Get ready for the Ian Gillan Band box set which is due for release on 27th February 2026, the same date as the Wild Horses box set.
Titled as Down The Road, The Complete Ian Gillan Band Story, this comprises of eight CDs and a 24 page booklet with an interview with Ian about the band.
Now, it made me realise that despite being a fan of Ian’s other self-titled band and that glorious run of albums he did with them including Mr. Universe, Glory Road, Future Shock etc. his work with the preceding Ian Gillan Band output has completely passed me by over the years.
The eight CDs in this box set are remastered versions of the three studio albums – Child in Time (1976), Clear Air Turbulence (1977) and Scarabus (1977) plus Live at the Budokan (1978).
In addition we have a disc of rarities and further live performances from the old Rainbow theatre in London and Hiroshima.
The Ian Gillan Band was Ian’s return to the music biz after taking time out following his departure from Deep Purple.
Initially somehow they came up with the name of Shand Grenade (bizarre) though changed to the Ian Gillan Band I believe after some record company “persuasion” as having Ian’s name there would attract more attention.
Only for it not to……sales were poor. Perhaps the fans were expecting Deep Purple style stuff. That wasn’t to be as instead Ian went in a different direction.
The timing was perhaps not the best as at the time punk and new wave was taking off over here and very much in vogue. And that was that for the band.
Here’s the title track from Clear Air Turbulence:
To my knowledge, bar the video above, I’ve never heard anything they did or have I owned any Ian Gillan Band albums.
Thus it’s time to put that right. I have pre-ordered this box set, which I await eagerly. At time of posting (16 December 2025) you can pre-order for a very reasonable £35 or thereabouts. Good value for eight CDs. I will review when it arrives.
>> IAN GILLAN BAND BOX SET ON AMAZON <<
As we all know, Ian bounced back quickly with Gillan to much success. Don’t miss the box set of their albums.
>> GILLAN BOX SET REVIEW <<
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