“I was in a band called Episode Six with Roger Glover, which was more of a harmony band, really. At one gig, there were a few dodgy characters leaning up against the wall of the venue - and we ended up joining their band. Purple was the talk of every musician in the country - they had something new and very exciting.”

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.