WhoCares, full title Ian Gillan & Tony Iommi: WhoCares, is a music project by Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan and Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi and a charity release by the supergroup WhoCares they had formed with the help of other musicians, to raise money to rebuild a music school in Gyumri, Armenia after the destruction of the city in the 1988 earthquake in Armenia.
In addition to Ian Gillan and Tony Iommi (who were Black Sabbath bandmates from 1983 to 1984), many artists took part in the charity music project including Jon Lord (Ian Gillan's former Deep Purple bandmate), ex-Metallica bassist Jason Newsted, Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain, and HIM guitarist Mikko "Linde" Lindström.
In addition to the 2-track single "Out of My Mind / Holy Water" released in 2011, the 2-CD album contains in addition to previously recorded songs from various bands, rarities and unreleased material as well. The album was released on 13 July 2012 in Europe and in North America on 28 August 2012.
Jon Lord died three days after the album's release, making it his final recording.
Reception
Since its release, the album has been met with positive responses. Reviewer William Clark of Guitar International gave the album a positive review, saying "The wondrous contributions by Ronnie James Dio, Glenn Hughes, and by members of Metallica, Repo Depo, Iron Maiden, HIM, Deep Purple, and Black Sabbath should make nearly every hard rock and heavy metal fan weak at the knees!".
Track listing CD 1
CD 2
Track-by-track personnel "Out of My Mind"
Ian Gillan – vocals Tony Iommi – guitar Mikko "Linde" Lindström – guitar Jon Lord – keyboards Jason Newsted – bass Nicko McBrain – drums
"Zero the Hero"
Ian Gillan – vocals Tony Iommi – guitars Geoff Nicholls – keyboards Geezer Butler – bass Bill Ward – drums, percussion "Trashed"
Ian Gillan – vocals Tony Iommi – guitars Roger Glover – bass Ian Paice – drums
"Get Away"
Ian Gillan – vocals Michalis Rakintzis – instrumentation, arrangement
"Slip Away" and "Let It Down Easy"
Tony Iommi – guitar Glenn Hughes – vocals, bass Bob Marlette – keyboards, bass Kenny Aronoff – drums
"Don't Hold Me Back"
Ian Gillan – vocals Steve Morris – guitar Brett Bloomfield – bass Leonard Haze – drums
"She Think It's a Crime"
Ian Gillan – vocals, harmonica Michael Lee Jackson – guitar Rodney Appleby – bass Howard Wilson – drums Steve Morris – guitar Joe Mennonna – saxophones Lance Anderson – Hammond organ Jesse O'Brien – keyboards Brownman Ali – flugelhorn Jaro Jarosil – cello The Gillanaires – backing vocals
"Easy Come, Easy Go"
Ian Gillan – vocals Dean Howard – guitar Steve Morris – guitar Brett Bloomfield – bass Leonard Haze – drums
"Smoke on the Water"
Ian Gillan – vocals Ronnie James Dio – vocals Steve Morse – guitar Steve Morris – guitar Jon Lord – keyboards Roger Glover – bass Dave LaRue – bass Ian Paice – drums Van Romaine – drums Aitch McRobbie, Margo Buchanan, Pete Brown – backing vocals Annie Whitehead – trombone Paul Spong – trumpet, flugelhorn Roddy Lorimer – trumpet, flugelhorn Simon C. Clarke – baritone, alto sax, flute Tim Sanders – tenor sax, soprano sax
"Holy Water"
Ian Gillan – vocals Tony Iommi – guitar Steve Morris – guitar Michael Lee Jackson – guitar Jesse O'Brien – keyboards Rodney Appleby – bass Randy Clarke – drums Arshak Sahakyan – dukuk Ara Gevorgyan – dukuk, keyboards
"Anno Mundi"
Tony Martin – vocals Tony Iommi – guitars Geoff Nicholls – keyboards Neil Murray – bass Cozy Powell – drums, percussion
"Hole In My Vest"
Ian Gillan – vocals Steve Morris – guitar
"Can't Believe You Wanna Leave Me"
Ian Gillan – vocals, harmonica Roger Glover – bass, keyboards, guitars, programming Ira Siegel, Nick Maroch – guitars Lloyd Landesman – keyboards Dr. John – piano Andy Newmark – drums George Young, Joe Mennonna – saxophones Randy Brecker – flugelhorn Vaneese Thomas, Christine Faith, Lydia Mann, Bette Sussmann – background vocals
"Can I Get a Witness"
Ian Gillan – vocals, harmonica Gordon Fairminer – lead guitar Tony Tacon – rhythm guitar Tony Whitfield – bass guitar Keith Roach – drums
"No Laughing In Heaven"
Ian Gillan – vocals Steve Morris – guitar, keyboards Harry Shaw – guitar Mark Buckle – keyboards Keith Mulholland – bass Lou Rosenthal – drums
"When a Blind Man Cries"
Ian Gillan – vocals Steve Morris – acoustic guitar
Charts ChartsPeakpositionAustralia26Belgium (Wa)184Belgium (Vl)193Germany60Norway29Sweden26
References