Gillan was born in Hounslow, Middlesex, England. He joined the band Deep Purple in 1969. In 1970, he sang the part of Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar. After leaving Deep Purple in 1973, he went into brief retirement before forming the Ian Gillan Band. The early band sound had a distinct jazz-rock aspect which proved unpopular and was replaced by a more high powered hard rock sound as Gillan reformed the lineup and shortened the groups name to Gillan. With the release of Mr. Universe Ian Gillan was back in the UK charts and through several more line up changes released a string of hit singles and successful albums including Glory Road, Future Shock, Double Trouble, and finally Magic.
Then he announced the band would fold as he needed to rest his damaged vocal cords. In 1983 he joined Black Sabbath to record the Born Again album before rejoining a reunited Deep Purple shortly after completing the Born Again tour in early 1984. He left Purple again in 1989, but rejoined for good in 1992. He remains in the band today.
Gillan is now working on a project to document his 40-year career, tentatively called Gillan's Inn. Tony Iommi, Jeff Healey, various members of Deep Purple and many others will be featured on this 2006 DVD project.
Zero the Hero
Ian Gillan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's all served up on a gold plated plate
And we don't even have to talk to you
Your face is normal that's the way you're bred
And that's the way you're going to stay
Your head is firmly nailed to your TV channel
But someone else's finger's on the control panel
Don't you want to be brother - Zero the hero
When you gonna be brother - Zero the hero
Impossibility impissibolity mother really a hero
You sit there watch it all burn down
It's easy and breezy for you
You play your life to a different sound
No edge no edge you got no knife have you
Your life is a six lane highway to nowhere
You're going so fast you're never ever gonna get down there
Where the heroes sit by the river
With a magic in their music as they eat raw liver
You stand there captain we all look
You really are mediocre
You are the champion in the Acme form book
But I think you're just a joker
Your freedom life ain't so much of a pity
But the luv-a-duckin' way you're walkin' around
The city with your balls and your head full of nothing
It's easy for you sucker but you really need stuffing
The lyrics of Ian Gillan's "Zero the Hero" criticize a person who is content with mediocrity and lacks any ambition or individuality. The song speaks to someone who accepts their second-rate status and their easy, comfortable life that is handed to them on a silver platter. The lyricist notes that this person doesn't even need to engage in meaningful conversations because their face and persona are ordinary, shaped by societal expectations.
The line "Your head is firmly nailed to your TV channel, but someone else's finger's on the control panel" emphasizes the passive and mindless consumption of media. The person in question is controlled and influenced by external forces, be it mainstream media or other people's opinions.
The singer of the song is urged to become "Zero the Hero," to break free from this monotonous existence and strive for something greater. The repeated questioning of "What you gonna be brother - Zero the hero, don't you want to be brother - Zero the hero" challenges the listener to question their complacency and consider the possibilities of becoming a hero, someone who stands out from the crowd and makes a difference.
The song then highlights the contrast between the unfulfilling life of conformity and a more vibrant alternative. The lyrics describe the burning down of the world, suggesting chaos and destruction. However, the person who embodies the characteristics of Zero the Hero is detached from these consequences and lives an easy and carefree life. They play their life to a different beat, lacking any depth or substance.
Ultimately, the song suggests that although it may be comfortable to live a life devoid of ambition and individuality, it is an empty existence devoid of any purpose. The lyrics reflect a frustration with society's tendency to prioritize comfort and conformity over personal growth and meaningful experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Accept the fact that you're second rate life is easy for you
Acknowledge that you have a mediocre life and find it effortless
It's all served up on a gold plated plate
Everything is given to you easily and in abundance
And we don't even have to talk to you
We don't need to communicate with you
Your face is normal that's the way you're bred
Your appearance is average, just as you were raised to be
And that's the way you're going to stay
You will remain the same for the rest of your life
Your head is firmly nailed to your TV channel
You are completely absorbed in watching television
But someone else's finger's on the control panel
Someone else is controlling what you watch and how you think
What you gonna be brother - Zero the hero
What do you aspire to be, brother? A hero with no significance
Don't you want to be brother - Zero the hero
Don't you desire to be a hero with no value?
When you gonna be brother - Zero the hero
When will you become a hero with no purpose?
Impossibility impissibolity mother really a hero
Defying the impossible is just a delusion, you are truly a meaningless hero
You sit there watch it all burn down
You passively observe everything crumbling around you
It's easy and breezy for you
It's effortless and carefree for you
You play your life to a different sound
You live your life according to a unique, unimportant tune
No edge no edge you got no knife have you
You lack any kind of sharpness or determination
Your life is a six lane highway to nowhere
Your life is a fast-paced journey leading to nowhere
You're going so fast you're never ever gonna get down there
You're rushing through life without ever reaching your destination
Where the heroes sit by the river
Where the true heroes gather and find inspiration
With a magic in their music as they eat raw liver
With their music having a mystical effect, even as they consume strange things like raw liver
You stand there captain we all look
You position yourself as a leader, and we all observe
You really are mediocre
You truly are average and unremarkable
You are the champion in the Acme form book
You may be the best according to some arbitrary standard
But I think you're just a joker
But in reality, I believe you are just a fool
Your freedom life ain't so much of a pity
Your life of freedom is not as unfortunate as it may seem
But the luv-a-duckin' way you're walkin' around
However, the absurd way you confidently carry yourself
The city with your balls and your head full of nothing
In the city, with your arrogance and lack of substance
It's easy for you sucker but you really need stuffing
It may be easy for you, fool, but you truly lack substance
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANTHONY IOMMI, BILL WARD, IAN GILLAN, TERENCE BUTLER, TERRENCE BUTLER, TONY IOMMI, W.T. WARD, WILLIAM T. WARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@michaeldipietro5010
That main riff harkened back to the Black Sabbath title track.
On a tangent, check out Cannibal Corpse's version.
I can't remember exactly the name of the record, but it was something like Death Metal tribute to Black Sabbath.
It came out in 1993 or 1994.
On the Hammered Smashed Face single, Zero the Hero was on it.
They do The Dark all on guitar leading into the main riff of Zero the Hero.
I do believe they play all the organ parts on guitar as well in Zero the Hero.
@puregm1229
The relentless droning sound of this main riff is diabolical to say the least. Tony Iommi is a musical genius 💪🏻
@kevinshannon955
This album is underrated. Gillan was lights out kicking ass and Iommi great as always.
@kevinshannon955
@Antoni Domini obviously I disagree, but to each his own.
@rickymartinez2316
I went to that tour....that had to be the loudest show I've ever been to.....Geezer Butler's bass was freaking powerful....
@jasonsphinx8461
Thou hast said.
Heh!!!
@jamieforbes3661
Possibly the most relentless, insanely heavy song Sabbath ever did! Ian's a perfect fit!
@crazeyjoe
The most evil sounding is "Disturbing the Priest."
@mrveritas700
one of the best metal songs ever
@KeizerHedorah
whatchugonnadowhatchugonnado brotha! zero the hero! lmao
@razblack
i really wish Ian did more with Sabbath.. love this song