Joe’s Adventures in Gillan Land

At Now Spinning Magazine, we celebrate not only the music but the deeply personal stories behind the records we love. In this exclusive article, long-time contributor to Record Collector magazine and renowned rock archivist Joe Geesin shares his journey through the world of Ian Gillan, Gillan the band, and the wider Purple family tree. It’s a tale of passion, collecting, friendships, and unforgettable gigs. If you’ve ever lost yourself in a vinyl hunt or stood in the rain for a band you loved, this one’s for you. Phil Aston (Editor)

Joe’s Adventures in Gillan Land by Joe Geesin

Many here will know me as a collector, explorer of rock family trees, and a contributor to Record Collector magazine for 35 years. So, this isn’t a history of Gillan, but the story of my love for—and involvement with—the band.

Because when it comes to rock music and collecting, Gillan were my first love. And Ian Gillan will always be my favourite vocalist. It’s not just the voice—the range, the screams—it’s the feeling, the delicate touches, and the phrasing in the songwriting. All of it unique, and all of it spot on.

The Eureka Moment: Top of the Pops, 1981
The moment it all began was an episode of Top of the Pops around 1981 (I was 11), featuring Gillan—and also Graham Bonnet performing “Night Games” with Cozy Powell.

As much as I love Deep Purple, I actually came to them through Gillan and Rainbow.

The First Records – And a University Detour
My first Gillan album was Glory Road. I loved it, and the collecting began.

Later, while heading to a university interview (Uxbridge, I think), I nearly missed it after stumbling across a record shop, spending my last cash on Gillan vinyl, and borrowing travel money from someone I’d never see again.

It wasn’t just about Ian, either—it was the whole band. When I found out John McCoy had released a solo album, I became obsessed with finding it. Ironically, those albums featured Paul Samson, who I’d later become friends with.

I found most of the core catalogue fairly quickly. My first Mr. Universe was a reissue with a gatefold sleeve and a stickered catalogue number—soon replaced with an original. Trickier was locating the correctly pressed Living for the City picture disc, with its unique B-side.

In the late ’80s at university in Birmingham, I was constantly in Reddingtons Rare Records and a second shop near Aston Uni. Staff probably thought I worked there. I also spent a fair bit of time with the lead singer of Fuzzbox!

The First Feature Commission – Ian Gillan Says Yes
Already a regular Record Collector reader, I wrote in suggesting they cover Gillan. Not long after graduating—and after seeing Ian live as Garth Rockett and again promoting Naked Thunder in Brighton—I got a call from RC’s John Reed, who gave me Ian’s manager’s number.

A week later, Ian Gillan himself called to agree. My first ever commission at 21 years old: a two-hour interview in a Soho bar. The article was published with a discography I compiled myself, and more commissions followed.

I later met Ian again with Steve Morse at a Toolbox launch gig at the Marquee. Also in the room: Janick Gers and Mick Box, who regaled me with stories of sake-fuelled Japanese tours!

Mick Underwood, Angel Air, and Rare 45s
In 1997/8, while living in Wallington and back at university (don’t ask), I met Mick Underwood via Peter Purnell at Angel Air. Over pints in Twickenham, he signed my copy of his German-only 45 Earthquake at the Savoy.

By 2000, I was doing freelance work for Angel Air and editing the Rare Record Price Guide at RC. John McCoy liked my writing and asked me to annotate some of his solo and Mammoth material.

I met John—along with Bernie Tormé and Colin Towns—at Paul Samson’s funeral. (I sat next to Clive Burr, just starting to walk with a stick due to MS.)

John once said: “We had the right singer, and we were the right guys to push him in the right direction.”

The Birth of GMT
Later, I received two emails—one from John, one from Bernie—both saying “I’m working with the other, and I think you know the drummer.” That drummer was Robin Guy (real name Robin Hardy), a schoolmate of mine. He sadly passed away from cancer recently. Bugger.

I saw GMT at The Peel in Kingston, and again in 2007 at Vibes from the Vines. Rain was pouring down. John looked at the crowd and said, “You’re all mad!”

Glory Road Reunions and Saxon Box Sets
Reconnected with Mick at a Glory Road gig at the Purple Turtle, where they opened for Paddy Goes to Hollyhead (with the Troy brothers from Praying Mantis). Around then, I was working on the Saxon catalogue for Demon Records, when they asked, “Do you know anything about Gillan?” Yes. Yes, I do.

I worked on their Gillan reissues—sleevenotes, sales blurbs, box set curation—with quotes from John, Bernie, and Mick. Bernie even told me he’d be up for a one-off reunion: “Not a tour, just a couple of shows. We owe it to the fans.”

Twickenham Tales and Drummers in Shorts
I became close with Mick Underwood—frequent pub meet-ups continued even after I moved away. One standout piece was my RC article on Quatermass, timed with a Cherry Red reissue. I interviewed Peter Robinson near Green Park, walked home to Ealing, and later combined Mick’s interview in Twickenham into the same article.

The RC editor thought I’d interviewed them together. Result!

After several outings, Mick’s wife joined us, and the phrase “drunk in charge of a drummer” was coined.

Mick once joked he helped both create and destroy Deep Purple. After all, it was his band Quatermass’s track Black Sheep of the Family that inspired Ritchie Blackmore to form Rainbow.

Farewell to Mick
After our final meeting, I got a call from Mick’s wife, concerned about his memory. That was the beginning of his decline with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Mick passed a year or two later.

I was honoured to deliver the eulogy. But on the day, I realised—while getting dressed—I’d packed the wrong trousers. Panic. What could I do?  So I stood before the coffin in shirt, tie, jacket… and cargo shorts.

The “drunk in charge of a drummer” line got some laughs. And I don’t think anyone noticed—I’d only ever worn shorts around Mick and his family anyway.

Final Reflections
I’ve explored much of the Gillan family tree over the years. It’s fairly well known that John McCoy, Liam Genockey, and Steve Byrd were all in the jazz fusion band Zzebra. But lesser known: the three of them also played on the Neo album by Ian North—recently reissued on CD—right around the transition into the Gillan band.

Joe Geesin | Now Spinning Magazine