IAN GILLAN: I'm Very Honored That METALLICA Were Influenced By DEEP PURPLE

November 30, 2012

On November 7, Jason Saulnier of the MusicLegends.ca web site conducted an interview with DEEP PURPLE singer Ian Gillan. You can now listen to the chat in the YouTube clip below.

Asked if he has heard METALLICA's version of the DEEP PURPLE track "When A Blind Man Cries", which appears on the the "Re-Machined - A Tribute To Deep Purple's Machine Head" album and what he thinks of it, Gillan said, "I know the guys in METALLICA. I'm very honored that they were influenced by DEEP PURPLE when they started and they've always been very kind to us. So I respect that, and I think it's great."

METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett, who was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame with his bandmates in 2009, told Artisan News that he was a bit turned off given that the Hall has overlooked so many other great rock bands, including DEEP PURPLE, who is among 15 finalists for induction into the Rock Hall's Class Of 2013.

"I've been lobbying for DEEP PURPLE for a long, long time," he said last month.

"Ritchie Blackmore and DEEP PURPLE have amazing songs."

He added, "If BLACK SABBATH can be in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, DEEP PURPLE definitely belongs in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. 'Cause they had great songs, great musicianship, they had an impact, and they're a huge influence on the heavy metal community as a whole. So I definitely think that they belong in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame."

Interview (audio):

METALLICA's cover version of "When A Blind Man Cries":

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