Top 10 Ian Gillan Vocal Performances
Ian Gillan, one of the Deep Purple vocalists, is actually more than a great frontman. His vocal style influenced metal singing essentially - powerful operatic voice, wide range, distinctive ear raping screams and shallow growls. These features of his vocals inspired the next generations of metal singers. It's well known that Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden idolized Ian Gillan.Gillan was also a Black Sabbath lead singer for a while in the 80s.
A lesser-known fact is that Ian Gillan was the original Jesus Christ in the rock opera 'Jesus Christ Superstar' (1970), selected for the role by its authors Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.
Every time I hear Ian Gillan singing I think he's the most underrated rock/metal singer of all time.
Best Rock singing performance of all times!
Yes, Ian Gillan was the original singer who sang the most beautiful aria from 'Jesus Christ Superstar' - a rock opera/concept album (1970). Ian Gillan had only recently joined Deep Purple.
Ian Gillan was the first singer hired for the role of Jesus Christ and Gillan was selected personally by the authors Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice!
After the album's success (it was audio only), the film director Norman Jewison decided to make a movie and Jewison wanted Ian Gillan to reprise the role for the film. But Gillan turned down the offer because in 1971-1972 Deep Purple were on top of the world and Gillan decided that he would please fans more by touring with Deep Purple. So Jewison hired Ted Neeley for the role and the film was released in 1973.
I'm so happy the song sample from iTunes is correct and it's really Ian Gillan (this song has many versions and sometimes song samples are wrong).
Check out the sample below to hear Ian Gillan at his best and see what I'm talking about!
Yeah. The screams in this song are so good.
Some really insane screams and crazy vocals, this time for the Black Sabbath discography (Born Again, 1983).
Ear raping vox and screams on the first speed metal song ever (1970).
Some cool shallow growls.
Very beautiful vox on this one.
On this song he shows that he can not only scream. A wonderful song, love it.
I love these screams!
Ah, the song sample is a great live version from the live album 'Live at the Rotterdam Ahoy', recorded in 2000 in the Netherlands. Ian Gillan was 55 and still rocked!
