, bass player John Gustafson
, keyboard
player Mike Moran and Elf
drummer Mark Nauseef
. Using Roger Glover
as producer and session musician, this line-up released their first album Child In Time
in 1976. In that year Moran was replaced by Micky Lee Soule
(ex-Elf
and Rainbow
), but for the recording of follow-up album Clear Air Turbulence
he was dropped in favour of Colin Towns
.
The band had some success in Japan
but none at all in North America
and only cult status in Europe
, their jazz fusion direction unappealing to pop and rock fans alike. Their next album, Scarabus
(1977), had more of a rock sound but retained the jazz fusion direction. Released at the height of punk rock
, there was no success beyond Japan
and their label Island Records
dropped them.
The following year Gillan dissolved the band but retained Colin Towns and formed a new band called simply Gillan
. A live album was released after the breakup.
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
band formed by Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
singer Ian Gillan
Ian Gillan
Ian Gillan is an English rock music vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lyricist for Deep Purple. During his career Gillan also fronted his own band, had a year-long stint as the vocalist for Black Sabbath, and sang the role of Jesus in the original recording of Andrew Lloyd...
in 1975.
History
After leaving Deep Purple in 1973, Ian Gillan had retired from the music business to pursue other business ventures, including a motorbike manufacturing company and a hotel. These ventures all ended in failure. This fact, combined with a warm reception to his guest appearance at the Butterfly BallButterfly Ball
The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast is a concept album and subsequent live rock opera appearing in 1974 and 1975 respectively, based on the children's book of the same title .- Origin and production history :The work was originally conceived as a solo vehicle for Jon Lord to be produced...
in 1975 prompted him to resume a singing career and form a new band.
Initially called Shand Grenade, Gillan was persuaded to change the band's name to the Ian Gillan Band. He recruited guitarist Ray Fenwick
Ray Fenwick
Ray Fenwick is an English guitarist and session musician, best known for replacing Steve Howe in The Syndicats, and as the lead guitarist of Ian Gillan's post Deep Purple solo project, the Ian Gillan Band.-Biography:...
, bass player John Gustafson
John Gustafson (musician)
John "Gus" Gustafson also known as Johnny Gustafson is an influential bass player who has had a thirty eight year recording and live performance career...
, keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
player Mike Moran and Elf
Elf (band)
Elf was a rock band founded in 1967 by the late singer and bassist Ronnie James Dio, keyboardist Doug Thaler, drummer Gary Driscoll, and guitarists Nick Pantas and David Feinstein . The band was originally called The Electric Elves, but was shortened to The Elves and finally Elf in mid-1970...
drummer Mark Nauseef
Mark Nauseef
Mark Nauseef , is a drummer and percussionist who has enjoyed a varied career, ranging from rock music during the 1970s with his time as a member of the Ian Gillan Band and, temporarily, Thin Lizzy, to a wide range of musical styles in more recent times, playing with many notable musicians from all...
. Using Roger Glover
Roger Glover
Roger David Glover is a Welsh bassist, songwriter, and record producer. Glover is best known as the bassist and lyricist for the hard rock band, Deep Purple.-Early career:...
as producer and session musician, this line-up released their first album Child In Time
Child in Time (album)
Child In Time is an album by British jazz-rock fusion band Ian Gillan Band, released in 1976. The album took its title from the Deep Purple song "Child in Time", a version of which appears on side two of the LP. This was Ian Gillan's first release after leaving Deep Purple, and also features his...
in 1976. In that year Moran was replaced by Micky Lee Soule
Micky Lee Soule
Mickey Lee Soule was the keyboard player for New York state hard rock band Elf and a founding member of Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow.Не was born on June 6, 1946 in Cortland, New York. Mickey had a band in the mid-1960s until he was drafted into the army...
(ex-Elf
Elf (band)
Elf was a rock band founded in 1967 by the late singer and bassist Ronnie James Dio, keyboardist Doug Thaler, drummer Gary Driscoll, and guitarists Nick Pantas and David Feinstein . The band was originally called The Electric Elves, but was shortened to The Elves and finally Elf in mid-1970...
and Rainbow
Rainbow (band)
Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
), but for the recording of follow-up album Clear Air Turbulence
Clear Air Turbulence
Clear Air Turbulence is an album by British jazz-rock fusion band Ian Gillan Band, released in 1977 with cover by Chris Foss. The album was reissued in 1989 by Virgin Records on CD.- Track listing :...
he was dropped in favour of Colin Towns
Colin Towns
Colin Towns is an English composer, born 13 May 1948 in London, specialising in soundtracks for film, television and commercials. Learning piano as a child, by the age of 13 he was earning money playing at weddings and birthdays in his neighbourhood of the East End of London...
.
The band had some success in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
but none at all in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and only cult status in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, their jazz fusion direction unappealing to pop and rock fans alike. Their next album, Scarabus
Scarabus
Scarabus is an album by British jazz-rock fusion band Ian Gillan Band, released in 1977. The album was reissued in 1989 by Virgin Records on CD. The reissue included an extra track, "My Baby Loves Me"...
(1977), had more of a rock sound but retained the jazz fusion direction. Released at the height of punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, there was no success beyond Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and their label Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
dropped them.
The following year Gillan dissolved the band but retained Colin Towns and formed a new band called simply Gillan
Gillan
Gillan was a rock band formed in 1978 by Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan.-History:In 1978 Ian Gillan had become dissatisfied with the jazz fusion style of his band called the Ian Gillan Band and dissolved it, retaining only keyboard player Colin Towns, and formed a new band entitled Gillan...
. A live album was released after the breakup.
Albums
- Child In TimeChild in Time (album)Child In Time is an album by British jazz-rock fusion band Ian Gillan Band, released in 1976. The album took its title from the Deep Purple song "Child in Time", a version of which appears on side two of the LP. This was Ian Gillan's first release after leaving Deep Purple, and also features his...
(1976) - Clear Air TurbulenceClear Air TurbulenceClear Air Turbulence is an album by British jazz-rock fusion band Ian Gillan Band, released in 1977 with cover by Chris Foss. The album was reissued in 1989 by Virgin Records on CD.- Track listing :...
(1977) - ScarabusScarabusScarabus is an album by British jazz-rock fusion band Ian Gillan Band, released in 1977. The album was reissued in 1989 by Virgin Records on CD. The reissue included an extra track, "My Baby Loves Me"...
(1977) - Live at the BudokanLive at the Budokan (Ian Gillan Band album)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 in two volumes in Japan in late 1977 and early 1978 by EastWorld Records. In July 1983 it was re-issued as a double album in the UK by Virgin Records. CD...
(Vols. 1-2, 1977–1978)
CDs
- Live: Yubin Chokin Hall, Hiroshima (2001)
- Live at the Rainbow 1977 (2002)
- Live at the Budokan (contained Vols 1 & 2) (2007)
Compilations
- Anthology, CD (2002)
- Poor Boy Hero, CD (2003)
- Rarities 1975-1977, CD (2003)
- Smoke on the Water, CD, mix of IGB & Gillan (2007)
DVDs
- Live at the Rainbow 1977, contains Concert 33 mins & Rarities 23 mins (2003)
- Live at the Rainbow 1977, concert only (2006)