Ian Gillan and Tony Iommi in Yerevan on the 30th Anniversary of Rock Aid Armenia

Legends of rock music, Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan and Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, will arrive in Yerevan in June to mark the 30th anniversary of the Rock Aid Armenia charity program.

The organizers of the visit and events are the company “Mediamax” and the Australian organization “DoSomething”. Co-founder of “DoSomething” Joe Dean initiated the Rock Aid Armenia program in 1989 with the goal of organizing assistance for Armenia affected by the Spitak earthquake.

And now, on June 5, a solemn evening with the participation of Ian Gillan, Tony Iommi, and John Dean will be held in Yerevan, during which the history of the creation of the Rock Aid Armenia project will be presented.

“30 years ago, rock stars united to help our people. Soon, thanks to the support of ID Bank and Koor (wine production company), we will celebrate the anniversary of this remarkable initiative,” said Mediamax director Ara Tadevosyan.

Ian Gillan, Tony Iommi, and John Dean will visit music school No. 6 in Gyumri, which was built within the framework of the project Rock Aid Armenia/Armenia Grateful 2 Rock.

In October 2009, in connection with the 20th anniversary of Rock Aid Armenia, “Mediamax” and “DoSomething” initiated the Armenia Grateful 2 Rock program, in the scope of which Gillan and Iommi visited Armenia. During a visit to music school number 6 in Gyumri, which operated in metal houses, the rock stars decided to assist in the construction of a building for the school.

In March 2010, charity concerts were held in Yerevan with the participation of Ian Gillan and the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia. In the same year, Gillan and Iommi established the charitable super group “WhoCares”.

The collection of funds necessary for the construction of the school and the construction itself were coordinated by the Armenian Aid Foundation, Mediamax, and DoSomething. In September 2013, with the participation of Gillan and Iommi, a new school building was opened.

“It is great that in June, Ian Gillan and Tony Iommi will be with us. Ara Tadevosyan and I wish to express our gratitude to them for their unprecedented 30-year commitment to helping Armenia. The June 5 event will allow Armenians to remember and appreciate the support which the world-famous British rock musicians provided for the children from the disaster zone,” said Rock Aid Armenia founder John Dean.

Photo by Tony Iommi and Ian Gillan in Armenia

Ruben Shukhyan