Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin are two of the most important Rock bands of all time and are fronted by two of the most influential vocalists in rock history: Ian Gillan and Robert Plant. Emerging from the same British rock scene, they had the chance to see each other perform while they were still trying to make a name for themselves.
Both singers became renowned for their powerful voices and have often been compared over the decades. Throughout his career, Ian Gillan has shared his opinions on many of his peers, including Robert Plant.
What is Ian Gillan’s opinion on Robert Plant
Ian Gillan is a big admirer of Robert Plant and once mentioned him as one of his favorite singers of all time. When asked by a fan his top five vocalists, he said: “I’ll have a shot, with the usual disclaimer. I don’t see music and performers in this way. I’ve never subscribed to the Rock Olympics. But just for the crack I’ll give you the first five greats that come to mind in each of your categories. Paul (Rodgers) would have to be in there, he has a unique and very pleasing voice.”
“Obviously Robert Plant and certainly Cliff Bennett, Little Richard and John Lennon, that’s five already, oh dear, see the problem? Dusty Springfield was probably the greatest rock singer I ever heard. If anyone should raise an eyebrow at that, I’d like to say that I toured with Dusty in ’65. Believe me… she rocked! Suzi Quatro of course, Chrissie Hinde, Brenda Lee and Janice (Janis) Joplin…,” he said. Curiously, Ian is not a fan of Plant’s work only in Led Zeppelin, also answering questions sent by fans he once mentioned the song “Slow Dancer”, from Robert’s debut album “Pictures at Eleven” as one of his favorite songs.
The Led Zeppelin frontman co-wrote that song with guitarist Robbie Blunt, who was part of his solo band. The record performed quite well on the charts at the time, peaking at number 2 in the United Kingdom and 5 on the US Billboard 200. The legendary British drummer Cozy Powell played on that track.
Gillan said Black Sabbath was more important than Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin
Zeppelin, Purple and Sabbath have been referred to for decades as the unholy trinity of British Hard Rock. Mainly because of their influence and the heaviness they brought to the genre. Although the three bands are often mentioned together, Ian Gillan recently said he believes Black Sabbath was more important than Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple.
“Just like ‘sex, drugs and rock and roll’, the ‘unholy trinity’ was created entirely by our good friends, the music journalists. We knew them, drank with them and they put into words what everyone was doing — something distinctive and identifiable. To a certain extent, Sabbath were the most important. Because without them there would have been no Seattle (grunge scene) or Heavy Metal. What Tony was delivering in those early days was just awesome. It was so powerful. The three bands did something that had never been done before. They were putting into action all the things that had been building up over the previous ten years,” Ian Gillan told The Sun in 2024.
However, when asked by a fan whether Deep Purple had been overshadowed by Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, Gillan said that while that was true, Deep Purple was the only one of the three bands still active and releasing new music.
He said:
“It depends where you’re standing. I think it’s fair to say that from time to time Zep and the Sabbs have probably had a higher profile than DP. But there is something enduring about Purple and our story is far from finished. I haven’t got time right now but I will post an extract from a law book which gives an interesting slant on this subject,” he said.
Gillan was a member of Sabbath from 1983 to 1984, having recorded the album “Born Again” with them. That was the only album he recorded with the band and the final studio record with the band’s original drummer Bill Ward.
According to Ritchie Blackmore they invited Ian to join Purple because of Robert Plant
Interestingly, Deep Purple’s original guitarist Ritchie Blackmore told The Guardian that Deep Purple actually invited Ian Gillan to join the band after hearing what Led Zeppelin was doing and the powerful vocals of Robert Plant. “He (Gillan) was amazing, his voice, the way he looked and everything else. Stupendous. We took him right there. We didn’t know who to have on bass but Ian recommended Roger.”
“Why we thought we had to change singers was because of Robert Plant. We were playing at Mother’s in Birmingham and Robert got up to sing with Terry Reid. We thought: Christ almighty! He was so dynamic. And the next two weeks we were looking for a singer, people who had Robert Plant’s dynamic approach. So it was thanks to him. Zeppelin – I liked their hard approach when they came out and did ‘Whole Lotta Love’. I immediately tuned in with that type of style. Because before when we were fiddling around with orchestras, I thought: something’s wrong. I’m not giving all that I can. Thanks to them for the inspiration. They got it from Jeff Beck, who got it from the Small Faces,” Ritchie Blackmore said in 2015.