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.
What's The Matter
Gillan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Drink all my money encourage my dirty plans
I stand rigidly
Oh so attentively
Leering and dribbling
And then so suddenly I see
What's the matter with you
What you mean your body is just one part of you?
I stand rigidly
So dejectedly
You talk stupidly
Now you're doing me in
What's the matter with you
You're so ugly I can't even look at your face
Your body's a dream but your mind is a stupid disgrace
I stand droopily
So dejectedly
You talk stupidly
Now you've finished me off
What's the matter with you
In Gillan's song What's The Matter, the singer appears to be in a complicated and volatile romantic relationship. The opening line, "Just because you smile at me and then touch my hand," suggests a degree of familiarity between the two parties. However, the next line, "Drink all my money encourage my dirty plans," alludes to a potentially unhealthy dynamic, with one person in the relationship being taken advantage of and manipulated by the other.
The singer then transitions into a state of intense focus, described as "standing rigidly" and being "so attentively, leering and dribbling." It is unclear what the singer is fixated on, but they suddenly snap out of their trance and ask the question "What's the matter with you?" This is repeated twice more throughout the song, each time with a different inflection that suggests frustration and confusion.
As the song progresses, the level of resentment and hostility in the singer's voice increases. The line "Let me touch you I think you're a wonderful you" juxtaposes with "What you mean your body is just one part of you?", highlighting the singer's shallow perspective. They seem to be fixated on physical attraction and are dismissive of anything beyond that.
The final two stanzas of the song are particularly cutting, with the singer asserting that the other person is ugly and has a "stupid" mind. The repetition of "What's the matter with you" takes on a more accusatory tone, suggesting that the singer believes that their problems stem from the other person's shortcomings.
Overall, the song paints a picture of a toxic relationship, with both parties being deeply flawed and struggling to connect on a deeper level. The singer's frustration and confusion are tangible, and the repeated refrain of "What's the matter with you" serves as a plea for understanding and closure.
Line by Line Meaning
Just because you smile at me and then touch my hand
Your empty gestures of affection deceive and manipulate me
Drink all my money encourage my dirty plans
You take advantage of my generosity and push me towards immoral behavior
I stand rigidly
I am frozen and paralyzed by your actions and words
Oh so attentively
Leering and dribbling
I am obsessively watching and drooling over you, despite your mistreatment of me
And then so suddenly I see
What's the matter with you
I finally realize the truth about your cruel and manipulative nature
Let me touch you I think you're a wonderful you
I am blinded by physical attraction and ignoring the fact that you are a terrible person
What you mean your body is just one part of you?
I am realizing that your physical appearance does not define your entire being
So dejectedly
You talk stupidly
I am feeling down and defeated because of your unintelligent and thoughtless words
Now you're doing me in
Your behavior is causing me harm and bringing me down
You're so ugly I can't even look at your face
Your inner ugliness is now reflecting on your physical appearance in my eyes
Your body's a dream but your mind is a stupid disgrace
Your physical attractiveness is worthless because your intelligence and personality are unacceptable
I stand droopily
Now you've finished me off
Your hurtful words and actions have left me defeated and broken
What's the matter with you
I question your motives and sanity for treating me this way
Contributed by Landon M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.