Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan is set to embark on a talk tour of the UK, sharing stories from his 65-year career. The Talking Gib'rish Tour will see the 80-year-old singer discuss his beginnings in 1960s bands such as The Javelins and Episode Six, his solo work, and his tenure as a member of Deep Purple's classic Mark II line-up.
Tour Details and Personal Reflections
Gillan expressed his excitement about the tour, stating: “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.”
The singer will also recount his time playing the titular character on the 1970 concept album of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar, and his work with other bands including Garth Rockett And The Moonshiners and Repo Depo. Gillan 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.”
Tour Schedule and Deep Purple Legacy
The tour will begin in April 2027 and continue throughout May, with dates and locations to be announced in due course. Gillan joined Deep Purple in 1969 as part of the Mark II line-up alongside Roger Glover, Ian Paice, Jon Lord, and Ritchie Blackmore. This lineup shifted the band from organ-led psychedelia to a proto-metal sound on influential albums such as Deep Purple In Rock (1970), Fireball (1971), and Machine Head (1972).
Gillan left Deep Purple in 1973 to pursue solo projects, notably with the band Gillan, and spent a short time in Black Sabbath before returning to Deep Purple in 1984. He left again in 1989, returned in 1992, and has toured with the group ever since.
