Ian Gillan: Fireball favorite album of 1st Deep Purple era

[holydiver73]

If it takes you 3 weeks to write an album, why has it been 6 years? Is it because the main creative forces that kept the albums coming were always Ritchie Blackmore and Jon Lord and they're both gone. I see a pattern evolving. After Blackmore left it took 3 years to do an album then another 2 then another 5 years, then another 2 and now another 6+. Has the juices run dry that Purple's only outlet is extensive touring? I'm a big fan but I'm pissed off at how non creative the band has become.

[robiandolo]

You could argue, they were loud and roudy but as soon as thats said they could be bluesy, funky or jazzy. This band with a mean horn section would have been too over the top to handle! BTW - all mark were great but Deep Purple is mark 2! No contats!

[DCHurlford1]

@robiandolo Funny you say that, they actually used a horn section on a few tracks on their excellent cd Live At The Olympia '96.

[robiandolo]

As the Beatles were the greatest pop band / songwriters / musicaal enbtity, Deep Purple is the greatest jam / hard rock band of all time and in my view I dont think there will ever be a combo like this. Ian Paice is the best drummer in rock or so far to ever be in rock and as far as I'm concerned the same goes for Jon lord and of course Richie Blackmore. These are giants among giants.

[JBIrons]

Fireball, my first Purple album. the rest is history.

[1m2a3t4t5]

best hard rock band aside from Zeppelin

[robiandolo]

@1m2a3t4t5 Love, Love, Love Zeppelin but they reach #2 behind Band of Deep Purple!

[Roggiedodgie]

Mr. Gillan,

Ok, I just want to know what is the big deal about Ray Charles? It seems like every bloke just loves the heck out of him, and ok, he's got that "soulfull" voice and Steve Winwood got it down just perfect, but what the hell for? Ray Charles is Ray Charles, and he has nothing- nothing to do with hard rock. Likewise with Led Zeppelin's Plant giving all his praise to the jackass whiners from down south. All those fellows did was whine about life, and loved shooting their wads.

[SlackerSlayer]

@Roggiedodgie "what is the big deal about Ray Charles?"

When these old time rock n rollers say this,,, they are talking about what was played on the radio that got to them, what interested them musically, what motivated them to be a singer/musician themselves. Place yourself in the 1950s,,, what were your listening options? Personally I hate 50's music except Chuck Berry, Thee Real King of Rock and Roll.

[Roggiedodgie]

@SlackerSlayer Good reply. I don't know why I said "shooting their wads" at the end of my rant. I must have had a few. But you put some sense into it all.

[TheArbiter74]

Ian appears to be quite an affable and articulate bloke!!! Dispite me being a guitarist, I would prefer to pull a few pints down at the local watering hole with Ian.

[GeorgVanHalen]

Fireball is my favorite Deep Purple album. Why? The experimentation on it.. In Rock was as loud and fierce as Deep Purple ever got. Machine Head was a great album from the first track to the last. But in terms of variation, Fireball was the best.

[DCHurlford1]

@GeorgVanHalen Yeah even though Fireball did quite well (No1 in UK, Top 20 in US i think) it's still quite an underrated album. Love Blackmore's playing on The Mule......fantastic! and the progginess of Fools. The '96 remaster cd was fab (remixes/outtakes). I'd say In Rock was a defining Hard Rock album and by the time of Machine Head they'd refined their sound to perfection.

(David.)

[GeorgVanHalen]

@DCHurlford1 - From what I've seen Ian Gillan has refered to "Anyone's Daughters" as a fun song but a "mistake". I love it (the song), yes, it isn't especially "hardrock" but that don't matter to me. Ritchie Blackmore seems to "hate" the whole Fireball album. As much as I enjoy Ritchie Blackmore on his guitar I really don't agree with him in his opinions about his own music. He puts way to much personal feelings about the recording process in it. It's still good music no matter how it was done!

[DCHurlford1]

@GeorgVanHalen I must admit i've always had a soft spot for Anyone's Daughter, some may dismiss it as a throaway song but like you i think it's great. Some fine finger picking from Blackmore and Gillan's lyrics are really witty. Ha ha yeah to say Ritchie could be a bit moody would be an understatement. I suppose though his studio/live work wouldn't have been as half as fiery and memorable if he didn't have that moodiness/volatility in his personality. His wife Candice is an absolute beauty!

[SilverTounge85]

Most important moment in Deep Purple's career was definatly when the creative forces of Gillan/Glover joining the band.

