Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan Slams Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Committee

By now, we're all aware of Deep Purple's exclusion from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame over the years and it has become a bit of a joke, with the egg landing on the face of the Rock Hall. Countless musicians have spoken out about the seminal rock outfit sitting on the outside looking in and now Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan has weighed in with some vitriolic statements.

In an interview with Classic Rock, Gillan reveals that he was unaware the band was even nominated for the 2016 induction class and unleashed with a wealth of unkind declarations directed straight at the Rock Hall's committee, stating, "I have no respect for them. They're the kind of people that having seen A Hard Day's Night decided that the Monkees would be America's equivalent to the Beatles. They've no idea what goes on in the big, wide world outside of their self-arbitrating surroundings. To me, those people are bloody arrogant and rude."

Gillan really poured it on, adding, "I've heard that somebody on their committee dismissed us as one-hit wonders. I couldn't figure out whether that hit was 'Hush,' 'Kentucky Woman,' 'Black Night,' 'Strange Kind of Woman,' 'Child in Time,' 'Perfect Strangers,' 'Knocking At Your Back Door' or perhaps even 'Smoke on the Water.'"

Deep Purple fans know the list of hits expands well beyond those few songs which really adds to insult to injury when looking at the singer's criticisms. His disdain doesn't stop there though as he serves up more when discussing the band's nomination this year (just their third despite being eligible for over 20 years now). This time he takes a shot at who has been inducted, rather than who has been excluded, adding, “I'm sure that my mum would have been pleased and it all sounds very grand, but just take a look at who's in it. I once wrote a song called 'No Laughing in Heaven' which was about not wanting to go to heaven due to the company I'd be keeping, and with a few exceptions, the Hall Of Fame is pretty much the same thing." Keep in mind, Purple were passed over in 2013 in favor of Randy Newman and Donna Summer.

The British legends have their minds set forward on other things right now as guitarist Steve Morse recently announced they will begin work on their 20th studio album In January, which will follow up 2013's Now What?!.

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