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Portrait of Ian Gillan

Ian Gillan

(1945) Singer United Kingdom

106 quotes in 449 categories

I love Buffalo, Ian Gillan says, noting the genuine people who look you straight in the eye. He recalls learning the first guitar chords—E, then A, then B7—and suddenly being able to play the blues. He also mentions soaking up music from Beethoven to Jimi Hendrix, showing how many styles shape his sound.

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Ian Gillan is a singer from the United Kingdom, best known for Ian Gillan.

Quick Facts About Ian Gillan

Born: August 19, 1945
Nationality: United Kingdom
Profession: Singer
Notable works: Ian Gillan

About Ian Gillan

Ian Gillan is an English singer best known as the lead vocalist and lyricist for the rock band Deep Purple, praised for his powerful, wide‑ranging voice.

Awards & Honors

Order of the Badge of Honour

Quotes by Ian Gillan

One of my greatest pleasures is writing on my Web site.

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I've been in music all my life.

All my life

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I have got a good imagination.

Creativity

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I've never listened to any of Purple Mk III's records.

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I don't think anyone likes to be pushed around.

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My father was a storekeeper at a factory in west London.

Factory

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I'm not a writer; I'm not a novelist.

Novelist

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It's a fine line between self-assuredness and arrogance.

Arrogance

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I like walking and hiking, and many of the ideas for songs have germinated from this.

Beach

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Internet is a good and convenient device for us for easy communication. It has lots of value.

Communication

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I love Buffalo. The people here are wonderful, genuine; they look you straight in the eye.

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'Classic rock' is never a label that we've given ourselves - it's one of the many labels that's been imposed on us.

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If there was such a thing as a typical English gentleman in rock music, then it was Jon Lord.

English gentleman

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For a rock band, I didn't see the point in live albums. To my mind, you've got to be there.

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I haven't ever had any ambition in my life. I just drift from day to day with a stupid grin on my…

Ambition

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I've consciously avoided actually reading anything about Wikipedia.

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I have been touring since I got my first band in 1962, so there is no problem there. We are basically performing…

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When we arrive at the studio, we put the kettle on, have a cup of tea, say, 'How's the family? You still…

Alive

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Elvis's voice was unique. Like so many others, he had natural, technical ability, but there was something in the humanity of his…

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I know in my heart of hearts that Ritchie Blackmore is one of the great guitar players of all time. He's a…

Fabulous

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The band's a really close-knit family. We've got fantastically good friendships and relationships that have developed after all these years.

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We've been touring ever since we were able to afford to buy a van, and I don't think we'll ever stop until…

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I can't do one thing at a time. If I'm writing song lyrics, I've got to be doing the ironing or cooking…

Cooking

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My first contract was in 1965. There were six of us in this band - my band before Deep Purple - six…

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How could I resist? Look, I love that record and have nothing but great, great memories of my time with BLACK SABBATH…

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If you think of a solo artist, you normally know them by their name; you don't normally describe their kind of music.…

Art

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We spent a long time learning the craft of songwriting, Roger Glover and I, for a few years before we joined Deep…

Crafts

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In Poland, the whole saying is, 'You've got one eye to Morocco and the other to the Caucasus.' That's the heart of…

Culture

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I'm very grateful for the other bands and artists that stood up for us with a view to our induction - that's…

Art

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I do ironing not only for myself but for everyone at home, everyone in the studio if they want it, and if…

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I've played football with George Best, the greatest footballer that ever lived. That doesn't make me a footballer. And I've sung a…

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There used to be a time when people used to hold up cigarette lighters and candles at concerts, and the place was…

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Things evolve. People mature.

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It means a lot to a lot of people, 'Smoke On The Water.'

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Our partying was governed by licensing hours. When the pub or club shut, that would be it.

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Singles - we hated it, going on 'Top Of The Pops' and all that rubbish.

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When I was a kid, every street had a band, and we'd steal members from each other.

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The people who come to Purple shows are there for the music.

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I feel very fortunate to have been able to do what I do for a living.

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I don't think happiness comes with money, but if you are hungry, you can't be as happy as if you aren't hungry.

Happiness

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Ian Gillan by topic

Song (22) Music (17) Life (11)