Ian Gillan, legendary frontman for Deep Purple and former Black Sabbath vocalist, has seen his fair share of rock and roll chaos. But in a recent interview with RiffX’s MetalXS, he shared a wild tale of a gig that went horribly wrong, highlighting his ability to handle disaster with humor and grace.
The story takes place at a solo performance in Ferropolis, Germany, a venue set amidst enormous industrial machinery, creating a surreal backdrop for the show. Unfortunately, everything that could go wrong did.
“We were playing with an orchestra, and it was a disaster,” Gillan recounted. “It was raining, there were hardly any people – maybe 200 when the venue should have held 20,000. There were no monitors, no lights, no cover on stage, just one white light. The orchestra and musicians were soaked. The whole thing was a mess.”
As if things couldn’t get worse, Gillan was sitting drenched in his caravan at halftime when his personal assistant came in with a surprise: a transparent poncho.
“She said, ‘Look, they’re selling ponchos, and I got one for you!’ I decided that’s what I’d wear on stage for the second half,” he said. In response to her daring him, Gillan accepted the challenge.
So, out he went for the second half of the show, naked except for a transparent poncho. What started as a disaster transformed into one of the most memorable moments of his career. The orchestra, sensing Gillan’s bold spirit, played with renewed energy.
“We had just the most wonderful time because we were laughing at the rain, laughing at the circumstances,” he said. The few members of the audience, who had been huddled far from the stage, rushed forward to join in the fun.
But what felt like magic in person didn’t translate on screen. “Someone filmed it and put it on YouTube. It looked awful—the sound and video were out of sync, the lighting was terrible, and the orchestra sounded off because of the rain.
My manager and Deep Purple’s manager both called me, freaking out about how it would ruin the band’s reputation.”
Despite the backlash from the footage, Gillan holds no regrets. “If you had been there, you would have understood. It was one of the best experiences of my life.”
A fan who attended the show, Paul Kowacz, even chimed in on YouTube, praising Gillan’s performance. “Everyone rushed to the front to snap photos, and it lifted our spirits despite the rain. After the concert, we got to go backstage and meet Ian – he’s not only a great singer, but also a class act.”
This story showcases Gillan’s ability to turn a potentially career-damaging event into one of his most cherished memories, proving that sometimes, the worst circumstances make for the best experiences.
