Born in '45, UK vocalist and songwriter Ian Gillan spent his early twenties in various bands that failed to take off. After catching him onstage one night, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore tapped Gillan to front the soon-to-be reconfigured Deep Purple. The heavy metal pioneers had a prolific four years, climaxing with the '72 release of their classic LP Machine Head. Gillan departed the band in '73, and enjoyed occasional success in his solo career. In '83 he briefly replaced Ronnie James Dio in Black Sabbath, and in '92 he rejoined Deep Purple, with whom he continues to tour and record.