“I know in my heart of hearts that Ritchie Blackmore is one of the great guitar players of all time. He's a fabulous technician, and he's got incredible skills, and he was a great showman.”

English singer and lyricist

Ian Gillan is an English singer and lyricist, best known as the lead singer of the rock band Deep Purple. He has been closely associated with hard rock for much of his career. Gillan is noted for his powerful, wide-ranging voice and for the songs he wrote and performed with Deep Purple. His work is tied to the sound and legacy of the band, and he is widely recognized for his role at the microphone as well as his writing.