Ian Gillan is reported as being in the line-up for a Jeff Healey tribute show, to be held on May 3rd 2008 in the Sound Academy, Toronto. Other performers named include Jack Bruce (from Cream) and Randy Bachman (of Bachman Turner Overdrive). There is a second night held at Jeff Healey's Roadhouse on May 4th. Proceeds from the show will go to the Daisy's Eye Cancer Fund and to the Healey Family Trust.

DB #7001873 (with thanks to Tom Jory) Photo: David Leyes

Ian Gillan has a live album and DVD out, recorded on his Gillan's Inn tour of America in 2006. Live In Anaheim is "approved and 100% endorsed by the artist" according to the sales bumph. Two tracks from this gig have already appeared on the special edition of Gillan's Inn. It's a double disc set, and the press info says it is totally unedited. The band comprised Randy Cooke, Rodney Appleby, Michael Lee Jackson, Dean Howard and Joe Mennonna.

David Coseni in Canada says there will be an NTSC format version on the Live in Anaheim DVD released in North America in May.

The shows were reviewed in DTB Issue 58. The disc is shipping now, and can be ordered from dpas mail order.

DPAS First Impressions: As the Gillan's Inn tour never made it out of America, a useful official souvenir for those who missed it. If you think IG during his between DP spell in the early 90s you'll not be far wrong; a top notch backing band and a whole mess of off the wall cuts and favourites all delivered in fine no-nonsense style. Gillan has been in stronger voice (the following DP tour for starters!) but all in all a great time seems to have been had by all. Strangely I enjoyed the early in the set grunge of Into The Fire most; with a bass so slack it sets the teeth on edge, it manages to capture some of the spirit of 1970 well. Guitars restrained as well. Points docked for flash but ultimately skimpy packaging (booklet? One piece of paper!), and the mix is a bit strange at times too. SR

SR #7001873

We've had enquiries so here's our thoughts. Despite what their advance publicity said, the latest Gillan archive CD is a poor quality audience recording from the short season the band did at the Marquee in December 1978. At least one listener reckons it's the first night with Ritchie Blackmore on the encores (ageing fans will recall the man in black turned up unannounced for a jam while trying to get Ian Gillan to join Rainbow) but overall less complete than the widely available bootleg.

SR #700188 (Thanks to Tim Summers)

There's another Gillan 'Best Of' out, this time from the label handling the Gillan back-catalogue reissues. So it's worth picking up as an introduction to the band (despite some early albums being ignored), and good value for money (31 tracks on a double). For the rest of us there's nothing here to tempt the collector, and even new fans will find very little to enable them to dig deeper into the catalogue as it lacks a straightforward list of tracks + origins. Our thanks to Stuart Hamilton for the heads up (the label couldn't even be bothered to email us a sales sheet!).

This collection can now be ordered from dpas mail order.

SR #7001841

Ian Gillan extends his online presence with his own TV station - well, his own channel, well a few clips powered by YouTube at any rate. So if the thought of yet more repeats, dumbed down docs or reality TV shows on the BBC doesn't turn you on, try tuning in. It's a bit silly, but much better than YouTube's usual fare of pirated copyright material!

http://www.youtube.com/CarambaTV

MM #700186 (Thanks to Richard Taylor)

Gillan's fondly remembered set off BBC TV's "Rock Goes To College" series at Oxford Polytechnic on the 2nd February 1981 is finally due out on DVD shortly. It includes the full one hour show, plus a wedge of Top Of The Pops appearances from around the same time and a German TV slot of the band doing Vengeance.

It can be pre-ordered now at dpas mail order, where a complete track listing can also be found.

MM #700185

Classic Rock magazine has reported stories of a Gillan reunion, apparently spurred on by the sorting out of differences between the two sides. It would certainly be great if things have been settled. Anyway we'll be as interested as anyone else to see if there is any substance to the report. Altogether now, hey hey a hey hey!