[theyorkshirewhites]

Wrong title for your video..Fireball was by Deep Purple MKII, therefore it was their second era..not the first.

[rmaxinmass]

Saw them with Steve Morse and was not impressed. Now they don't have Jon Lord either. They miss Ritchie! Saw them in 90 with Blackmore and it was awesome despite

ian Gillan's absence.

[y0gus]

"In Rock" was like the first metal manual - you could find everything inside :)

I think all DP formations were interesting

[theyorkshirewhites]

DP were never metal..Ian Gillan said..only fools think we are a Heavy Metal band.

[thevincek]

I love In Rock and Machine Head,

but Come Taste The Band is my favorite!

Repture of the Deep is greate, too!

[WICD1969]

"Come Taste The Band!???" How could that be?

[thevincek]

That album is for me something unusual, and I love how Tommy Bolin play guitar...

More important for world music are In Rock and Machine Head, but i love Come Taste The Band!

All the best for you in new year!

[L485]

As Richie said :

"Fireball" is the most weak album of Purple-MK II .

Besides of the track "Fireball" itself, the material has not the quality of "In Rock",

or even "Machine Head".

[diamonddust22]

L485 who cares what Ritchie says, Ian was saying that without Fireball they couldn't do Machine Head. Fireball was a precursor to Machinehead.

[theyorkshirewhites]

Fireball was not a precursor to Machine Head, In Rock was...Fireball was an interlude..with some experimentation, and although it reached No1 it was not as well received.

[diamonddust22]

@theyorkshirewhites So I guess Ian Gillan is lying? Yeah ok pal. Wow another kid living in his own world of lies and fantasy. Get a grip

[theyorkshirewhites]

Did I say he was lying..which comment are you replying to?

[diamonddust22]

@theyorkshirewhites Well Ian Gillan Said Fireball was a precursor to Machine Head, and you say it wasn't. So that would make Ian Gillan a liar, by your standards.

[theyorkshirewhites]

Yes, technically Fireball was a precursor as it followed In Rock..but in musical terms Machine Head was the natural successor to In Rock, a more natural musical progression.

That's all I meant.

[diamonddust22]

@theyorkshirewhites understandable, but according to Ian Gillan, he saw Fireball as the precursor, and who better would know then the guy who was in the band.

[theyorkshirewhites]

I've read where Blackmore says the same as I said..he was in the band also, it was him who persuaded them to go back to the In Rock formula.

It comes down to opinions..and as we know..Blackmore's and Gillan's were rarely the same !

[diamonddust22]

@theyorkshirewhites damn you are from England? God I would love to live there so bad. Very true with what you said though.

[theyorkshirewhites]

You can come to England if you promise to be a supporter of the mighty Leeds United.

[diamonddust22]

@theyorkshirewhites lol, damn right I will. I was at Leeds Castle. Being in the UK felt like my long lost home.

[theyorkshirewhites]

Maybe you were a Knight in a previous life..

Arise Sir Diamond Of The Dust.

[diamonddust22]

@theyorkshirewhites thanks brother. I intend on coming back and living in Europe for sure. I'm from Canada but I long to live in Europe so bad.

[mnunezper]

@diamonddust22 fireball is great but at that time is not what ritchie looked for. Fireball is progressive and very creative but dunno I prefer other albums.. its like I have to think too much listening fireball,other albums are direct.For progressive things I preffer songs as pictures of home or bands like YES,dont know. Plus, I think that Burn is a masterpiece I like it more than fireball.

Ritchie was the soul of purple :(...dude u already have the girl... please come back to rock >.<!!!

[diamonddust22]

@mnunezper Thank you for your amazzing response. I totally agree with you all the way. Nice to see a person with some great musical experience.

[mnunezper]

@diamonddust22 haha I dont think I have too much experience but thanks,

keep rockin :)

[diamonddust22]

@mnunezper Hey brother, anytime you take good care.

[TheZooFly]

Fireball is my favourite DP album as well. Great stuff.

[PinkFloydManiac1973]

Really, "Fireball" was his favorite DP album?  As much as I love that album, I have to say "In Rock" or "Machine Head" would be my favorite. But what do I know? He helped write the album. Anyway, no matter what album it is, if it's Deep Purple, I'll listen to it, especially if Ian is singing.

[Gobglubby]

Thank you!!! Great to see this side of the man

[dieneshugi]

Long live DEEP PURPLE !

Watch over you health too Deep Purple not just work for us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Peace and unconditional love.

[olhole]

It is INDEED time for a new album.

LONG

LIVE

DEEP

PURPLE