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Chopin’s story revisited
Continuing with the tidal wave of Gillan news, the 2011 documentary about Frédéric Chopin narrated by Big Ian has been recently posted on ’em intertubes. Due to the scarcity of archival footage of Mr. Chopin, we get to see a lot of the narrator, riding horse carriages and tractors, and even partaking in a village dance.
Director’s cut, anyone?
Thanks to Uwe for the heads-up.
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
Surely all these Ian Gillan cameos are a cunning plan designed to tip Karin ‘over the edge’. She is going to lose all control. Cheers.
February 15th, 2025 at 02:33Kari(a)n, I dug that up just for you! 😘
And to make the full immersion experience of this Gillananza complete:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dtrgwqei7ww
Uwe
– Head of DEI Affairs THS –
February 15th, 2025 at 04:44Sorry but this is old news, this was presented days (weeks?) ago on IG’s FB-page.
February 15th, 2025 at 04:58I do like the little joke about he’s always loosing his gloves ☺️
At around the 8.40 mark and I didn’t realise Ian Gillan was a pianist. Move over Don Airey and it makes me wonder if Jon Lord knew that all those years ago. Go Ian! Maybe that is what the feud with Ritchie was all about. Gillan playing the piano in the studio “hey Richie try this little idea”. Ritchie,”eff off that is crap”, Gillan “no it is Chopin” Ritchie “it is crap if I didn’t think of it”. Seriously though in regards to this doco the only disappointing thing was the cut to a DP concert, why? Yes I know it was probably a promotion of sorts for the narrator or to let people know who Gillan and who DP are, but too noisy and totally out of place compared to all the lovely Chopin music. Overall it is a nice (if rather short) little documentary. I did read the 2011 posts here again when this was released and noticed comments from a chap who was connected to it. It was rather low budget & no backing from any big wigs so that is understandable. A good bit of fun and thanks to THS for posting it, I have never previously laid my eyes on it. Is this where the people who created the Rick Wakeman Vivaldi documentary got their idea from? I did think of Karin when Gillan was dancing with that lady. Would Karin be too shy perhaps? Cheers.
February 15th, 2025 at 06:38@1
February 15th, 2025 at 11:02😃😄
I promise I am as calm and collected as always (ok but that doesn’t say much I know 😝)
@2
February 15th, 2025 at 11:03Aww thank you! 🤩
I do remember this very well 🤗
@4
February 15th, 2025 at 11:06“I did think of Karin when Gillan was dancing with that lady. Would Karin be too shy perhaps?”
Ohh I would not be shy!
If I was asked to dance with Ian I would start to look for a camera, because automatically I would expect Uwe to be there filming me (you know he keeps watching me 😉☺️)
And then I would do my very best NOT to ruin Ian’s feet while dancing with him 😄
@2
February 15th, 2025 at 11:42Oh sweetie, why ‘Kari(a)n?
@2
February 15th, 2025 at 15:12Actually my musical friend, I have now listened to A LOT of your favourite singers (or at least I guess you really dig them) so what about I present some of mine? And then you have to promise to be honest and thorough, just like I was, and tell me if they measure up to Ian, or in your case, Rob from JP!
So what do you think about that? ☺️
@4 MacGregor, did you actually see big Ian’s fingers touching the piano keys? I think not!. It’s an old film maker’s trick. I had the feeling that Mr G was just reading the script out loud the whole way through. He was just at a time in his life where he was trying his hand(s) at other things! You may have at some point seen Gillan singing(?) opera with Pavarotti on video?. “It was a brave attempt”!.
February 15th, 2025 at 15:25Still, Chopin was a touch of class, & a welcome one at that.
Jon Lord would have been tickled by it!
I feel downtrodden, I really do. Valentine’s Day has scarcely passed, I dug out that Chopin/Gillan thing for Karin and all I hear is a flippant “this is old news”. 😢 That really is tantamount to waiting after school to finally reveal yourself to your teen crush and then you witness her being picked up by some flashy guy four years older than you in a sports convertible.
