Gillan
Gillan is a rock band closely associated with but not directly arising from… Read Full Bio ↴Gillan is a rock band closely associated with but not directly arising from the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, formed in 1978 by Ian Gillan and Colin Towns in the UK.
In 1978 Ian Gillan had become dissatisfied with the jazz fusion style of his band called Ian Gillan Band and dissolved it, retaining only keyboard player Colin Towns, and formed a new band entitled Gillan. He added Steve Byrd on guitar, Liam Glenocky on drums and John McCoy (ex-zzebra) on bass, and initially pursued a progressive rock direction, releasing their eponymous debut in 1978, although they could only get a record deal in Japan. This recording has subsequently become more widely available as THE JAPANESE ALBUM.
The album was sufficiently successful to attract more attention and in 1979 the band secured a European deal with Acrobat Records. Before a new album was recorded, Byrd was replaced by Bernie Tormé and Glenocky by Mick Underwood, Ian Gillan's former colleague in Episode Six. Torme's "screaming guitar" sound fundamentally altered the dynamics and Gillan took a heavy metal direction. This lineup's first album was released as MR. UNIVERSE and contained many re-worked songs from The Japanese Album. The band caught the rise of the NWOBHM at just the right time and the group gained popularity in Europe. At Christmas Gillan turned down an offer from Ritchie Blackmore to join Rainbow, but Blackmore did make a "legendary" guest appearance for Gillan at their Christmas show. It was the first time Ian Gillan and Blackmore had performed together since 1973.
In 1980 Gillan reached the peak of their success, releasing the successful GLORY ROAD album with the limited edition "free" LP for gillan fans only. However the band remained unknown in North America and were unable to raise any interest there despite tours.
By 1981 the band members were becoming disgruntled that their European and Japanese success was not translating into increased pay, and after the FUTURE SHOCK album tour, Torme walked out just before the band were due to appear on Top of the Pops. He was replaced by White Spirit guitarist Janick Gers and this line up releaed the live/studio combi double album DOUBLE TROUBLE at the end of the year. In 1982 final album MAGIC followed. By this time, tension over money had reached fever-pitch and Ian Gillan needed time to have nodes removed from his vocal chords. He also received and accepted an offer to replace Ronnie James Dio in Black Sabbath. After the Magic tour Ian Gillan dissolved the band to the incredulity of the other members, particularly McCoy, and the acrimony remained into the 21st century.
McCoy subsequently released compilations of studio out-takes to which he had the rights, beginning with Gillan Tapes, Vol. 1, and ensured that revenues were distributed fairly amongst the band.
In 1978 Ian Gillan had become dissatisfied with the jazz fusion style of his band called Ian Gillan Band and dissolved it, retaining only keyboard player Colin Towns, and formed a new band entitled Gillan. He added Steve Byrd on guitar, Liam Glenocky on drums and John McCoy (ex-zzebra) on bass, and initially pursued a progressive rock direction, releasing their eponymous debut in 1978, although they could only get a record deal in Japan. This recording has subsequently become more widely available as THE JAPANESE ALBUM.
The album was sufficiently successful to attract more attention and in 1979 the band secured a European deal with Acrobat Records. Before a new album was recorded, Byrd was replaced by Bernie Tormé and Glenocky by Mick Underwood, Ian Gillan's former colleague in Episode Six. Torme's "screaming guitar" sound fundamentally altered the dynamics and Gillan took a heavy metal direction. This lineup's first album was released as MR. UNIVERSE and contained many re-worked songs from The Japanese Album. The band caught the rise of the NWOBHM at just the right time and the group gained popularity in Europe. At Christmas Gillan turned down an offer from Ritchie Blackmore to join Rainbow, but Blackmore did make a "legendary" guest appearance for Gillan at their Christmas show. It was the first time Ian Gillan and Blackmore had performed together since 1973.
In 1980 Gillan reached the peak of their success, releasing the successful GLORY ROAD album with the limited edition "free" LP for gillan fans only. However the band remained unknown in North America and were unable to raise any interest there despite tours.
By 1981 the band members were becoming disgruntled that their European and Japanese success was not translating into increased pay, and after the FUTURE SHOCK album tour, Torme walked out just before the band were due to appear on Top of the Pops. He was replaced by White Spirit guitarist Janick Gers and this line up releaed the live/studio combi double album DOUBLE TROUBLE at the end of the year. In 1982 final album MAGIC followed. By this time, tension over money had reached fever-pitch and Ian Gillan needed time to have nodes removed from his vocal chords. He also received and accepted an offer to replace Ronnie James Dio in Black Sabbath. After the Magic tour Ian Gillan dissolved the band to the incredulity of the other members, particularly McCoy, and the acrimony remained into the 21st century.
