[hand] [face]
The Original Deep Purple Web Pages
The Highway Star

Glory Road ebook

Gillan Glory Road ebook; image courtesy of Martin Popoff

Martin Popoff has published a short ebook about Gillan’s album Glory Road.

In a cheeky mood, I’ve been known to call Gillan my favourite band of all time, given the insane charm of all six of their albums, the guys burning it out before they could screw up (just like another one of my fave raves, Max Webster).

This dollar “print single” can be consider a canned history of a band seldom talked about in detail, so I’m particularly proud to unleash it upon all you like-minded ancient metal lovers.

Gillan… man, they were a cross between Deep Purple and Tygers Of Pan Tang, weren’t they? With a crazy circus organist chucked on top, one who helped write a lot of the songs. Unfortunately, Colin Towns wouldn’t talk to me, but the irrepressible Ian Gillan did, as did Bernie Torme and John McCoy. Surprised to see I didn’t include any of my chat with drummer Mick Underwood in here, but you’ll see him in the future, when I get around to giving you the story of Future Shock, follow-up to our current concern Glory Road, which is the third album for these punk metal nutters gone newobbim…

The book is available as an app for Apple devices at the iTunes store and as a high resolution DRM-free PDF from zunior.com for everything else (and priced for a buck, it won’t break the bank).

There is also a book/app about Whitesnake’s “Ready an’ Willing” in the same series.

Thanks to Blabbermouth for the info.



29 Comments to “Glory Road ebook”:

  1. 1
    Tracy (Zero the Hero) Heyder says:

    Too bad Martin didn’t contact me. I have the One and Only alternative album sleeve composed of entirely different artwork along with original band photos and negatives. Also included are various original hand sketched artwork that was also submitted. This album cover is complete and laminated. Totally different than the cover which they chose to use. Would have been a great addition to this e-book…..

    CheerZ

  2. 2
    buttockss says:

    @1 Happy for u mate….. i have the one with the 7 extra out take tracks, the one with “abbey of thelema. Martin Popoff is a big fan of Purple also, stating that they are the royal band of england .

  3. 3
    Drdp says:

    “For Gillan Fans Only” was a hard find.

  4. 4
    Roberto says:

    Why just Glory Road got this tratment? I couldn’t choose which is the best one…

  5. 5
    purplepriest1965 says:

    I once bought the special edition Vinyl of Future Shock, but up till now did not find a special edition Glory Road.

    Well, there is only so much one can buy.

    Yeah, I know some among us appearantly were and are able to secure themselves of this special goodies.

    Tracy, maybe it is better for the future to make contact yourself instead of the other way around.

    I can imagine not everyone knows you are 1 of the guys that have loads of this stuff.

  6. 6
    Ted The Mechanic says:

    So lucky to have seen that tour at The Fast Lane in Asbury Park, New Jersey here in the US. Was a Wednesday evening with a fierce snow storm and the gig remained on. Only about 30 people were in attendance because of the storm. On the brief walk to the tour bus Ian walked over to my friend and I and we in essence told him we dug the gig. He swept his hair away from his face and said how disheartened he was with the paltry “crowd”. Told him the storm was the obvious demon and he smiled and thanked us and mercifully jumped on the bus. Lord knows, no easy way that night!

    Peace,
    Ted

  7. 7
    Sue Kershaw says:

    The “Abbey of Thelema” has VERY special meaning for me,and it’s WONDERFUL to see the ”Glory Rd guys” taking some of the stuff out to a ”Very loyal” fan base…..They need to do a Northern tour now,as we are waiting with baited breath…………..And for the record,this DJ went through 2 copies of “For Gillan fans only”…XXX )O(

  8. 8
    cyclone says:

    Gillan at his best. I listen to IGB while serving in the Armed Forces. I jammed to IGB while working the so called “Check Point Charlies” on the mid shifts in the PI. “T” tuned me on the IGB back in the day. Still have a IGB cassette tape in the old truck!

  9. 9
    T says:

    You ain’t got nothing if you ain’t got wheels if you ain’t got wheels you don’t know how it feels.

  10. 10
    cyclone says:

    Let’s not forget the Sugar Plum hips and great big *$%.

  11. 11
    purplepriest1965 says:

    T

    Please explain?

    Mark

  12. 12
    T says:

    Re: 11

    Mark

    It’s a line from one of my favorite Gillan tracks: “Unchain Your Brain”. My brother and I are big muscle car fans and we took this line as a kind of motto.

    Glory Road is my favorite Gillan album–closest to the Purple philosophy with some of the best guitar and finest playing from Tormé and Towns.

    It also reminds me of my days studying journalism back in the day. Good times.

    Awesome album!

  13. 13
    Tracy (Zero the Hero) Heyder says:

    “I ain’t gotta girl cause I ain’t gotta car”
    “I ain’t gotta car cause I ain’t gotta job”
    “I ain’t gotta job cause I ain’t gotta car”
    “Now I’m lookin’ for a girl with a job and a car”
    “Now do you know where you are……?”

    He ‘T’ and Priest, recognize these lyrics? Great motto stuff from one of my all time favorite artists…Who and what song?

    CheerZ

  14. 14
    purrfect stranger says:

    Amazing Album. Next to Edgar Winter, Ian proved here why he was the King of Hard Rock Vocals. He wiped the floor with all the other vocalists during this time period. The only ones that were even close were Edgar Winter and Little Richard.

