Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan to share tales from his career in talk tour

Tue, 21 Jul, 2026 - 14:19

By Casey Cooper-Fiske, Press Association Senior Entertainment Reporter

Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan is to share tales from his career as he embarks on a talk tour of the UK.

On the Talking Gib’rish Tour, the 80-year-old Smoke On The Water singer will speak about his 65-year-career, from his beginnings in 1960s bands such as The Javelins and Episode Six, through to his solo work and time as a member of Deep Purple’s classic Mark II line-up.

Gillan said: “I am ecstatic in anticipation of sharing tales not only from the road and studios, but also my early years and the amazing souls I have had the pleasure to meet along the way.

“From hilarious rock ‘n’ roll stories to reflections on life and the wonderful experiences I have had, I hope to have audiences transfixed from the start.”

Music – Gillan Joins Black Sabbath – 1983 — Gillan will share stories from throughout his career (PA)

He will also speak about his time playing the titular character on the 1970 concept album of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar, and with his other bands Garth Rockett And The Moonshiners and Repo Depo.

The singer added: “I’ve got shelves full of notebooks. I call it ‘colour and rough gibberish’, I jot down everything, phrases, what people were drinking, how the wind was blowing, anything that adds detail.”

The tour will begin in April 2027, and continue throughout May, with dates and locations to be announced in due course.

SHOWBIZ Rock — Members of Deep Purple’s Mark II line-up Ian Paice, Ian Gillan and Jon Lord (Yui Mok/PA)

Gillan joined Deep Purple in 1969 forming part of the band’s Mark II line-up alongside Roger Glover, Ian Paice, Jon Lord and Ritchie Blackmore, which saw a move away from the organ-led psychedelia of their first two records.

With Gillan, the band moved towards a proto-metal sound on the influential albums Deep Purple In Rock (1970), Fireball (1971) and Machine Head (1972).

The singer left the band in 1973 and went on to pursue a number of solo projects, most notably with the band Gillan, and even spent a short time in Black Sabbath before returning to Deep Purple in 1984. He left again in 1989, then returned in 1992, and has toured with the group ever since.