IAN GILLAN has proven himself as one of the most powerful and charismatic rock vocalists over a career which has seen heady fame with DEEP PURPLE, solo success and a seemingly tireless work ethic. Gillan's first teenage act, GARTH ROCKETT AND THE MOONSHINERS, proved a valuable stepping stone to a more professional outfit that shared the same rehearsal room: RONNIE AND THE HI-TONES.

Upon Gillan's arrival the band (and vocalist) adopted a new title of JESS THUNDER AND THE JAVELINS. This act gave Gillan touring experience over two years before he departed to join the more lucrative EPISODE SIX, an established outfit with a recording contract. Amongst EPISODE SIX's ranks was bassist Roger Glover and both he and Gillan would later join DEEP PURPLE and form a solid part of that band's 'Mark II' line-up. DEEP PURPLE, spearheaded by IAN GILLAN's quite unique vocal presence, RITCHIE BLACKMORE's pioneering guitar wizardry and JON LORD's magnificent Hammond organ flurries, DEEP PURPLE would launch itself to major international acclaim and status. As such, the singer fronted up some of the landmark Hard Rock songs such as the seminal 'Smoke On The Water', 'Black Night', 'Woman From Tokyo', 'Highway Star', 'Space Truckin', 'Strange Kind Of Woman' and 'Child In Time'.

Quitting DEEP PURPLE in 1973 it took Ian Gillan two years to form his own band, originally titled SHAN GRENADE before opting to go with THE IAN GILLAN BAND. His debut solo effort, 'Child In Time' recorded in Munich, Germany over the Winter of 1975 and 1976, featured guitarist Ray Fenwick, former BIG THREE, EPISODE SIX, DAEMON, HARD STUFF, ROXY MUSIC and QUATERMASS bassist JOHN GUSTAFSON, drummer Mark Nauseef, keyboard player Mike Moran and ex-DEEP PURPLE cohort ROGER GLOVER on additional keyboards and production. Nauseef's prior tradition had included a term of touring duty in 1972 with THE VELVET UNDERGROUND and membership of Ronnie James Dio's ELF. The album was noted for its mellower rendition of the DEEP PURPLE classic 'Child In Time'.

By the time the IAN GILLAN BAND undertook its first gigs, in France during April of 1976 Mickey Lee Soule had replaced Mike Moran on keyboards. In June of that year the band supported NAZARETH in the USA. A set of UK tour dates was announced for that November, but then pushed back into the following May. German concerts in Offenbach, Cologne, Nürnberg and the Ludwigshafen 'Easter Rock' festival conducted in April had the IAN GILLAN BAND partnered with a heavyweight billing comprising BLACK SABBATH and AC/DC. The live set often included DEEP PURPLE classics such as the aforementioned 'Child In Time' and 'Smoke On The Water'. A regular encore number was "Woman From Tokyo'.

Summer festivals at 'Oulu Kuusrock' in Finland and 'Roskilde' in Denmark the band set to work on the 'Scarabus' album in July and August, another album in a Jazz Rock vein. Japanese shows followed in September upfront of a second British run of dates throughout November. The Tokyo Budokan gig on September 22nd had produced the 'Live At Budokan' album which included the band performing originals, DEEP PURPLE numbers and even tracks from Gustafson's solo album 'What's Your Game?'. 1978 was opened with a low key gig in February at the Camden Music Machine.

A follow up London Marquee show then preceded a tour of North America before the band evolved into simply GILLAN. The resulting 'Mr. Universe' album witnessed a complete change of members. The line-up for this effort would see Gillan alongside former CURTIS MALDOON and ZZEBRA bassist John McCoy, keyboard player Colin Towns, ex-ZZEBRA guitarist Steve Bird and another former ZZEBRA man in drummer Liam Genocky.

Mark Nauseef joined up with Gary Moore's G FORCE.