Exclusive: Gillan Speaks Out About Purple Mk iii
“Glenn Hughes is one of the most naturally talented musicians but he’s still copying Steve Wonder to this day”, says Ian Gillan.
In an interview in the latest issue of Classic Rock magazine, Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan reveals he has “no interest” in the Mk III line-up of the band – and he doesn’t particularly rate Mk IV, either. All of this comes after last week Lars Ulrich spoke about joining Deep Purple if they were to do a reunion show and Jon Lord commented on Ulrich’s statement.
After Gillan resigned from Purple, signalling the end of the Mk II version of the group, he was replaced by David Coverdale in 1973.
In further line-up shift, bassist Roger Glover, another mainstay of Purple Mk II, was succeeded by Glenn Hughes. Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, drummer Ian Paice and keyboard player Jon Lord completed the Mk III line-up. Purple Mk III issued two studio albums, both in 1974: Burn and Stormbringer.
Gillan said: “I’ve never listened to any of Purple Mk III’s records. What are they called? Burn and… Strongbow (Strongbow is English cider, for our cousins overseas), is it?”
“I’ve got no interest in them,” he continued. “It’s like seeing your girlfriend with another guy.”
Gillan added: “As for Mk IV [when American guitarist, the late Tommy Bolin, replaced Ritchie Blackmore), I listened to their Come Taste The Band album [1975] and that wasn’t really Purple in my book.
“I’ve got no problems with the performances, I just don’t think it’s Deep Purple at all.
“Glenn Hughes is one of the most naturally talented musicians but he’s still copying Steve Wonder to this day, so I can’t call him a bona fide member of Deep Purple.”
“The Mk III and IV line-ups were full of talent, but you know you can spend £100 million on football players and you won’t necessarily get a good team.”
Gillan, of course, now sings in the Mk VIII version of Purple alongside Glover, guitarist Steve Morse, drummer Ian Paice and keyboard player Don Airey.
Because of Ian Gillan and Ritchie Blackmore’s fighting over the years, they are responsible for robbing the fans of alot of great music!!! When they were together, they were awesome. If they could just get over their attitudes and play together one last time with purple, that would be great!!
> “Glenn Hughes is one of the most naturally talented musicians but he’s still copying Steve Wonder to this day, so I can’t call him a bona fide member of Deep Purple.”
That makes no sense. Because he has a certain style similar to Wonder, Glenn can’t be considered a true member of DP?
I guess I can appreciate his honesty. But when it comes to talking about the past of DP, Gillan always seems to take the low road.
Just out of interest, does Ian Gillan think the current line-up is ‘like Deep Purple’? There are plenty of people who would say not. I personally think the Mark II line-up is the best, but all the line-ups have had something to offer. It seems when somebody leaves an established band, they never like anybody else to join in their place anyway.
Gillan is jealous! And he should be.. Glenn Hughes sings better than in the 70’s…
Glenn doesn’t COPY Steve wonder to this day. He is just focused on funky rock in his hsolo career, which is obviously influenced by Steve Wonder. But if you listen to his work on Tony Iommi’s Fused project, and on Dario Mollo’s Voodoo Hill album, you’ll realize that Hughesy still kicks serious ass in rock ‘n’ roll and heavy metal.
I think it’s a serious case of envy on Gillan’s part. His voice has been deteriorating for a while now, while Hughes still manages to pull out stratospheric screams. I saw him in Rio last year, he was in top form!!!
Gillan is a joke ! He can’t sing anymore so he is envy because Glenn Hughes is one of the best vocalist of all times(as well as David Coverdale).
The fact Hughes can sing ALSO soul-funk stuff is a plus not a minus!
Gillan simply can’t sing anything!
I don’t think Gillan is jealous. He is a big fan of Rod Evans, his predecessor in Purple. I think he and Glenn H. are mates anyway.
Rock’n'roll – it gets you talking!
Ritchie was a pain in the ass…Long live the Steve Morse era!!
just to change the subject a tad….I’ve been searching for the Bing Crosby track where the name came from, can’t find it on I tunes. Anyone come across it as it has to be worth a listen, and just out of interest which one of them heavy rock types from the 60’s was into BC? Calling themselves White Christmas would not have been the same, or would it? Thinking about it as IP is not on the top ten influential drummers list Little Drummer Boy with hindsight has some irony about it???? And what went on in Vermont that no one will talk of?
Dans suggests that “fans were robbed of a lot of great music” because of the rift and subsequent split in the MK II line up, Messers Gillan and Blackmore of course. But how much more music was created through the bands they created i.e. Rainbow, the Gillan Band, the stuff with Black Sabbath and taking it further what about when DC left and Whitesnake was formed?