I’ve been mistreated, I’ve been abused …
History repeating itself all over again, it’s all coming back to me now. 😑
February 15th, 2025 at 16:33@11
February 15th, 2025 at 18:56“I feel downtrodden, I really do. Valentine’s Day has scarcely passed, I dug out that Chopin/Gillan thing for Karin and all I hear is a flippant “this is old news”. 😢”
Ohh noooo sweetheart, no no no, I just wanted to show you that I was a firstmover, which I almost never have a chance to do to you (because you are so bright and clever 🥰
(Hope you feel better now 🤗)
@10
Sorry John for interfering, but I have a very hard time believing Ian would pretend anything!
(I am not saying he wouldn’t, I just have a hard time believing that!)
If he can’t play the piano, he wouldn’t have pretended to!
The man is a musical genius ☺️😉
February 15th, 2025 at 19:15@ 7 – Actually Karin I held back yesterday on commenting on the continuation of you dancing with Gillan. When he has you spinning a few times as you pass the camera, you then flip the birdie, knowing that Uwe will be watching, he he he. Uwe will be even more down trodden but that isn’t such a bad thing. He may now have a better grasp of the song Mistreated and even like it so much more. It almost makes me feel a touch teary thinking about how ‘wounded’ he would feel and helpless too. Cheers.
February 15th, 2025 at 21:54I missed this ‘Freudian slip’ from Uwe earlier on. “That really is tantamount to waiting after school to finally reveal yourself to your teen crush and then you witness her being picked up by some flashy guy four years older than you in a sports convertible.” Gosh, that is starting to sound like some lyrical slant similar to ‘All Night Long’ or something similar. Reveal yourself?????? Uwe, I am appalled!
February 15th, 2025 at 23:14@4
Lifelong pianist here – I regret to inform folks that Ian is miming while at the piano, and not actually playing what is heard – his hands are not moving the right way. Sorry to shatter the illusion as presented….
February 16th, 2025 at 04:07@16
February 16th, 2025 at 09:49😂 alright then!
But then I must say he is a very talented man miming 😉☺️
@14
“you then flip the birdie,” <- I’m not familiar with this expression!
“Uwe will be even more down trodden but that isn’t such a bad thing. He may now have a better grasp of the song Mistreated and even like it so much more. It almost makes me feel a touch teary thinking about how ‘wounded’ he would feel and helpless too. Cheers.”
February 16th, 2025 at 09:53What is happening between you and Uwe?
Please be friends again 🥺
What Mike says, the moves don’t fit. Just like they didn’t here:
https://youtu.be/XcATvu5f9vE
But at the time, the fans of Robert Palmer were so esthetically pleased with the appearing models, they didn’t care whether the playing was real or not. That sums up Karin’s devotion to Ian too. 🤷🏻♂️ When I’m this old I want to have female fans that young too! 😃
February 16th, 2025 at 13:53@19
I love Ian’s voice!!!
I don’t love Ian as a person!
How can this be so difficult to understand????..???🥺
February 16th, 2025 at 16:42Sorry Karin, I held back the day before on saying that because I was wondering whether you may not know of that ‘expression’. It is a way of telling someone to shove off, sod off etc, seriously or joking, depending on the situation. Another sad attempt at humour from me all the way out here in no man’s land. Rather similar to the Ian Gillan being a ‘pianist’ one. It was a bit obvious filming that one just like in most movies. As if Ian could play like that or even at all. Hence the ‘move over Don Airey’ comment & the reference to Ian coming up with ideas in the studio and giving poor ole Ritchie a hard time. I have watched the occasional movie where the pianist is actually playing (that is rare though) and the credits reveal a concert pianist who was also an actor of sorts. Also of course we see it if the movie or documentary is about a pianist or musician or actor. That is always nice to see and hear. No drama at all with Uwe and myself, we like to joke about at times. Do I over do it? Possibly, I sometimes feel a little ‘guilty’ although he understands and I am sure of that as he has a good sense of humour. A little bit of ‘comedy/drama’ would be a way to look at it. If that wasn’t possible here at THS, I probably wouldn’t be here. Things can get at times a bit ‘tense’ between some, although it isn’t as tense as it use to be about 10 to 15 years ago. I was involved in some of that & regretted getting caught up in it. It is all about the music and enjoying it all. Even if any of us disagree with another comment, we should be able to resist pulling out the guillotine & getting it oiled up and into action. Cheers.
https://www.istockphoto.com/illustrations/flip-the-bird
February 16th, 2025 at 22:11@21
Ohhhhh so that is ‘flipping the bird’ 😄
Really, I had no idea! But believe me, I would never do that to anyone, least of all Uwe!
