# Ian Gillan

> English singer

**Wikidata**: [Q205230](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q205230)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Gillan)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ian-gillan

## Summary
Ian Gillan is an English singer, songwriter, and musician renowned as the lead vocalist of the English rock band Deep Purple. Born on August 19, 1945, he is a central figure in the development of hard rock, heavy metal, and progressive rock, having fronted the band Deep Purple and his own projects like the Ian Gillan Band and Gillan. His career, spanning from 1962 to the present, has established him as one of the most influential vocalists in rock history.

## Biography
- **Born**: August 19, 1945
- **Nationality**: United Kingdom (English)
- **Education**: Q4677673 (Specific degree details not provided in source)
- **Known for**: Being the lead singer of Deep Purple and a pioneer in hard rock and heavy metal genres
- **Employer(s)**: Deep Purple, Ian Gillan Band, Gillan, WhoCares, Island Records (record label affiliation)
- **Field(s)**: Rock music, blues rock, hard rock, progressive rock, traditional heavy metal

## Contributions
Ian Gillan's primary contributions involve his vocal performances and songwriting across multiple influential rock bands and solo projects.
- **Deep Purple**: As a member of this English rock band (inception: 1968), Gillan contributed to the creation of hard rock and heavy metal classics. He participated in the "inFinite" album era and the "The Long Goodbye Tour," including performances at the Barclaycard Arena Hamburg in 2017.
- **Ian Gillan Band**: He fronted this band, which began in 1975, exploring progressive rock and jazz fusion elements.
- **Gillan**: He led the English rock band "Gillan," formed in 1978, which further solidified his status in the hard rock genre.
- **WhoCares**: In 2011, he co-founded this rock band, continuing his active performance career.
- **Genre Development**: His work has been instrumental in defining the sounds of blues rock (inception: 1960), hard rock (inception: 1967), progressive rock (inception: 1967), and traditional heavy metal (inception: 1970).
- **Record Label Association**: His music has been distributed through Island Records, a British-Jamaican label founded in 1959, which has a history of promoting rock and heavy metal genres.

## FAQs
**What bands has Ian Gillan been a member of?**
Ian Gillan is best known as the lead singer of Deep Purple, an English rock band formed in 1968. He has also fronted his own groups, including the Ian Gillan Band (founded 1975), the band Gillan (founded 1978), and the rock band WhoCares (founded 2011).

**What musical genres is Ian Gillan associated with?**
His career spans several rock subgenres, including blues rock, hard rock, progressive rock, and traditional heavy metal. He is particularly noted for his contributions to the development of hard rock and heavy metal during the late 1960s and 1970s.

**What awards has Ian Gillan received?**
He has been recognized with the Order of the Badge of Honour, an Armenian award established in 2000. This recognition highlights his international impact and contributions to music culture.

**Which record label has released Ian Gillan's music?**
Island Records, a British-Jamaican label founded in 1959, has been associated with his work. This label is known for its diverse roster spanning reggae, folk rock, and heavy metal, and operates as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group.

**Where is Ian Gillan from and when was he born?**
Ian Gillan is an English singer born on August 19, 1945. He holds citizenship in the United Kingdom and has been active in the music industry since 1962.

## Why They Matter
Ian Gillan's significance lies in his pivotal role in shaping the sound of modern rock music, particularly through his tenure with Deep Purple. His powerful vocal style helped define the hard rock and heavy metal genres, influencing countless musicians who followed. Without his contributions, the evolution of progressive rock and the commercial success of bands like Deep Purple would have been markedly different. His longevity in the industry, maintaining an active career from 1962 to the present, demonstrates an enduring relevance that bridges the classic rock era with contemporary music scenes. His work with Island Records also connects him to a broader legacy of cross-genre musical innovation.

## Notable For
- **Longevity**: Active work period starting in 1962 and continuing to the present day.
- **Deep Purple Leadership**: Serving as the iconic lead vocalist for the English rock band Deep Purple since its inception in 1968.
- **Genre Versatility**: Successfully performing across blues rock, hard rock, progressive rock, and traditional heavy metal.
- **Band Founding**: Establishing and fronting multiple successful projects including the Ian Gillan Band, Gillan, and WhoCares.
- **International Recognition**: Receiving the Order of the Badge of Honour from Armenia.
- **Major Tours**: Participating in significant tours such as "The Long Goodbye Tour" and performing at major venues like the Barclaycard Arena Hamburg in 2017.
- **Album Contributions**: Contributing to the "inFinite" album era of Deep Purple.
- **Label Association**: Being associated with the historic Island Records, known for its British-Jamaican roots and diverse genre coverage.

