Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan in Armenia

Deep Purple soloist Ian Gillan is in Armenia to attend the opening of a renovated musical school in the second largest city of Gyumri.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, the musician admitted that his involvement in the project was very personalized and symbolic.

He said that the band came up with the idea after visiting the town of Spitak in 1989, (a year after the devastating earthquake which claimed thousands of lives, leaving lots of people homeless) and realizing that life would be very difficult without music.

The soloist said it was very exciting for him to see the one-time forlorn construction having changed new image. He said his central role in both the band and the Rock Aid Armenia project had made the renovation project possible. But he also admitted that the Armenians’ too, had their contribution.

Asked what made him choose especially Armenia among the many disaster-stricken countries around the world, the musician said it was a personalized initiative that made him spiritually bound to the country.