‘Everywhere I go there’s bad news on the radio’.
In 1989 the bad news was that Ian Gillan* had been given the heave-ho from the (formerly) reunited Deep Purple. He wasted no time getting his career back on track, releasing the smooth AOR-styled Naked Thunder in 1990 just before Deep Purple returned with their own Slaves and Masters (with Joe Lynn Turner in place of the ousted Ian). Perhaps their return brought out Gillan’s competitive spirit because with his next release, 1991’s Toolbox, he got hard and dirty, dirty, dirty, dirty, dirty…
The lush keyboards of Naked Thunder were gone. Gillan’s new band was a guitar-driven power trio with a sturdy American rhythm section of Brett Bloomfield on bass and Y&T’s Leonard Haze on the drums. Producer Chris Tsangarides did an excellent job with the crisp and warm reverb-heavy sound. Only guitarist Steve Morris remained from Naked Thunder but in a more starring role with his Van Halen riffs and colourful solos all over the new album. While the musical backing is generic it’s also vibrant and lively, inspiring a fantastic Gillan vocal performance full of personality, echoing octave-defying screams, lusty exhortations and witty, playful lyrics. Mostly about shagging. Deep Purple never got this party-hearty but there is still some familiar Purple-esque heft in the bluesy Hang Me Out to Dry and Dirty Dog. The two-part Dancing Nylon Shirt saga is more oddball with its groovy, churning riff although the second part edges a bit on the silly side. And although Toolbox is a light-hearted album overall, there are serious moments like the up-tempo Candy Horizon and Pictures of Hell which are topped with catchy Maiden-esque guitar melodies and maniacal singing. Even the ballad Don’t Hold Me Back has a sense of macho defiance, an album highlight with its lush, surf mood and building chorus. But the album is absolutely priceless when it’s just straight up rock n’ rolling fun: the title-track, Bed of Nails and Everything I Need invoke giddy, breathless joy, blasting your worries away.
When it was released, Rock journalist Chris Welch said that if Toolbox wasn’t ‘a huge hit then maybe Rock really is dead’. Alas, Toolbox wasn’t a hit and Gillan was soon back in Purple, the battle raging on. Despite Welch’s dire prognostications Rock managed to live on and so did Toolbox. I always had it down as competent but entertaining but, over the years, I’ve enjoyed it more and more. It’s aged well. It’s the sound of a band that are loving what they do, and one of Rock’s greatest singers on brilliant form. It’s become one of my reset buttons any time my music listening feels uninspired, the kind of life-affirming fun that never dies.
*Worth pointing out that, although the ‘Gillan’ band logo is used on the cover, this release is considered and billed as an Ian Gillan solo album.
HEAVY METAL OVERLOAD 
Cool stuff Boss! Good ol Haze from Y&T! Good to learn some rock history …..
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Gillan really liked having Haze in his band. After this album it was Haze, Broomfield and Dean Howard on guitar. He was so confident in that lineup it became a band called Repo Depo rather than Gillan solo. But they couldn’t get any label interest so he went back to Purple. (Although maybe they didn’t get any interest SO he would go back to Purple?)
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I really like that notion of a music reset button – you’ve got me thinking of what mine might be!
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Thanks! And you’ve got me wondering what other albums I’d put in that class too… Maybe we could do Top 5s?
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You had me at Top 5s!
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Haha I know you’re a sucker for a Top 5!
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Oh man, this sounds dead SEXY! Good on him for beating DP to the punch… twice! Haha screw you fellas, I’m gonna do this MY way. Love it. And then to crank out goodness like this… I am well aware of his screaming. Fantastic stuff!
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Naked Thunder and Toolbox are both fantastic. Well worth picking up. He was in great voice at this point. Apparently he had given up smoking just before, hence all the high notes!
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Dammit HMO, are you adding more things to my search/want list? YES YOU ARE! 🙂
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Got to love that reset button … restores balance and makes everything okay.
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It’s essential for every music collection! What would yours be?
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Normally I go back to The Afghan Whigs (any), Stone Temple Pilots’ Purple, Spirit’s Twelve Dreams and QotSA (Rated R). Though ZZ Top has acted as a very good reset over the last couple of years.
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Interesting the only Gillan I’ve ever owned was Glory Road, with the extra LP – I enjoyed that one, before I sold it (kicks self, hard).
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Aargh… that ones a keeper. Self-kicking isn’t good enough!
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Okay, I pinched myself discreetly too.
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Nothing but a full-blown nipplecripple will do.
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Oh come on! We’re not talking a coloured vinyl copy of Mr Universe here!
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That’s a double nipplecrippler.
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Nipplecripple leads to purple nurple.
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Hey HMO do you like Behemoth? They do a very interesting cover of David Bowie’s Hello Spaceboy – you probably know about it already but here’s the link anyway!
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Never heard it! Thanks for the link. Never heard the original version either. Very interesting and strange! The guitars remind me of Queensryche.
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Hehe sure! Going to the post office today – let’s hope the Enslaved album is there!
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Leonard Haze is back! Playing shows with HazeXperience, and will be putting out a live album soon. He also recently sat in on two songs with Y&T at the Fillmore in San Francisco. A great night!
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