page_title: Ian Gillan
section_title: WhoCares
hierarchical_section_title: Ian Gillan / Career / WhoCares
caption_attribution_description: English: Concert of the soloist of Deep Purple Ian Gillan with the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Frideman Rile (Czech Republic) on March 26, at Armenian National Academic Opera &amp; Ballet Theatre Русский: Концерт вокалиста группы Дип Пёпл, Иэна Гиллана и Армянского Филармонического Оркестра (дирижер Фридман Рил, Чехия) в Армянском Национальном Театре Оперы и Балета, 26 марта Հայերեն: Դիփ Փառփլ խմբի վոկալիստ Իեն Գիլանի և Հայաստանի պետական ֆիլհարմոնիկ նվագախմբի համերգը, Հայաստանի Օպերայի և Բալետի Ազգային Թատրոնում, մարտի 26-ին։ Դիրիժոր՝ Ֆրիդման Ռիել
context_page_description: Ian Gillan is an English singer and songwriter. He is the lead singer and lyricist for the rock band Deep Purple and is known for his powerful and wide-ranging singing voice, in particular his high pitched banshee screams.
  Initially influenced by Elvis Presley, Gillan started and fronted several local bands in the mid-1960s, and eventually joined Episode Six when their original singer left. He first found widespread commercial success after joining Deep Purple in 1969. He resigned from the band in June 1973, having given a lengthy notice period to their managers. After a short time away from the music business, he resumed his music career with solo bands the Ian Gillan Band and Gillan, before a year-long stint as the vocalist for Black Sabbath in 1983. The following year, Deep Purple reformed and two more successful albums followed before he left in 1989. He returned to the group in 1993, and has remained its lead singer ever since.
context_section_description: Gillan has expressed particular fondness for Armenia and has maintained popularity there since Rock Aid Armenia in 1989, which has led to him forming the supergroup WhoCares as a side-project to Deep Purple. On 2 October 2009, in honour of the 20th anniversary of Rock Aid Armenia, Gillan together with Tony Iommi, Geoff Downes, and the project organiser Jon Dee were received by the Prime Minister of Armenia who awarded them with the republic's Orders of Honour.
  On 26 and 27 March 2010, in Yerevan, Gillan performed with State Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia. At a press conference in Yerevan on 27 March, Gillan said he considers Armenia his spiritual motherland.
  In 2010, Ian Gillan met Tony Iommi, Nicko McBrain and Jon Lord, Mikko Lindström from HIM and Jason Newsted at a studio in London to finish recording a song called "Out of my Mind", which was released the following year. This is for the benefit of the music school to be built in Gyumri, Armenia – a project Ian Gillan has been working on with others since his 1990 solo concerts in Yerevan.
  On the flight back from Armenia in 2011, after each receiving the Armenian Presidential medal of Honour, Gillan and Iommi decided to form the side project WhoCares for ad hoc recordings (and possible performances) dedicated to raising money for specific causes. On 20 September 2013 Ian Gillan participated in the opening of the Octet Music School in Gyumri. The Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America named Ian Gillan as its 2014 "Friend of the Armenians" and presented him the award at the 112th Diocesan Assembly in New York City.
caption: Ian Gillan on stage with the State Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia, 26 March 2010
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