“Mr Universe” was the first album by GILLAN (previous releases were by the Ian Gillan Band), and featured the classic line-up of Ian Gillan himself, Bernie Tormé (guitar), John McCoy (bass), Colin Towns (keyboards), and Mick Underwood (drums).
Released in October 1979, it went straight to # 11 in the UK album chart. The title track was Gillan’s opening number in their live act for many years, and “Second Sight” has been Ian Gillan’s opening number for his own concerts since 2004.
“Vengeance” was another live favourite, and was issued as a single with an 8½ minute version of“Smoke On The Water” recorded live in Gillan’s studio Kingsway Recorders on the b-side. It appears here on CD for the first time as a bonus track.