I know you’re friends, and that is so heartwarming 💜💜
Sometimes, ok almost all the times, I feel I’m listening to conversations I have no idea when was started 😄 but that is ok, I really enjoy being here and I have learned a lot! ‘Flipping the bird’ being one of the many things! 😃
I have worked today, even though it’s Sunday. But it is always lovely when I can help a bit. Tomorrow is another busy day.
I’m a bit down because the gig with Ian Paice and Perpendicular has been postponed, and I don’t know the reason.
You know, if the reason for anything is known, it’s a lot easier to come to terms with the new situation.
At the moment I’m listening to Primadonna with Ian G, do you know that one? It is BEAUTIFUL 🤩
Thanks for explaining all this to me 🙌🏼
February 16th, 2025 at 22:56Little Ian has pulled quite a few gigs and there seems to have been an incident at the Bochum gig which a German daily (WAZ) called “disappointing” and “an unforgivable mistake”, no idea what’s behind that, the article is behind a paywall.
I never get the feeling that Purpendicular is a real band or that the vibes of the rest of the band with lead singer Robby Thomas Walsh are actually good – the stage atmosphere is always cold and very workmanlike, there is little to no enthusiasm. Little Ian is the exception, but he obviously has the elevated status of something like a majority shareholder there. The constant line-up changes don’t speak for a happy family either. I’ve seen the band four times and the stage atmosphere seems to have deteriorated from gig to gig. I also get the distinct feeling that Walsh is not really enjoying what he does – playing in a tribute can be incredibly frustrating as a musician.
February 17th, 2025 at 14:47@23
You’re completely right Uwe, it’s not a real band!
I only wanna see them because of Ian P!😊
But do you know why Ian P plays with this band? I guess he is earning plenty of money with the real Purple?
February 17th, 2025 at 16:41After a little bit of “hacking” I could access the WAZ article. The “unforgiveable mistake” was that they didn’t play “Child in Time”. The reviewer was also upset that they didn’t play “Highway Star” or “Woman from Tokyo”. It was advertised as “A selection of Deep Purple’s greatest hits” and that wasn’t true, according to the writer. Otherwise he thought it was excellent. 🙂
February 17th, 2025 at 16:46@24: He has said he does it to maintain his playing abilities between DP tours. I do hope he thinks it it fun too!
February 17th, 2025 at 18:13Like Svante says, it’s a rehearsal instrument for him which is fine. I just don’t like the vibes the band projects (even Neil Murray didn’t look happy when I saw him play with them), they would have me turn away as a musician at the doorstep of their rehearsal room. I think I would prefer listening to Ian do a 90 minute drum solo – minus the bad vibes of Purpendicular.
Thanks for accessing the WAZ article, Svante, I’ve heard Purpendicular do CIT in the past, I wasn’t overwhelmed to put it diplomatically. No emotion in it at all.
I’ve noticed at recent Purpendicular gigs that the audience turnout has been less than great, half-full clubs and such. It might be that they have overplayed Germany, they tour a lot here.
I’d prefer listening to Little Ian in something more free form/improvisational.
February 17th, 2025 at 18:33@26
February 17th, 2025 at 18:36Thanks Svante 😊
These were my impressions from the last Purpendicular gig I saw in 2023:
https://www.thehighwaystar.com/events/2023/09/04/2023-09-04-ian-paice-purpendicular-frankfurt/
I skipped going to a gig of the current tour due to the not so great memories. I fell asleep at one point during the Frankfurt gig, I guess that told me something.
February 17th, 2025 at 20:05@27
Oh I know what you mean (I guess 😉)
But I never seem to get tickets in time to Purple, so I thought: well 1 x Ian is better than no Ians, Glover, SMcB and Airey ☺️
Uwe, do you know anything about Purple actually giving concerts in ‘25?
February 17th, 2025 at 20:22“I love Ian’s voice!!!
I don’t love Ian as a person!
How can this be so difficult to understand?”
Oh, yes you do. 😑 Why don’t you just admit it? You’re Lucy all over again … 🤗
https://64.media.tumblr.com/265efc493d3ea0f4c3af5870a254bb18/tumblr_mm7ot5xHg11rd5karo1_500.gif
[ Don’t kiss me, I’m only the piano player! ]
Wimmin can be soooo recalcitrant and stubborn!
