GYUMRI. – President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and Deep Purple lead singer Ian Gillan on Friday opened #6 Gyumri music school renovated with the funds allocated within the framework of Rock Aid Armenia/Armenia Grateful 2 Rock project.

President Sargsyan and Ian Gillan talked to the students and listened to the concert of a school orchestra.

“This school is ready now. Music is heard here, it is a great event for the Armenian people. Things like this give us energy for our new projects,” Gillan noted.

The musician said he saw much in Spitak back in 1989, but an image that will remain in his memory was a woman carrying a family photo with 28 people on it – all her children, grand-children and grand-grand-children had been killed in a quake.

Ian Gillan said he wanted to return music to Gyumri, and this is the reason he decided to launch the Rock Aid Armenia project. However, the musician noted that he was only the face of the project which involved many good people.

“We have had an amazing contribution from Tim Irving from Canada who arranged a huge collection of instruments for the school. Music of all kinds is important whether it’s a traditional music, or listening to an orchestra or a band,” he emphasized.

Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi who also supported the project did not manage to come to Armenia this time.

“But, I can assure you that he remains committed to the work that we did together and is happy together with us,” Gillan said.

In March 2010 Mediamax agency Do Something initiative with the support of Viva Cell MTS organized two charity concerts of Ian Gillan. The profit was allocated to restoration of Gyumri music school. In 2011 Deep Ian Gillan and Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi created WhoCares group of rock musicians who released Out of My Mind/Holy Water single. By the end of last year $485,000 was raised.