Friends join Deep Purple singer for album

DETROIT, April 18 (UPI) -- Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan opened the new "Gillan's Inn" album for some friends.

The 15-track album and DVD set commemorates Gillan's personal history with songs from throughout his career -- including the hit "Smoke on the Water" -- re-recorded with colleagues such as Def Leppard's Joe Elliott, the Goo Goo Dolls' Johnny Rzeznik, Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi, Joe Satriani and members if Iron Maiden, Scorpions and current and past lineups of Deep Purple.

"We treated it like a jam session," says Gillan, who joined Deep Purple in 1969 and also logged time with Black Sabbath as well as his own band. Gillan was the voice of Jesus on the original recording of Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Tim Rice's "Jesus Christ Superstar."

"I left out everything that might have been a complicated arrangement. It's a pure rock album, balls to the wall, and the dynamics and textures are in the music itself rather than the selection of material."

Gillan will be touring into 2007 with Deep Purple but hopes to do some solo shows to support "Gillan's Inn" as well.