Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan and former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Bernie Tormé are heading into the business world to teach a heavy metal business seminar. Tormé played with Gillan for several years in the band Gillan in the early 80’s, so their association is close. Tormé told The Independent:

"I have worked with a fair mix of Class A rock stars. The music business is a great teacher of life skills such as negotiating, marketing, teamwork, high performance and so on, both how to do them well and occasionally the dark side of the force." 

The event will take place at the Hilton Hotel in Dartford, England on June 19. The organizer of the seminar, Pete Cook, used to be manager and also wrote the books Punk Rock People Management and Sex, Leadership and Rock’n’Roll. Cook explains the business side of rock n’ roll as a more level-headed approach than the kind taken by the rockstars themselves:

“Procurement managers are not known for throwing televisions out of windows or for their creativity. What we're teaching them is about balancing the need for order and structure with a little bit of creative spark which gives them the edge over their competitors.” 

Sustaining a long-term career in the music industry is anything but easy. In the metal world, though, bands command a loyal following that doesn’t drop off quickly like the pop world. Although many of these bands’ fans are aging, they now have more money to go see their favorite nostalgia acts on tour. Some of those bands are still recording new albums to this day to keep things fresh. Just like rockstars can learn from the business world, the business world can learn from rock n’ roll.