LONDON (VVN Music)—Normally, if someone says who cares, you don’t pay a lot of attention but the new hard rock/metal supergroup calling themselves WhoCares won’t let themselves go unnoticed.
Built around Ian Gillan (Deep Purple) and Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell), the group also features bassist Jason Newsted (Metallica), keyboard player Jon Lord (Deep Purple, Whitesnake), drummer Nicko McBain (Iron Maiden) and Linde Lindstrom (HIM).
The artists have come together to record a single, Out of My Mind/Holy Water, which will be released on May 6 and will benefit the rebuilding of a music school in Gyumri, Armenia which was destroyed by an earthquake back in 1988. Gillan and Iommi were part of a fundraising effort in 1989 called Rock Aid Armenia that released an album and a cover version of Smoke on the Water.
Jump ahead twenty years and Gillan and Iommi are given the Armenian Medal of Honor for their work. Iommi said in a statement “Some twenty years ago when the call came, I thought, well at least I’ve helped but it was going to Armenia and seeing the actual devastation caused by the earthquake that really made me realize that funds were still needed. Despite all the money that was raised last time, here was a music school doing their best, forgotten, in basic tin sheds. After the warmth and honor bestowed upon us during our visit, we just had to help make a difference and get the school re-built. And what better way than to hook up with some of rock’s greatest players and my old mate Ian, both an honor and a pleasure.”
Gillan added “The idea came as Tony and I flew back from Yerevan together after being inspired by the enthusiasm of everyone there to get this thing done. It was brilliant working with Tony again after all these years; he makes life easy for a singer. The other guys need no introduction do they.”
The new tracks will be released via digital sources along with on CD with a 40-minute documentary on the pair’s involvement with Armenia. A 7″ vinyl version, limited to 1,000 copies, will also be released.
as a metalhead and metallica fanatic..im speechless
Cool.
Ian Gillan says that “Armenia is like his spirtual home.” Ian is always mentioned in polls or discussions about thee greatest Hard Rock singer of all time.