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Ian Gillan and Tony Iommi
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Ian Gillan and Tony Iommi
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Geoff Downes and Ian Gillan at press-conference
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Tony Iommi and Pat Cash at press-conference
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Press-conference
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| In Gyumri Musical School |
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| Ian Gillan with Gyumri Musical School pupils |
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| Tony Iommi |
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| In Yerevan Brandy Company |
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| In The Genocdie museum |
In 2009,
Mediamax Company realized the unique “Armenia Grateful 2 Rock” project.
The main goal of the project was to express gratitude to participants of “Rock Aid Armenia”, who recorded cover version of Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water” song in 1989 and issued a special “Earthquake Album”. All the proceeds from sales of the album were sent to Armenia, which had suffered from disastrous Spitak earthquake in 1988.
In February, 2009,
Mediamax agreed upon joint realization of “Armenia Grateful 2 Rock” project with the initiator of “Rock Aid Armenia” project, Head of Australian Do Something Organization Jon Dee.
“Armenia Grateful 2 Rock” project received support from the President’s Administration and the Government of Armenia. General sponsor of the project was “ArmRosGazprom” Company. BMI was the sponsor and the official airline. “Armenia Marriott Hotel” and Yerevan Brandy Company were the partners of the project.
Within the “Armenia Grateful 2 Rock”, in July, 2009, Armenian President Serzh Sargsian signed decrees on awarding the most active participants of “Rock Aid Armenia” with “Orders of Honor” “for significant and continuous assistance to Armenia and the Armenian people”.
Orders of Honor were awarded to:- Organizer of “Rock Aid Armenia” project, Head of Australian Charity Organization “Do Something” Jon Dee;
- Vocalist of “Deep Purple” band Ian Gillan;
- Guitarist of “Black Sabbath” band Tony Iommi;
- Keyboard player of “Asia” band Geoff Downes;
- Guitarist of “Queen” band Brian May;
- Guitarist of “Pink Floyd” band David Gilmour.
Within the framework of “Armenia Grateful 2 Rock” project, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian signed decrees in September, 2009, on awarding “Prime Minister’s commemorative medal” to other participants of “Rock Aid Armenia” project:
Producers Brian Eno and Anthea Norman-Taylor, members of “Deep Purple” band and co-authors of “Smoke on the Water” song Jon Lord, Roger Glover, Ian Paice and Ritchie Blackmore; vocalist of “Iron Maiden” band Bruce Dickinson, member of “Queen” band Roger Taylor, member of “Rush” band Alex Lifeson, member of “Yes” band Chris Squire, member of “Free” and “Bad Company” Paul Rodgers, member of “Emerson, Lake and Palmer” Keith Emerson, member of “The Who” Roger Daltrey, singer Brian Adams, legends of world tennis Pat Cash and John McEnroe, who performed the guitar sets in Led Zeppelin “Rock-and-Roll” song’s cover version in 1991 within the framework of “Rock Aid Armenia” project.
On October 1-2, on Mediamax Agency’s invitation, Ian Gillan, Tony Iommi, Geoff Downes, Pat Cash and Jon Dee visited Armenia.
The solemn awarding ceremony took place in the Armenian Government: Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian presented the “Orders of Honor” on behalf of the President. “I could not imagine that I would be awarding people, whose fan I was. Today is one of the happiest days in my life”, Armenian Prime Minister stated.
Within the framework of the visit, rock stars visited Spitak and Gyumri towns, which were the ones to suffer most from the earthquake in 1988, paid visits to Geghard Monastery, the Armenian Genocide Museum, Yerevan Brandy Company.
On October 2, the stars met with 500 fans in Yerevan “Moscow” Cinema, where the première of “Smoke on the Water” cover version’s remix was held and “Making Smoke on the Water” documentary was shown.
The remix of “Smoke on the Water” will be put to sale at iTunes internet store and by the decision of the stars the entire proceeds from its sale will be sent to the fund of N6 Musical School in Gyumri, which has been sheltered in temporary constructions for over 20 years. During their stay in Armenia, Ian Gillan, Tony Iommi, Geoff Downes, Pat Cash and Jon Dee personally visited the school and familiarized with its state.
Speaking at a news conference in Yerevan on October 2, Tony Iommi made an initiative on recording a remix of one of “Black Sabbath” hits and sending the entire proceeds from its sale to the fund of Gyumri Musical School as well.
Pat Cash gave a master class for 50 Armenian children in “Orange Tennis” club in Yerevan on October 2.
