Hold tight
Another Friday, another (yep, you’ve guessed it) classic Gillan video clip. This time it’s On the Rocks off the Rock Goes to College from February 23, 1981.
Thanks to Steve for his continuing vigilance.
![[hand]](/hs-pics/portraits/hands/gillan1.jpg)
![[face]](/hs-pics/portraits/faces/glover3.jpg)
Another Friday, another (yep, you’ve guessed it) classic Gillan video clip. This time it’s On the Rocks off the Rock Goes to College from February 23, 1981.
Thanks to Steve for his continuing vigilance.
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
It is MAGNIFICENT! – really no more to say 😍
Oh yes, maybe this: WHAT. A. VOICE 🤩
July 5th, 2025 at 11:12With his amazing catalogue of catchy songs, you do scratch your head with this choice of song in the set list.
July 5th, 2025 at 11:59Peace ✌️
Uwe would like to unequivocally state that this is – for once – a GILLAN song where he has nothing to complain about. Proper music. Once you were proud to be man, you‘d carry out your own tiny part of the plan …
Unless I can still think of something.
July 5th, 2025 at 14:21This song well represents how bastard Gillan’s sound was:
July 5th, 2025 at 17:16an underlying drone of NWOBHM, something punk and then the keyboards and Gillan’s voice that prevent excessive trespassing into the two genres mentioned above,(although little or nothing in this song),
all this topped off with an incredible technical ability for such a “dirty” band.
wild and refined at the same time.
So we have a little bickering over the Spinal Tap /Black Sabbath Stonehenge setup? However more seriously than that, just what are Tony, Bev and Big Ian up to behind this shirt or jacket. Geezer finds it all very amusing while he isn’t partaking at all. Cheers.
https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/this-is-spinal-tap-director-insists-stonehenge-scene-was-not-inspired-by-black-sabbaths-stage-prop-blunder
July 6th, 2025 at 03:30I don’t remember this story at all. It seems Blackmore and Bonham enjoyed taking the piss out of each other, literally. Cheers.
https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/ritchie-blackmore-deep-purple-thought-of-john-bonham-led-zeppelin
July 6th, 2025 at 03:39But Adel, for dramatic impact, this is one of the best GILLAN songs ever!
July 6th, 2025 at 05:56Mac
July 6th, 2025 at 19:36There’s quite a lot of good stuff about Bonzo in Colin Harts book …it does indeed appear like Blackers and Bonham were good mates !
There’s a story about Bonzo coming over to Blackmores place ” pissed ” and insisting they take led Zep off the record player …and put ” Man on the silver mountain ” on ….apparently Ritchie was quite concerned about his guests being upset by Bonzos drunken antics !
@ 8 – thanks Steve for that information. Yes indeed Bonham liked the drink too much unfortunately. Another one destined for a quick exit. A shame it was when he passed but many were not surprised, including myself. Same with Keith Moon. Cheers.
July 7th, 2025 at 03:39I’ve read about Ritchie’s lighthearted banter with Bonzo about “who stole what where better” before. Ritchie also liked Bonham’s drumming style, in a late 70s interview he called him Zep’s greatest asset. (And I guess that Ritchie’s choice of Cozy Powell as Rainbow’s drummer showed too that he didn’t rate Ian Paice’s more fluid style the be- and end-all of all things rock drumming.)
Bonham was close with Glenn Hughes too, coming from the Midlands as they both were. There are also pictures of Glenn, Tommy, Tommy’s then girlfriend Karen Ulibarri and Robert Plant on a night out or backstage after an Mk IV gig at Radio City Music Hall in NYC.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/e2/57/d8/e257d8e968cf8f188f32c3e93cfc41b7.jpg
https://forums.ledzeppelin.com/topic/22840-robert-with-glenn-hughes-and-tommy-bolin-ny-february-1976/
Finally, Jimmy Page already rated Tommy Bolin back in the latter’s Zephyr days when the Colorado band opened for the Brits.
July 7th, 2025 at 09:37I am becoming Gillanified again. I just received a message that the Gillan deluxe seven disc box set has arrived. A strange feeling is overtaking me, not sure if I like it or not. Any help as to a way to deal with this would be gratefully appreciated. I will drive into the big smoke tomorrow and pick it up. Wish me luck. All this Gillan and Ian Gillan everywhere. He is taking over. I wonder who is responsible. Cheers.
July 8th, 2025 at 06:10@11
“All this Gillan and Ian Gillan everywhere. He is taking over. I wonder who is responsible.”
– well it’s certainly not me! 😇
July 8th, 2025 at 10:50The intro on Glory Road to On The Rocks is bonkers. Surely one of the finest in the extended Purple family history.
July 8th, 2025 at 12:57Brother MacGregor, in case you haven’t noticed: This Danish woman is the second coming of Mary Magdalene
https://64.media.tumblr.com/4de30a2d87df3841912d2fc832be87d3/tumblr_p5o8qheSLF1up42jgo8_540.gif
and she will not stop bearing witness to the resurrection of the great IG/JC …
https://youtu.be/IhDL9fa2ct0
July 8th, 2025 at 13:05Mac
July 8th, 2025 at 13:32You certainly won’t be disappointed…believe me !
