Black Sabbath lead guitarist Tony Iommi and Deep Purple lead singer Ian Gillan have reunited for the first time since working together on Sabbath’s 1983 Born Again album. The resulting project WhoCares was released on May 10, with all proceeds generated from the digital release of the two-song single going to benefit the music school of Gyumari, Armenia, an area which never recovered from a massive 1988 earthquake.
The recordings turned out to be an all-star affair. “Out Of My Mind” features Deep Purple keyboardist Jon Lord, Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain, bassist Jason Newsted and HIM guitarist Mikko “Linde” Lindström. “Holy Water” features Gillan and Iommi with guitarists Steve Morris/Michael Lee Jackson, drummer Randy Clarke, bassist Rodney Appleby and keyboardist Jesse O’Brien.
On June 21 earMusic, in cooperation with Eagle Rock Entertainment via its subsidiary Armoury Records, will release the two songs plus a 30-minute documentary showing Gillan and Iommi's involvement with the Armenian cause over the years. The release is a special CDE enhanced CD.
Gillan told www.blabbermouth.net that the idea came when he and Iommi flew back from the area together “after being inspired by the enthusiasm of everyone there to get this thing done,” adding, “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?”
“Some 20 years ago,” added Iommi, “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.”
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