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.
Sacre Bleu
Gillan Lyrics
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I could not believe my own eyes so I turned a compete pirouette
She was still there, Sacre Bleu
Why is she carelessly touching her hair
What is she doing to me
Does she know
I went to her door and at the first touch it swung open wide
And there she was, Sacre Bleu
She smiled and I knew that I wanted hers
We touched and the world exploded
Now I'm in this prison accused of a bad case of rape
I've told the story but the truth is much to hard to take, I can't escape
What has she done to me, Sacre Bleu
They call me an animal and brand me a cad
But I'm just a gullible lad
She's had and I've been had
The song "Sacre Bleu" by Gillan tells the story of a man who becomes infatuated with a mysterious woman he sees from his window. He is unable to resist her magnetic pull and finds himself inside her home, where they share an explosive moment of passion. However, the woman later accuses him of rape, and he is left feeling betrayed and confused.
The lyrics are full of contradictions and ambiguity, highlighting the complexities of desire and the unpredictable nature of human relationships. The woman is described as both inviting and careless, and the singer questions whether she is aware of the power she has over him. The sudden shift from a moment of ecstasy to the accusation of rape emphasizes the fragility of consent and how easily it can be misunderstood or misinterpreted.
Line by Line Meaning
She stood by the window inviting with a clear silhouette
She was standing by the window in a seductive pose with a clear outline of her figure visible
I could not believe my own eyes so I turned a compete pirouette
I was so surprised by her beauty that I had to do a complete turn to take it all in
She was still there, Sacre Bleu
I was struck by her presence and was in awe of her beauty
Why is she carelessly touching her hair
I was wondering why she was playing with her hair in a provocative manner
What is she doing to me
Her beauty and seductive pose was making me feel helpless and powerless
Does she know
I wondered if she was aware of the effect she was having on me
I went to her door and at the first touch it swung open wide
I approached her door and it opened easily with just a touch, as if it was welcoming me into her presence
And before I could stop or go out to find somewhere to hide I was inside
I couldn't resist going in and exploring what was inside, even though I knew it might lead to trouble
And there she was, Sacre Bleu
There she was, standing before me with her seductive beauty and allure
She smiled and I knew that I wanted hers
Her smile made me want her even more and I was completely under her spell
We touched and the world exploded
The physical connection we made was intense and overwhelming, as if the entire world was shaking around us
Now I'm in this prison accused of a bad case of rape
After our encounter, I was falsely accused of rape and found myself imprisoned
I've told the story but the truth is much to hard to take, I can't escape
I've tried to explain what really happened but the truth is too difficult for others to believe, and I feel trapped
What has she done to me, Sacre Bleu
I'm left wondering how she was able to completely entrap me in her beauty and seduction, even to the point of landing me in jail
They call me an animal and brand me a cad
Others are now labeling and judging me harshly, calling me an animal and a scoundrel
But I'm just a gullible lad
In reality, I was just naive and fell for her trap all too easily
She's had and I've been had
She was the one who was really in control and used me for her own purposes, leaving me feeling used and betrayed
Contributed by Audrey M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.