Ian Gillan & Tony Iommi: WhoCares

WhoCares, full title Ian Gillan & Tony Iommi: WhoCares, is a music project by Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan and Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi and a charity release by the supergroup WhoCares they had formed with the help of other musicians, to raise money to rebuild a music school in Gyumri, Armenia after the destruction of the city in the 1988 earthquake in Armenia.

In addition to Ian Gillan and Tony Iommi (who were Black Sabbath bandmates from 1983 to 1984), many artists took part in the charity music project including Jon Lord (Ian Gillan's former Deep Purple bandmate), ex-Metallica bassist Jason Newsted, Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain, and HIM guitarist Mikko "Linde" Lindström.

In addition to the 2-track single "Out of My Mind / Holy Water" released in 2011, the 2-CD album contains in addition to previously recorded songs from various bands, rarities and unreleased material as well. The album was released on 13 July 2012 in Europe and in North America on 28 August 2012.

Jon Lord died three days after the album's release, making it his final recording.

Reception
Since its release, the album has been met with positive responses. Reviewer William Clark of Guitar International gave the album a positive review, saying "The wondrous contributions by Ronnie James Dio, Glenn Hughes, and by members of Metallica, Repo Depo, Iron Maiden, HIM, Deep Purple, and Black Sabbath should make nearly every hard rock and heavy metal fan weak at the knees!".

Track listing
CD 1

CD 2

Track-by-track personnel
"Out of My Mind"


 * Ian Gillan – vocals
 * Tony Iommi – guitar
 * Mikko "Linde" Lindström – guitar
 * Jon Lord – keyboards
 * Jason Newsted – bass
 * Nicko McBrain – drums

"Zero the Hero"


 * Ian Gillan – vocals
 * Tony Iommi – guitars, guitar effects, flute
 * Geoff Nicholls – keyboards
 * Geezer Butler – bass, bass effects
 * Bill Ward – drums, percussion

"Get Away"


 * Ian Gillan – vocals
 * Michalis Rakintzis – instrumentation, arrangement

"Slip Away" and "Let It Down Easy"


 * Tony Iommi – guitar
 * Glenn Hughes – vocals, bass
 * Bob Marlette – keyboards, bass
 * Kenny Aronoff – drums

"Don't Hold Me Back"


 * Ian Gillan – vocals
 * Steve Morris – guitar
 * Brett Bloomfield – bass
 * Leonard Haze – drums

"She Think It's a Crime"


 * Ian Gillan – vocals, harmonica
 * Michael Lee Jackson – guitar
 * Rodney Appleby – bass
 * Howard Wilson – drums
 * Steve Morris – guitar
 * Joe Mennonna – saxophones
 * Lance Anderson – Hammond organ
 * Jesse O'Brien – keyboards
 * Brownman Ali – flugelhorn
 * Jaro Jarosil – cello
 * The Gillanaires – backing vocals

"Easy Come, Easy Go"


 * Ian Gillan – vocals
 * Dean Howard – guitar
 * Steve Morris – guitar
 * Brett Bloomfield – bass
 * Leonard Haze – drums

"Smoke on the Water"


 * Ian Gillan – vocals
 * Ronnie James Dio – vocals
 * Steve Morse – guitar
 * Steve Morris – guitar
 * Jon Lord – keyboards
 * Roger Glover – bass
 * Dave LaRue – bass
 * Ian Paice – drums
 * Van Romaine – drums
 * Aitch McRobbie, Margo Buchanan, Pete Brown – backing vocals
 * Annie Whitehead – trombone
 * Paul Spong – trumpet, flugelhorn
 * Roddy Lorimer – trumpet, flugelhorn
 * Simon C. Clarke – baritone, alto sax, flute
 * Tim Sanders – tenor sax, soprano sax

"Holy Water"


 * Ian Gillan – vocals
 * Tony Iommi – guitar
 * Steve Morris – guitar
 * Michael Lee Jackson – guitar
 * Jesse O'Brien – keyboards
 * Rodney Appleby – bass
 * Randy Clarke – drums
 * Arshak Sahakyan – dukuk
 * Ara Gevorgyan – dukuk, keyboards

"Anno Mundi"


 * Tony Martin – lead & backing vocals
 * Tony Iommi – guitars
 * Geoff Nicholls – keyboards
 * Neil Murray – bass
 * Cozy Powell – drums, percussion

"Hole In My Vest"


 * Ian Gillan – vocals
 * Steve Morris – guitar

"Can't Believe You Wanna Leave Me"


 * Ian Gillan – vocals, harmonica
 * Roger Glover – bass, keyboards, guitars, programming
 * Ira Siegel, Nick Maroch – guitars
 * Lloyd Landesman – keyboards
 * Dr. John – piano
 * Andy Newmark – drums
 * George Young, Joe Mennonna – saxophones
 * Randy Brecker – flugelhorn
 * Vaneese Thomas, Christine Faith, Lydia Mann, Bette Sussmann – background vocals

"Can I Get a Witness"


 * Ian Gillan – vocals, harmonica
 * Gordon Fairminer – lead guitar
 * Tony Tacon – rhythm guitar
 * Tony Whitfield – bass guitar
 * Keith Roach – drums

"No Laughing In Heaven"


 * Ian Gillan – vocals
 * Steve Morris – guitar, keyboards
 * Harry Shaw – guitar
 * Mark Buckle – keyboards
 * Keith Mulholland – bass
 * Lou Rosenthal – drums

"When a Blind Man Cries"


 * Ian Gillan – vocals
 * Steve Morris – acoustic guitar