  15. 15
    purplepriest1965 says:

    I am disturbed that the lyrics did not ring a bell.

    Well, once I had a good memory.
    Well, that’s what I thought anyway(…)

    But…..

    Still I do not understand how to put this in the context of this thread.

  16. 16
    purplepriest1965 says:

    @ 13

    Poison?

    Motley Crue?

  17. 17
    T says:

    Re: 13

    Tracy

    I had to cheat on that one and google it. Alice Cooper was one of the innovators and a founding father of the heavy metal genre–fusing the wild antics of the stage show with the music. I happen to be a fan of one of Alice’s opening acts of the time: The incredible Blue Oyster Cult.

    I also wanted to congratulate you on your Glory Road artifacts–truly a unique find. My solitary find was a lithograph of The Battle Rages On signed by Gillan, Glover, and Lord that I found in an antique mall of all places. I am glad I spent the money since we lost Jon a few months later. Certainly not as rare as alternate cover artwork–what a coup!

    My Glory Road is the single album with “Your Mother Was Right” instead of “Sleeping on the Job” and came on the RSO label in 1980. This album contains many of my favorite Gillan songs–practically the entire album!

  18. 18
    purplepriest1965 says:

    Paraaaaaaaaaaaalysiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing.
    Wow, what a grand voice the man still had : )

  19. 19
    Tracy (Zero the Hero) Heyder says:

    Yeah ‘T’,

    This is actually one of my fondest pieces. The fact that it is the one and only in existence is what is so special. I remember acquiring the Glory Road gatefold edition which included the extra disk ‘For Gillan Fans Only’ and mine also accompanied the 7″ brown vinyl ‘Split Knee Loons’ record. Gatefold was very rare. Then I had this unbelievable offer thrown at me that I couldn’t believe, at a price I couldn’t refuse. When I received it I was dumbfounded at what it actually was and what it contained. I am hoping to eventually have it signed by Gillan. Hopefully when they tour next year. He might strong arm it from me though. I wonder if he is even aware that it exists….

    CheerZ

  20. 20
    purplepriest1965 says:

    Split Knee Loon record????

    Does not ring a belll with me.

    What is it?

  21. 21
    purplepriest1965 says:

    Is this an article in the context of april the 1st?
    It seems a joke alltogether.

    Or is there a serious tone in it?

    http://dmme.net/interviews/arguitar.html

    Nothing surprises me anymore.
    Yesterday someone told me that a lot of So called Jim Morrisson lyrics were actually from Ray Manzarek. I dont know. Who does?

  22. 22
    purplepriest1965 says:

    I tracked this down but the file has been taken away, it seems. :

    http://todopurple.blogspot.nl/2009/11/split-knee-loons-special-collectors-ep.html

  23. 23
    Tracy (Zero the Hero) Heyder says:

    @ 20;

    Hey PP, it was a 7″ 33 rpm Brown Vinyl record whereby the Gillan Band exchanged instruments and played some off the wall songs. Similar to “For Gillan Fans Only”. Really cool stuff. Here is one from it.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZANxqQrses

    CheerZ

  24. 24
    purplepriest1965 says:

    Sounds a bit as a Black Sabbath audition.

  25. 25
    Scott W says:

    @1 It doesn’t matter that you never got to share a part of your collection. I sent one third of the scans used in the second Royal Family DP book and never got a credit. Avoid dealing with this guy…flakey.

  26. 26
    Jeff says:

    When is Glory Road going to be remastered to today’s standards?

  27. 27
    Rockman says:

    In response to comment 25, I have corresponded with Martin a number of times & have always found him to be super trustworthy, the guy loves purple & the purple family. If he used your stuff then it’s credited, if it’s not credited it’s not your stuff he used… the guy has many sources & mostly because he is so genuine in his love of heavy rock you just want to share…

    I am not saying you are lying or anything like that, just although we all love our memorabilia, there can be multiple sources for even the rarest items, except for Tracy’s Glory Road artwork maybe, haha
    I collect Live Shows & if I had a dime for every time someone has told me “you can’t have or have heard that because only I have it, well, you know, I’d be rich, right? or I would at least be able to buy myself a beer…

  28. 28
    Scott W. says:

    Wow that’s a three-year-old post you’re responding to. Yes it was my stuff he used I recognized all of it especially the flyer for the Ian Gillan show in San Francisco at slims. I was in contact with him he said it was an oversight that would be corrected on the e-book version. I have the physical book so I never bought the e-book to check but I suspect he forgot to do it. I’m still in touch with him and I recently bought his black sabbath sabotage book. I put a lot of work in the scanning and sending those items to him. I will never send anything to anyone again Unless I am promised a credit. Just saw Gillan with purple at the very last US show in Wheatland California. I finally had to put my earplugs in my ears were ringing above the volume of the music (5th row center) but I do suffer from tinnitus as well!😬

  29. 29
    Rockman says:

    Hey Scott, my apologies, did not realize it was such an old post & really I should have said something like hopefully you & Martin got it sorted out as I know he’s a good guy & so on.
    I guess the avoid & he’s flaky part rubbed me wrong as he’s one of the only guys out there writing about the music we all love, again my apologizes…

Add a comment:

Preview no longer available -- once you press Post, that's it. All comments are subject to moderation policy.

||||Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
© 1993-2024 The Highway Star and contributors
Posts, Calendar and Comments RSS feeds for The Highway Star