All those classics…album gems and rarities…plus incredible B sides …you’ll be back in your youth again !
It’s fantastic value for money too !
@11 I think you’ve lost this battle. It dawns on me that Gillan is a cat in a human skin. He enters your space, establishes contact, crushes your will and then proceeds to do whatever he wants with you, like buy treats for him or a box set of his CDs. Whatever he prefers.
July 8th, 2025 at 14:14I sincerely hope John McCoy and Colin Towns receive some royalties from this recent box set release of Gillan. Cheers
July 8th, 2025 at 21:53@ 12- feeling guilty are we Karin? Better remove that halo just in case, he he he. Seriously though, that music was very loud that you had playing with Ian Gillan Deep Purple, when Anton posed for his video shoot a few days ago. I didn’t have my sound turned up the first time I viewed that. Yesterday I didn’t realise it was on with the volume cranked up a little and it nearly blew me out of the room. I noticed Anton’s ears were naturally covered too. Although one ear was slightly raised, as if he was waiting for his masters command or something. Poor little thing. Cheers.
July 8th, 2025 at 22:02David Black …yeah, I thought that too ..with the puppet ( or whatever) laughing …its obviously Colin Towns …and you can hear why he has gone on and done so well in Television and Film
July 8th, 2025 at 22:38Mac
There’s a new John McCoy vid that I’ve sent to Nick to post …apparently, they all get 3 % …but, this royalties argument is rumbling on …and I don’t think you can blame J.M …apparently it’s just a reply to all the comments they’ve had …not least , from sites like this !
Gillan could probably come out and say his piece …but I doubt he wants to Stoke the fire …..and, moreover….I bet he’s sick to death about hearing about it !
July 8th, 2025 at 22:44Thanks for all the replies chaps, it is all becoming clearer as we speak. @ 14- yes Uwe, that is why I have ‘ordered’ Karin to remove that halo, the nerve of that lady! @15- thanks Steve, I will have it in a few hours to peruse through etc. @ 16- Georgivs, you are not wrong there at all, plus he does all that and more while living in a huge old castle way up in the mountains, a bit like Count Dracula. Sucking all the cash out of us, leaving us penniless and destitute and definitely NOT living in castles. @ 20 -thanks Steve 4422, nice to hear that about the royalties. Being involved in many of the compositions and all, good to hear. @ 14- and that 1987 live clip Uwe, good to hear that and at that time too, as I thought those two (Blackmore and Gillan) had had enough of each other by then. Cheers.
July 8th, 2025 at 23:43@14
Oh thank you for the link to Ian and Ritchie having at least some sort of banter on stage 😊🥰
I enjoy immensely that to see that!
And didn’t I stress in @12 that it certainly wasn’t me…?
July 9th, 2025 at 03:32@15
Indeed you’re right Steve! It’s a great box-set 🤩
@16
He is the inventor of the Portable Door 😄
@17
July 9th, 2025 at 03:35Don’t they do that by law? I guess our Lawyer in here must know these things!
@18
No! Not the slightest feeling of guilt whatsoever ☺️
Oh thank you for worrying about my little doglet, but the microphone in the iPad picks up on music, more than on talking actually.
I’m checking and testing his ears and eyes regularly, and he can hear if I whisper ‘Anton vil du have en godbid’ (Anton do you want a treat) from the office and he is in the living room 😄 (two rooms in each end of the house).
Normally when I listen to music, I either have my headphones on or Anton is tucked away in his little bed far away from the loudspeakers 😊
July 9th, 2025 at 03:42@20
3%?!
That’s not a great cut…but Steve I guess that’s the normal rate?
July 9th, 2025 at 03:43@22 if it’s banter you want listen at 19.00 to this. You can hear IG clearly but if you turn up the sound you can hear RB speak!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZd42_PZ2Zw
July 9th, 2025 at 10:11I have the Gillan box set, it is a nice package. A good booklet and I had a listen to Magic first, of all the albums. Why, because it had a few deformities on the playing surface and I wanted to make sure it played ok, thankfully it did. A couple of interesting extra tracks on it. Uwe sent us the Fiji link a while back and it is nice to have that song on a hard copy. Magic has a few good songs on it, it isn’t a strong album though. I have not owned the album for decades and I must admit to hearing Ian going off vocally so much, does remind me of his following stint in Sabbath. I don’t recall having noticed that in that light back then (1980’s) as it all sounded grand. These days, not all of it is that grand, but that is ok. That Beatles cover Helter Skelter, what was Ian on????????????? Not a good cover, too much hedonism going on perhaps. Interesting to hear ‘South Africa’ the Bernie Marsden song and ‘Smokestack Lightning’ too. Nice to have Bluesy Blue Sea and Demon Driver again. Looking forward to hearing the two albums before Glory Road. I am not familiar at all with any of that, so it will be good to go in at the deep end. Cheers.
July 9th, 2025 at 10:40Mac
So glad you got it . Both Karin and I can vouch for your enjoyment of it!
I can’t believe you’ve never heard Mr Universe before …you’re in for a treat !
