Ian Gillan in Zvartnots airport
Ian Gillan
Tony Iommi
04:43 | 01.10.09 | News | 3777
Yerevan /Mediamax/. “Deep Purple” rock band vocalist Ian Gillan and “Black Sabbath” band’s lead guitarist Tony Iommi arrived in Yerevan within the framework of “Armenia Grateful 2 Rock” project, realized by Mediamax Agency.
Member of “Asia” band Geoff Downes, legendary Australian tennis player Pat Cash and author of “Rock Aid Armenia” project, Head of Australian “Do Something” Organization Jon Dee also arrived in Yerevan.
Goal of “Armenia Grateful 2 Rock” project is to express gratitude to participants of “Rock Aid Armenia” project, realized 20 years ago in 1989. At that time, the British rock stars recorded a cover-version of Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water” song and produced the special “Earthquake Album”, and the entire proceeds from sale of the album were sent to Armenia, which had suffered from disastrous Spitak earthquake in 1988.
Within the framework of their stay in Armenia, Ian Gillan, Tony Iommi, Geoff Downes and Jon Dee will be awarded “Orders of Honor”. The decrees on awarding them “for significant and continuous assistance to Armenia and Armenian people” were signed by President Serzh Sargsian back in July, 2009.
Within the framework of their visit to Armenia, the rock stars will visit Spitak and Gyumri towns, which were the ones to have suffered most from 1988 earthquake. They will also announce about issuing a remix of “Smoke on the Water”, recorded in 1989. The remix will be put for sale at iTunes internet sores and the entire proceeds will be used for implementing projects in Spitak earthquake zone.
Mediamax realizes “Armenia Grateful 2 Rock” project, provided support of Armenian President’s Administration.
General sponsor of the project is “ArmRosGazprom” Company, which occupies the 1st place in the list of top taxpayers in Armenia. BMI is the sponsor and the official airline of the project.