In 1976 he was recruited as keyboardist to replace Mickey Lee Soule in the Ian Gillan Band. Over the time he developed an increasing interest in composing, and Gillan credits the Towns-penned 'Fighting Man' as pointing the direction in which Gillan should go. Gillan dissolved the band, with its jazz-rock leanings, and retained only Towns, putting together the rockier Gillan.
In 1976, he was recruited as a keyboardist to replace Mickey Lee Soule in the Ian Gillan Band. Over time, his interest in composing grew, and Gillan attributes Towns' composition 'Fighting Man' as guiding him towards that path. Gillan dissolved the band, retaining only Towns, forming a rockier version of Gillan.