With the rest …I just don’t know where to begin !…..the version of Smoke from his Kingsway studio is jaw dropping …I’m your Man …Spanish Guitar …all the b sides ( especially Your sisters on my list ) …the list just goes on and on ….I actually transferred all my cds to my phone …then I put them on random play through my soundbar….and it ends up being played all night …and getting louder and louder !
July 9th, 2025 at 13:05Enjoy with a few Fosters !
@26
Ohh thank you so much David 👍🏼
Ohhh man Blackmore really was something else!
I hear BB King hasn’t lived in vain in the little solo before “Gypsy’s kiss” 😃
Anyone knows where I can get a new pair of eardrums? Because foolishly I turned up for my ear-thingies to hear the bantering, and the came the ‘Ian-scream’ 😄
July 9th, 2025 at 13:45Well it was worth loosing my eardrums to hear that 🤩
The video is great, i love Glory Road, but Gillan in that video could be a part of this gallery here:
July 9th, 2025 at 16:44https://dangerousminds.net/comments/battle_of_the_bulge_classic_rock_stars_and_their_packages/
@28
“Both Karin and I can vouch for your enjoyment of it!”
– so very much YES!
Actually I think about buying this fireproof safe and put all my Purple and Ian stuff in there!
(Well else can I do to all my valuables 😍)
But of course, I do own a very nice mug (for coffee) with SotW lyrics, and to get that out of the safe, drink the coffee, carefully wash up the mug, place it in the safe again….well that’s doable!
https://youtu.be/gXLcQ2Fl6BU?si=ANfArUvGYNS1aSbI
July 9th, 2025 at 19:03@30
Gerd, I think you are very funny 😅
July 9th, 2025 at 19:04“I thank you”
July 9th, 2025 at 19:23“He thanks me”
“I thank you”
“He thanks me”
Purple up to ‘76 were “dangerous “ for want of a better word. Gillan were far more “dangerous” than either same era Rainbow or Whitesnake. Brings back very happy memories of getting on my bike after school to ride down to Virgin, Bristol to buy the latest Gillan 45 for 99p. It’s only 45 years ago. Fm.
July 9th, 2025 at 19:29Now that Gerd has thankfully introduced valid male fashion concerns to this site with his Battle of the Bulge link, I feel honor-bound to remind you all of Black Panther Comrade Eldridge Cleaver’s legendary sartorial design, do get the hang of it:
https://i.imgur.com/RE8EL.jpg
https://images.app.goo.gl/6ToFTmsEiu8LoJsr7
https://youtu.be/O1qbBf1qP10?si=DC4nos3DIds7jRaE
It’s just like that famous Elton John song Dangle in the Wind.
I remember reading about this scintillating piece of fashion news in DER SPIEGEL in 1976 on their Personalien double page and filed it away in my memory, wondering if I would ever have to retrieve it one day. That day has now come, danke Gerd!
PS: Gerd really only referenced a few tips of the iceberg, so honorary mention must be bestowed on …
https://tyrannyoftradition.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/manowar1.jpg
July 9th, 2025 at 20:12@35
I’m surprised you didn’t mention Cynthia “Plaster Caster” Albritton. Her website went away after she died… but you can probably find it with the Wayback Machine. The HTML version will yield a better result; the Flash version has a few bugs.
July 9th, 2025 at 22:37#26 David:
Thanks for the link to the concert!
July 9th, 2025 at 22:59You made me listen to Gillan again from 1985, who 95% of the time could still hit the high notes of Child in Time!
Great!
@ 30 – Gerd, from being worried about Glenn Hughes getting a bit of jest because of his hair, to the battle of the bulge. I am confused? Anyway it is all good fun at times, well some of it, depending on how we all look at things in life. Karin will be appalled at this, well perhaps not, he he he. Diamond Dave with Van Halen. Yes, I do remember my Dutch lady friend telling me about those days. Going to see them way back then and being ‘gobsmacked’ to put it mildly. Ha ha ha, those were the days eh? Thanks for that link, not that I mean that in a’certain’ way, we have to be careful here at THS, anybody could take that the wrong way. Cheers.
July 9th, 2025 at 23:06@ 28 – thanks Steve. I will be picking away at it over the next few weeks. My days of playing a lot of hard rock are behind me. It is intense some this Gillan, I tend to go for the less intense these days, if that is the way to put it. When alone in this house and in the mood, I may crank Unchain Your Brain and No Laughing in Heaven and a few others. First up is Mr Universe and the earlier songs that I have never heard. Cheers.
July 10th, 2025 at 04:25@ 29 – “Anyone know where I can get a new pair of eardrums? Because foolishly I turned up for my ear-thingies to hear the bantering, and then came the ‘Ian-scream’ 😄 Well it was worth losing my eardrums to hear that 🤩” This sort of behaviour is EXACTLY why I worry about little Anton. Sheeesh, the mind boggles looking at his life of seven years living on planet Earth. Anton has heard more Ian Gillan related music than all of us here at THS combined over our entire lifetimes. Now that is saying something, the poor little thing. I can just imagine the look on his face when Karin arrived home with the Gillan seven disc box set. Cheers
July 10th, 2025 at 04:35