Ian Gillan Q & A

Ian Gillan was born in 1945 in Hounslow, Middlesex. He joined his first group, The Moonshines, in Middlesex; and turned professional in 1962 when he toured with The Javelins. In 1969, he joined Deep Purple as lead singer, and a year later they released the landmark album, Deep Purple In Rock. Gillan left the band in 1973, but has rejoined them at various times over the years and is currently touring the UK with them.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Winning the Derby with Phil Banfield on my back (he's my manager).

What is your greatest fear?
Heights.

With which historical figure do you most identify?
Osama bin Laden - I used to have long hair.

Which living person do you most admire?
My wife, she's beautiful.

What has been your most embarrassing moment?
Rolling on to a bed of nettles while in the throes of youthful passion, then screaming off through the fields, leaving behind a look on a woman's face I've not seen since.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?
My barrel chest, I'm thin(nish) front on, but huge sideways.

What is your greatest extravagance?
Deep Purple.

What objects do you always carry with you?
A handkerchief (don't you hate it when people sneeze in your face?), and my reading glasses.

What is your favourite journey?
'Flying through the night in a beat-up wagon with a mike stand up my jacksie' (The opening line to '69). Any rock 'n' roll tour, really.

Should the royal family be scrapped?
Not yet: hopefully they will get the picture and sort themselves out.

Do you believe in capital punishment?
Absolutely not.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My families; both personal and professional.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Anyone seen my glasses/wallet/fags/car/hotel?

What is your greatest regret?
Not going to meet Elvis with all the other guys after a show in Vegas. The young Elvis was a hero of mine and I didn't want to burst the bubble.

How would you like to die?
Cryptically.

By Rosanna Greenstreet
The Guardian, Saturday February 9, 2002
© Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002
Thanks to Mark J

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