In response (on Classic Rock's website), Bernie Torme has issued this statement:

'Anything is possible, but it would be nice to be asked about it before reading it in Classic Rock! I don't think in my case it's exactly likely, but I would never say never, and anyway there's always Janick Gers or Steve Byrd [two other former Gillan guitarists] to think about. Obviously I can't speak for anyone else. Maybe they are already finalising tour dates and booking hotels, but no one has asked me!'

SR #7001831, with thanks to Paul Harrison.

Demon / Edsel are due to release a box set of the eleven UK singles issued by Gillan between 1979-82, in CD-sized replicas of their original 7” sleeves. As a clincher for fans the box also includes a bonus DVD of seven promo videos. most of which have never been commercially available before. The booklet will apparently be annotated by Ian Gillan. The singles are:

• 'Vengeance' / 'Smoke On The Water' [live at Kingsway Recorders]
• 'Sleeping On The Job' / 'Higher And Higher'
• ' No Easy Way' [single edit] / 'Handles On Her Hips' / 'I Might As Well Go Home (Mystic)'
• 'Trouble' / 'Your Sister’s On My List' / 'Mr' Universe' [live] /
  'Vengeance' [live] / 'Smoke On The Water' [live]
• 'Mutually Assured Destruction' / 'The Maelstrom'
• 'New Orleans' / 'Take A Hold Of Yourself'
• 'No Laughing In Heaven' [single edit] / 'One For The Road' / 'Lucille' / 'Bad News'
• 'Nightmare' / 'Bite The Bullet' [live]
• 'Restless' / 'On The Rocks' [live]
• 'Living For The City' / 'Breaking Chains' / 'Purple Sky'
• 'Long Gone' / 'Fiji'

"Bonus DVD: The Videos" - 'Sleeping On The Job', 'No Laughing In Heaven', 'Lucille', 'Nightmare', 'Restless', 'Living For The City', 'Long Gone'. (shame that there's one missing: ie. 'Mr. Universe', which it seems was made at the same time as 'Sleeping On The Job').

The box set can be ordered at dpas mail order. This release is now in stock. The label seem to have contracted out distribution, and this caused delays and non-delivery beyond the original release date. We should also note that this set is now limited to 3,000 worldwide. Review DTB Issue 59.

DPAS Review / First Impressions: Gillan - The Singles / The Promo Videos updated

DPAS Illustrated Discography: Gillan 7" Singles

DB #7001811, with thanks to Martin Waldron (see more details at www.gillan.com)

The two disc version of Gillan's Inn Tour Edition is now scheduled for American release in October 2007. This is the same as the one which came out in Europe back in February 2007.

SR #700182

There is a Japanese 10xCD card sleeve set of Ian Gillan material coming out in August in Japan.

It includes Child in Time, Live At The Budokan, Mr.Universe, Glory Road, Future Shock, Double Trouble, Magic, Accidentally On Purpose, Naked Thunder and Toolbox. Thanks to John Jennings for the news.

SR #700180

Ian Gillan performed a one-off in Greece on Saturday, June 30 with the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra, at an open-air theatre called Theatro Gis (Theatre of the Earth), Thessaloniki. It seats 6,000.

Ian sang over orchestral arrangements of several Deep Purple songs - Highway Star, Fireball, Smoke On The Water, Black Night, When A Blind Man Cries, Ted the Mechanic, Strange Kind Of Woman and Perfect Strangers.

DPAS Live Review : Ian Gillan / Thessaloniki, June 30th 2007

MR #7001791 (photo: Martin Ashberry)

(Thanks to Anestis Ladopoulos & Nikos Mantzos)

Repertoire Records are selling in three Gillan CD remasters, the same month as the Demon remasters already confirmed (see below) but in at least one case with different bonus tracks. We don't know what's going on but if anyone can explain the situation let us know and we'll pass the info on. dpas mail order are sticking with the Demon titles to try and avoid confusion.

SR #700133 (photo: Alan Perry)