I like all versions of DP…But; I would rather see a reunion of Deep Purple MK3 over MK2…MK3 would jam out and rock the place; but MK2 would probly beat each other up!……
Here we go again…………..Has Gillan a book out? CD? Are Purple that desperate for publicity? Gillan is turning into a bitter old man. Has he forgotten he was Purple’s SECOND singer and SECOND best (after GH) as well? As for his dig at Stormbringer, well, I can only say……………..’Bananas’!!!! Get over yourself. Oh, and while your at it, keep biting at old Blacker’s wind up’s, it’s very very funny knowing you’re still frothing at the mouth about him.
gillan is right they did’nt sound like deep purple records, i have the full set of the purp’s and for me the mark 2, 7 & 8 are the best line ups bacause these are the one’s that sound like deep purple the deep purple i wan’t to hear. the rest are good but in my view should have been called something else rather than deep purple, don’t get me wrong i love david coverdale and whitesnake and the burn and stormbringer records are great but i agree they shouldn’t have been deep purple records. i’m interested in the new rainbow line up with ritchie’s son on guitar?? yust to here those songs live again is worth the money!! what do you lot think??
gillan is just being honest true to his feelings,thats his opinion.but as a true purple fan,i think EVERY purple line up(including the curent)is DEEP PURPLE,even the tommmy bolin era stands on its own ,,its a great purple line up too.
haha, Gillan is 100% right…
What???? compare Bananas to Stormbringer?? no way. Stormbringer (or Stormbow
) was a good funky-soul album. but we all know that Deep Purple is a ROCK band. and Bananas is a GREAT rocking album. If you think that you don’t like Bananas, this means that you have NOT listened to it and you rated the album only by cover. The cover itself was a huge and excelent joke by the band.
and In comparison with Stormbringer, Come Taste The Band, House of Blue Light and Slaves & Masters, DO NOT FORGET that we have a REAL Deep Purple album released in 2005 – Rapture of the Deep. This album really rocks and is absolutely greater then the ones I listed above.
So, who cares about DC or GH???
Let Coverdale to name his current tour as Good To Be Bad Tour, in reality, we all know that it is Def Leppard tour and Whitesnake is supporting act for Def…
Let Hughes to play shows in frons of 50 people, in some little pubs.
Ian Gillan is a man himself, he is the best vocalist Deep Purple has ever had. in the 70’s and 80’s he was the best one.
As a musician, Gillan is far more better than GH. after DP Gillan formed a band, which topped half of the world (outside USA).
While GH recorded some funky-albums and it’s all over…
What about MKVII/MkVIII – these are the best incarnations of Deep Purple, after MKII.
If you don’t believe me, see ANY show from Purple’s upcoming European tour. they will make you crazy.
Coverdale kick Ian`s ass… from ARGENTINA
I’ll kick your ass,Pancho
you lot are bunch of wind ups deep purple this deep purple that everyone knows that mark 1 was the best !!!!!!ha ha HUSH YOU LOT
It’s been a long time since MKII broke up. Why don’t you do like the rest of us Gillan- GET OVER IT, and for Gods sake- GET OVER YOURSELF!!!!! Your ego is gettin’ bigger by the hour!
No one among DPs hardcore fanbase are impressed by any of the bullshit you’ve been spreading for the last 15 years (since Blackmore left). Even you can’t tell the lies from the truth anymore, can you?
Be happy with what you’ve got today, keep on doing great liveshows with the current line up and keep your mouth shut between shows! OK????
hey ritchie dickless, Gillan is only responding to questions he’s being asked..p.s I’d take any of the Morse era records over “the battle rages on”..(blackmore’s last recording with the band before he quit in the middle of the tour, hoping Purple would fold. Which to his dismay did not!!!
Tell Lars he’s not all that and to shut the fuck up.Lars do whatb you do best and bend over so James can corn hole you POSSERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let’s face it, Deep Purple is not Deep Purple unless it has both Ritchie and Ian in the group! The other guys were good (Hughes, Coverdale, Morse etc….) But it was Blackmore and Gillan who really made Deep Purple famous.
Gillan is a complete c**t. He has shown zero respect for his fans from the moment he engineered the demise of Gillan (the band) by feigning a throat problem. He dicked around Iommi & he dicked around Blackmore. Hughes was every bit as bona fide a member of DP as Ian Gillan. But Hughes has class where Gillan does not.
Gillan, you’re an arse!!
Deep Purple used to be a forward and innovative band not a Tribute Act (viz Mk 8). All the original lineups from 1 to 4 took pride in taking their CURRENT material to the stage yes with a few oldies but nothing 30-40 years old for f’s sake. . . do something original and stop panning those who do, IG!