WhoCares: The Ad-Hoc Rock Supergroup

WhoCares is a hard rock supergroup formed by Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan and former Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi. The project was initiated for charitable purposes, specifically to raise funds for the reconstruction of a music school in Gyumri, Armenia, following a 1988 earthquake.

Early Career

WhoCares does not have a traditional early career, as it was conceived not as a permanent band but as a one-off charitable collaboration. The core idea brought together two legendary figures of British hard rock and heavy metal, Ian Gillan and Tony Iommi, alongside other notable musicians from the rock world.

Breakthrough

The group's breakthrough was inherently tied to its charitable mission from the outset. In 2011, they released the double A-side single "Out of My Mind" / "Holy Water" to generate donations, with all proceeds directed towards the Armenia fundraiser.

Key tracks

Out of My Mind - This powerful hard rock anthem features the distinctive vocals of Ian Gillan and the iconic guitar riffs of Tony Iommi, serving as the primary fundraising single.

Holy Water - The B-side to the debut release, this track further showcases the collaborative supergroup's classic rock sound.

The lineup for these recordings included bassist Jon Lord (Deep Purple), guitarist Mikko "Linde" Lindström (HIM), and drummer Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden). Following the single, a self-titled compilation album titled "WhoCares" was released in 2012, featuring the new tracks alongside classic songs from Deep Purple and Ian Gillan's solo work, continuing to support the cause. The project stands as a unique moment in rock history where legendary talents united for a humanitarian goal rather than commercial success.

Similar artists in the hard rock and heavy metal genre include Deep Purple, the band that made Ian Gillan a household name. The heavy riffing style is also shared by Black Sabbath, where Tony Iommi defined the metal guitar sound. For the supergroup collaborative spirit, listeners might enjoy The Damned Things, which features members from Fall Out Boy, Anthrax, and Every Time I Die.