McCoy subsequently released compilations of studio out-takes to which he had the rights, beginning with Gillan Tapes, Vol. 1, and ensured that revenues were distributed fairly amongst the band.
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Gillan Lyrics
Abbey Of Thelema She opened her eyes With a look of surprise And she starte…
Are You Sure Wow said the king to the fighters in the ring I…
Are You Sure? Wow said the king to the fighters in the ring I…
Bad News I can't sleep, you treat me so bad I can't sleep,…
Bite the Bullet When you're thrown out of work Got no money to eat You've…
Black Night Black night is not right I don't feel so bright I don't…
Bluesy Blue Sea Sitting here with the bottom line You wanna know what I'm …
Born To Kill PART ONE You take a piece of wood You join it to…
Caught In A Trap I'm amazed by the fact that you noticed me And I'm…
Child In Time Sweet child in time You'll see the line The line that's draw…
Come Tomorrow Right, okay, right, okay... Here we go: Hello to all sid…
Dead of Night As we went to the door I was asking for more So…
Demon Driver If you see me in my car under control Look past…
Demon's Eye I don't mind just what you say. I never heard you,…
Dirty Dog Ah, why don't you tie my hands behind my back Give…
Don't Want the Truth I don't need you you're obsolete I don't want you hanging…
Driving Me Wild Harder harder you've got to make your point Harder harder t…
Fighting Man There's a man Living on the kind of street that makes…
For Your Dreams She's got a face of a street kid With the lips…
Future Shock If tomorrow is the day before we think it is Are…
Hadely Bop Bop Hadely Bop Bop You gotta stop lying to me Hadely Bop Bop …
Helter Skelter When I get to the bottom I go back to…
I'll Rip Your Spine Out And you say there ain't nothing here for me And you…
If I Sing Softly The touch of your skin Alive and glistening What are you d…
If You Believe Me I could believe in you The way you left me hot…
Let It Slide Feel me rushing through you Just another sixty second ride …
Life Goes On I have had enough of this here life of fun There…
Living A Lie Somebody knocky on my door nobody answers Somebody taps on …
Living for the City A boy is born in hardtime Mississippi Surrounded by four wa…
Long Gone Say what you're going to say I'll never turn you away But…
Lucille Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
Lucille ) Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do …
Men Of War You fine men of war You hearts of oak You men of…
Message In A Bottle I was born in a bar in '45 It's sure a…
Mr. Universe Are you god are you man do you live in…
Mutually Assured Destruction From where I stand I see a blind man on a…
Nervous You make me so nervous that you'd better move away You…
New Orleans I said a hey, hey, hey yeah I said a hey,…
Night Ride Out Of Phoenix The desert air was cold And the moon was shining bright As…
Nightmare I've got to travel tonight Get on the first available fligh…
No Easy Way Little John took the easy way He said bye bye to…
No Laughing in Heaven I used to be a sinner, used to have my…
On The Rocks Children will play in the street Crying with glass in their…
Puget Sound I remember the bus just the greyhound and us It was…
Restless Jimmy Jimmy in your red brick city Take a look around…
Roller Get your hands onto this one Screw it down I've never…
Running White Face City Boy I was running through an empty street Turn the corner I…
Sacre Bleu She stood by the window inviting with a clear silhouette I…
Secret of the Dance I saw her in the gloom As she moved across the…
She Tears Me Down I ain't afraid Of no man here I don't go looking for…
Sleeping On the Job Big Ann is a working man Sleeping on the job She works…
Smoke On the Water We all came out to Montreux On the Lake Geneva shoreline To…
Sunbeam Sunbeam Slipping out in the ocean Sunbeam You're realy fe…
Time and Again Maybe I can love you baby With all of my heart…
Trouble Well, If you're looking for trouble You came to the right …
Trying To Get To You I have been travelling over mountains Even the valleys too …
Unchain Your Brain You tell me what you're never gonna be And I'll show…
Vengeance Eye for eye Tooth for tooth You take one but I can…
What's The Matter Just because you smile at me and then touch my…
WOMAN FROM TOKYO Fly into the rising sun, Faces, smiling everyone Yeah, she i…
You're So Right You're so right when you're out of the crowd Look to…
Your Mother Was Right This is called "For Gillan Fans Only" And it's just that:…
Your Mother Was Right ) This is called "For Gillan Fans Only" And it′s just that:…