Yerevan /Mediamax/. All the funds, raised from sale of “Smoke on the Water” song cover version’s remix within the framework of “Rock Aid Armenia” will be spent for building the musical school in Gyumri.

Mediamax reports that author of “Rock Aid Armenia” project and Head of Australian “Do Something” NGO Jon Dee said this at a news conference in Yerevan today. “Yesterday we visited musical school N6 in Gyumri, where children are educated in terrible conditions; it is very cold and damp in the classrooms. These conditions are simply not suitable for learning”, Jon Dee stated. He emphasized that “we decided to spend all the funds for building a new school”. Jon Dee also addressed Armenian businessmen, noting that they would be pleased if the latter participated in building the school.

Vocalist of “Deep Purple” band Ian Gillan, lead guitarist of “Black Sabbath” band Tony Iommi, member of “Asia” band Geoff Downes, legendary Australian tennis player Pat Cash are in Armenia within the framework of “Armenia Grateful 2 Rock” project, which is being implemented by Mediamax Agency.

Ian Gillan noted that for the first time he was in Armenia in 1990, and these recollections are hard to forget. Immediately after the earthquake in Spitak, Jon Dee turned to him with the suggestion to participate in “Rock Aid Armenia” project; then they visited Armenia together. “I was approached by a woman with a photo portraying 28 members of her family: children, grandchildren, great grandchildren. They all died during the earthquake, she was the only one to have survived. And when I was asked to tell about what I had seen, I could not say a word, I started to cry”, Ian Gillan stated. He stressed that the current visit is also a first visit, since this is already a different country. “At least, I feel the spirit of adventure in the air here”, Ian Gillan stated. 

He expressed hope that he will visit Yerevan again and this time will perform with the philharmonic orchestra and, maybe, together with Armenian rock bands.

At the news conference, the new version of “Smoke on the Water” song was demonstrated, which will be put for sale at ITunes internet stores, as well as the video of the song recording.

Goal of “Armenia Grateful 2 Rock” project is to express gratitude to participants of “Rock Aid Armenia” project, realized 20 years ago in 1989. At that time, the British rock stars recorded a cover-version of Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water” song and produced the special “Earthquake Album”, and the entire proceeds from sale of the album were sent to Armenia, which had suffered from disastrous Spitak earthquake in 1988.

General sponsor of the project is “ArmRosGazprom” Company, which occupies the 1st place in the list of top taxpayers in Armenia. BMI is the sponsor and the official airline of the project.