## Body
### Early Life and Nationality
Ian Gillan was born on August 19, 1945, in the United Kingdom. He is an English citizen and identifies as a human member of the Homo sapiens species. His nationality is British, and he has spent his career primarily within the United Kingdom's music scene. He received his education at an institution identified as Q4677673, though specific details of his degrees are not provided in the source material.

### Career Beginnings and Genre Evolution
Gillan's professional music career began in 1962. He is categorized as a singer, songwriter, and musician. His work has been central to the development of several rock subgenres. He is associated with blues rock, which originated around 1960, and hard rock, which emerged around 1967. His contributions also extend to progressive rock (inception: 1967) and traditional heavy metal (inception: 1970). These genres are characterized by specific musical elements, such as chordal guitar riffs and "big" drums in hard rock, and the fusion of blues and rock elements in blues rock.

### Deep Purple and Major Bands
The most significant chapter of Gillan's career involves his membership in Deep Purple, an English rock band formed in 1968. Deep Purple is recognized as a key entity in the rock music landscape, with 88 Wikipedia sitelinks documenting its history. Gillan's tenure with the band includes participation in the "inFinite" album and the "The Long Goodbye Tour." A notable performance during this period took place at the Barclaycard Arena Hamburg in 2017. Beyond Deep Purple, Gillan founded and led the Ian Gillan Band in 1975, which focused on progressive rock and jazz fusion. In 1978, he established the band Gillan, an English rock group that further explored hard rock themes. More recently, in 2011, he co-founded the rock band WhoCares.

### Record Label and Industry Affiliations
Gillan's music has been distributed through Island Records, a British-Jamaican record label founded on July 4, 1959. Island Records is a subsidiary of Universal Music Group and is headquartered in London, United Kingdom. The label is known for its work in reggae, folk rock, and heavy metal music. Gillan's association with Island Records places him within a legacy of artists who have shaped global music trends. The label's diverse roster and its role in bringing reggae to international audiences reflect the cross-cultural nature of the music industry in which Gillan operates.

### Awards and Recognition
Ian Gillan has received international recognition for his contributions to music. He was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honour, an Armenian award established on July 27, 2000. This honor underscores his impact beyond the English-speaking world and acknowledges his status as a significant cultural figure.

### Digital Presence and Identifiers
Gillan maintains a digital presence with an official website at https://gillan.com. His social media handle on Twitter is @iangillanofficial. He is cataloged in various databases with unique identifiers, including MusicBrainz ID ff2a0e30-aec1-44dd-ae06-dc78877f512d and IMDb ID nm0318775. His Wikipedia title is "Ian Gillan," and he has 56 sitelinks across different languages. Other identifiers include ISNI 0000000063098480, VIAF 39575339, and GND 119280116. These identifiers facilitate accurate cataloging of his work in global music and library systems.

### Legacy and Influence
Ian Gillan's legacy is defined by his enduring presence in the rock music industry. His work has influenced the development of hard rock and heavy metal, genres that continue to be popular globally. His ability to adapt to changing musical trends while maintaining his distinctive vocal style has allowed him to remain relevant for over six decades. The formation of multiple successful bands under his leadership demonstrates his versatility and leadership capabilities. His association with major institutions like Deep Purple and Island Records cements his place in music history as a key figure in the evolution of rock music.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/local-news/most-miserable-songwriter-goes-chiswick-born-8029907)
2. BnF authorities
3. Integrated Authority File
4. Companies House
5. Montreux Jazz Festival Database
6. International Standard Name Identifier
7. MusicBrainz
8. CiNii Research
9. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
10. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
11. BBC Things
12. [Source](http://iswcnet.cisac.org/)
13. Google Knowledge Graph
14. Discogs
15. Virtual International Authority File
16. The Movie Database