Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan records new album with his boyhood band The Javelins

Ian Gillan is releasing a new covers album with his boyhood band The Javelins later this summer.

55 years on from the band’s formation, this March the Deep Purple singer joined forces with his original band mates Gordon Fairminer (lead guitar); Tony Tacon (rhyth guitar); Tony Whitfield (bass guitar) and Keith Roach (drums) to record the self-titled ‘Ian Gillan & The Javelins’.

Paying tribute to music legends such as Chuck Berry, The Drifters, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ray Charles, Buddy Holly and Bo Diddley, the 16-track album was recorded at the Chameleon Studios in Hamburg over just five days.

Featuring Ian’s Deep Purple bandmate Don Airey as special guest on piano, Ian Gillan & The Javelins took a back to basics approach, shunning new technology and only allowing ‘instruments, microphones, lyrics sheets and memories’ in the studio.

“These contemporary recordings (2018) by The Javelins are drawn from our set lists, circa 1963, when I was 18 years old,” says Ian Gillan.

“Now, a few years later, I have the privilege and joy of working with my old mates from the original group – Gordon Fairminer; Tony Tacon; Tony Whitfield; Keith Roach – as we make a long overdue L.P.”

Ian described the record as “a collection of catchy rhythms and feel-good melodies”.

Reflecting back upon the era, Ian said: “In the early 1960s, you might have seen The Beatles doing Chubby Checker’s ‘Twist and Shout’ at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, or The Rolling Stones doing Chuck Berry’s ‘Come On’ at the Station Hotel in Richmond, and The Javelins doing Howlin’ Wolf’s ‘Smokestack Lightning’ at Wistowe House in Hayes.”

‘Ian Gillan & The Javelins’ will be released on August 31st, 2018 on earMUSIC on CD digipak, 1LP Gatefold (180g, black) and digital formats.

The record is the follow-up to September 1994’s ‘Sole Agency and Representation’ that also featured covers of songs by blues artists and early rock and rollers.

The ‘Ian Gillan & The Javelins’ track-listing is as follows:

CD
1. Do You Love Me
2. Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)
3. Memphis, Tennessee
4. Little Egypt (Ying-Yang)
5. High School Confidential
6. It’s So Easy!
7. Save The Last Dance For Me
8. Rock and Roll Music
9. Chains
10. Another Saturday Night
11. You’re Gonna Ruin Me Baby
12. Smokestack Lightnin’
13. Hallelujah I Love Her So
14. Heartbeat
15. What I’d Say
16. Mona (I Need You Baby)

LP
SIDE A
1. Do You Love Me
2. Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)
3. Memphis, Tennessee
4. Little Egypt (Ying-Yang)
5. High School Confidential
6. It’s So Easy!
7. Save The Last Dance For Me
8. Rock and Roll Music

SIDE B
1. Chains
2. Another Saturday Night
3. You’re Gonna Ruin Me Baby
4. Smokestack Lightnin’
5. Hallelujah I Love Her So
6. Heartbeat
7. What I’d Say
8. Mona (I Need You Baby)