WhoCares | |
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Origin | UK |
Genres | Hard rock, heavy metal |
Years active | 2011–2012 |
Past members |
Ian Gillan Tony Iommi Jon Lord Jason Newsted Nicko McBrain Mikko "Linde" Lindström |
WhoCares was a supergroup formed by Ian Gillan of Deep Purple and Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath in 2011 with the participation of a great number of rock artists as a charity project to raise money to rebuild a music school in Gyumri, Armenia after the destruction of the city in the 1988 earthquake in Armenia. The album sold more than 20,000 copies in Europe.
The super group WhoCares was originally made up Ian Gillan (of Deep Purple) and Tony Iommi (of Black Sabbath).
Many artists took part in the project, namely the late Jon Lord (of Deep Purple), Jason Newsted (of Metallica), Nicko McBrain (of Iron Maiden) and Mikko "Linde" Lindström (of HIM)
The formation of the project WhoCares follows a two-decade continuous efforts by Gillan in helping Armenia after the devastating earthquake there in north of the country. Gillan had been involved in Rock Aid Armenia following the earthquake. The documentary Picture of Home shot by Bernie Zelvis and Christina Rowatt documented Gillan's involvement with David Gilmour, Brian May, Ritchie Blackmore and Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson in recording "Smoke on the Water" as a charity for Armenian relief efforts.
On a return visit to Armenia to receive honorary presidential medal for their efforts, Gillan and Iommi learned about a derelict music school in Gyumri heavily affected by the earthquake. The music school was in dire need of repairs and staff, and lacked many musical instruments. Gillan and Iommi formed WhoCares to provide financing for the school and solicited help from other artists to make music as a charity for the school.