In early 2010 Shant TV Channel launched another season of Hay Superstar, the licensed version of the British show Pop Idol. The season was dedicated to rock music and featured as producers lead singer of The Beatified Project Andre Simonyan and Empyray keyboard player Gisane Palyan.
Photo: Mediamax
Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan was going to visit Armenia in late March for 2 charity shows with the Armenian State Philarmonic Orchestra. I watched one of the episodes of Hay Superstar, and a thought occurred to me at once that the show could make a special episode about Deep Purple songs. I thought we could ask Ian Gillan to sing a couple of songs with the contestants of Hay Superstar. I shared the idea with Shant’s Director General Artur Yezekyan, who did not actually believe at first that I was being serious. As you could expect, he wasted no time agreeing.
Artashes Emin, Ian Gillan and Ara TadevosyanPhoto: Mediamax
Ian said “yes” at once, so it was time to start the preparations. The challenge was to keep his participation in the show a complete secret from the contestants: only Shant management, the show’s producers and our team knew about the upcoming surprise.
First, we teamed up with Andre and Gisane to select Deep Purple songs the contestants were supposed to sing.
Raisa Avanesyan Photo: Mediamax
Suren Arustamyan got Don't Make Me Happy, Maybe I am a Leo and Walk on; Raisa Avanesyan would sing Wasted Sunsets, When a Blind Man Cries и Fingers to the Bone; Iveta Mukuchyan got Demon’s eye; Levon Gambaryan was handed Anya; and Hunan Mirakyan would sing Haunted.
Iveta Mukuchyan Photo: Mediamax
The Hay Superstar episode was schedule for March 28, 2010 on the following day after Gillan’s final concert with orchestra. We went to the set for a sound check in the morning. Ian’s voice was strained after two concerts, but we all hoped it would get better by the time the show kicks off, but it didn’t happen. However, we all knew that the show will be great in any case.
Photo: Mediamax
The set’s capacity was 150 and we had agreed with Shant that we would get half of the seats, so there were a lot of our friends on the set.
Ian GillanPhoto: Mediamax
The episode was nearing the end and all contestants were on the stage. The first sounds of Smoke on the Water started filling the space. At that moment, I noticed Ian was no longer sitting next to me. Out of the corner of my eye I saw him bursting onto the stage, taking the microphone and singing with the contestants!
Photo: Mediamax
Ara Tadevosyan
Comments
Dear visitors, You can place your opinion on the material using your Facebook account. Please, be polite and follow our simple rules: you are not allowed to make off - topic comments, place advertisements, use abusive and filthy language. The editorial staff reserves the right to moderate and delete comments in case of breach of the rules.