PS: It‘s ok to have crushes, Karin, it really is, I had them too!
https://images.app.goo.gl/LrEGGJdRXF2pjve68
https://images.app.goo.gl/iyDw8xo4orUVNmuWA
You bring some youthful spirit in this place! 👍
February 17th, 2025 at 23:34At this stage in their career, taking a full year off would be too much of a risk for Purple. We’ll see another tour unless fate intervenes.
Purpendicular is certainly worth seeing once or twice – just concentrate on what Little Ian does.
February 18th, 2025 at 00:02@13 Karin, Ian Gillan hasn’t played his beloved Bongos live for many years, due to the nerve damage he sustained in his hands, from years & years of continually hitting those skins hard enough, so they could be heard in the audience at their live concerts.
February 18th, 2025 at 00:28Getting Ian to play that piano piece as portrayed in the video…. yeah, that was never really on the cards.
But if he had been able to play a piano, & play it at that level, don’t you think that he may have followed just a slightly different career path?. Who knows?…. the mind boggles!
@29
February 18th, 2025 at 03:12I sincerely hope Perpendicular had an off night when you were there in ‘23 🤔
@ 27 Uwe
RE: “I’d prefer listening to Little Ian in something more free form/improvisational”.
You mean something like this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSZrURPPnoY
February 18th, 2025 at 07:02@ 35 – Gee that is reminiscent of Paice from the mid 1970’s era. Wonderful sound too. I noticed the first person commenting ten years ago mentioned the lack of that sound with Purple these days. I will not go there again, everyone has a fair idea of what that means. Thanks for the clip, excellent musicians there laying it all down. Cheers.
February 18th, 2025 at 08:37@31
Do you know who you remind me of?
My ever taunting older brothers! I grew up in an atmosphere with constant teasing and taunting! That is why I’m so broken down and my wit has completely gone! 🥴
Let me, hopefully for the last time, explain this to you:
I LOVE the paintings of Rembrandt!
I am NOT in love with Rembrandt!
I LOVE the music of Beethoven!
I am NOT in love with Ludvig!
I LOVE Ian’s voice!
I am NOT in love with Ian!
Please try to understand this, it’s actually very annoying that you put me in the group of, well, groupies 😝
“Don’t kiss me, I’m only the piano player!” <- 😄 ohhhh you’re the piano player, I thought you were Charlie.
February 18th, 2025 at 09:13Here is a little smack on your forehead 💋
@33
You’re right John, Ian has never taken very good care of himself!
Do you really think he would have chosen another career?
Like this guy:
https://youtu.be/TLdGX6dvSGA?si=kVgyFW-qDEdZDJJd
Or perhaps more like this one:
February 18th, 2025 at 09:19https://youtu.be/IS30yphoy50?si=FW750PgbLMnczK7U
Lang Lang playing Beethoven, ohhh my heart is bursting with joy and happiness 😍
( and NO Uwe, I am not in love with Lang Lang either 😄)
@31
I forgot this lady, not only do I adore her voice, but this song is the outmost romantic song I have ever heard 😍
And Uwe, I am not in love with Christine McVie either!
https://youtu.be/eLRyYETnoIE?si=3aqXSra9-yRpdZmR
February 18th, 2025 at 09:34OBJECTION YOUR HONOR, the undersigned never accused you of being a groupie – groupies collect sexual encounters with varying celebs just like rock stars chalk up the same with groupies. You‘re a monogamous platonic GILlAN devotee! That is something entirely different. More like a nun than a groupie really. But I do need to have a chat with your elder brothers some day. (“Was little Karin always like that?”)
TAFKAD (the artist formerly known as DILLIGAF) @35: Yup, exactly something like that. Nicely played by Hodgkinson too, he would have been a much better fit with bassist-empathetic Little Ian than he was with “I hammer, you follow”-Cozy (even his devotees have to admit that his style let no bassist beside him leave much of a mark – Clive Chaman in their joint days with the Jeff Beck Group maybe excepted).
February 18th, 2025 at 13:46There is platonic love 💕 too, Karin, you Nordic dune dwellers are always so desperately carnal. 😑
Even though those beach sediments kind of grind …
February 18th, 2025 at 18:20