Take Five: Great Performances by Ian Gillan

Ian Gillan is one of hard rock’s most celebrated vocalists. He’s best known for his work with Deep Purple; his vocal on the hit “Smoke on the Water” is among the many highlights of his time with that group. But Gillan – who celebrated his 80^th birthday August 19 – has many other credits of note. Here are five stellar turns from the hard rock hero, who these days is once again fronting Deep Purple.

“Love-Hate-Revenge” by Episode Six (1967)
Though they never released an album while together, pop group Episode Six made a number of excellent singles in the late 1960s. In their heyday the group featured lead singer Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover, both of whom would go on to Deep Purple. A high point of Episode Six’s catalog is this, their fifth single. Decades after its release, “Love-Hate-Revenge” would be included on the essential various-artists boxed set Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond 1964-1969.

“Gethsemane (I Only Want to Say)” from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Jesus Christ Superstar (1970)

A largely successful attempt to combine the Passion of Jesus and rock music, Jesus Christ Superstar would eventually spawn a Broadway show, film and television adaptations and more. Over the years, more than ten vocalist-actors have taken on the lead role, but on the original album, Ian Gillan portrayed Jesus, backed by members of Joe Cocker’s Grease Band. A large cast contributed to the record, but Jesus got a (super)star turn on several numbers including this one.

“Space Truckin’ by Deep Purple, from Machine Head (1972)
Everybody knows “Smoke on the Water,” the autobiographical hit from Deep Purple’s landmark Machine Head LP. But the album is stuffed to the brim with riches. Among those is the rifftastic “Space Truckin’” a song with a melody allegedly inspired by Neal Heft’s “Batman Theme.” The tune features powerful lead vocals – and plenty of melodic screaming – from Ian Gillan. (For those who want more – much more – Deep Purple’s live version on 1973’s Made in Japan clocks in at nearly 20 minutes.)

“Trashed” by Black Sabbath from Born Again (1983)
When second lead singer Ronnie James Dio left the band, Black Sabbath’s future was in doubt. But the group recruited Ian Gillan and went on to make Born Again. Unfortunately, mixing problems gave the record a muddy sound, and critics largely panned it. But fans dug Born Again – it charted well in the UK and U.S. – and time has been rather kind to the record. Gillan would only hang around for one record and the tour to promote it, but he left behind some good material, including “Trashed,” a tune he co-wrote with Black Sabbath founding members Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward. The song was released as a single, and its lyrical content was targeted by noted killjoys the PMRC (Parents Music Resource Center).

“Child in Time” by the Ian Gillan Band from Child in Time (1976)
Deep Purple had recorded “Child in Time” for their 1970 Deep Purple In Rock LP; that version ran more than ten minutes. When Gillan launched his eponymous group, he recorded a new (and slightly shorter) version of the song, giving it a more jazzy arrangement. It’s a highlight of the band’s critically-acclaimed album of the same name, which charted in the UK and Sweden. (A demo recording of the song found on the band’s Rarities 1975-1977 is also quite excellent.)