![[hand]](/hs-pics/portraits/hands/gillan5.jpg)
![[face]](/hs-pics/portraits/faces/morse.jpg)
Never say never
Don Airey was inducted into the Hall of Heavy Metal History at the ceremony held on January 18 in Anaheim, California. Here is his well thought out and pretty rousing acceptance speech and bits of rather interesting backstage interview:
Thanks to Vintage Rock for the video and to Nigel Young for bringing it to your attention.
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
Great man, great musician. Well deserved.
February 1st, 2017 at 17:47Congratulations, Don.
Congratulations Don!!
February 1st, 2017 at 17:50He is without a shadow of a doubt is the current shinning star in deep purple now. I remember the days when Steve Morse was the driving force in the band but I think he handed the touch to Don now. Our Beloved Jon Lord is looking down with great pride to what Don has achieved with DP
February 1st, 2017 at 18:13On a more lighter note. He just mentioned that Infinite is heavier than Now What and the recording would surprise lots of people.
Can’t you just release the bloody Album I can’t wait any longer.
Nice speech from Don Airey, always modest & thankful & great to hear him praise so many superb musicians from the past. So many of them not physically with us anymore! John Wetton departing this earth 3 days ago, a brilliant musician from the golden era & what a plethora of artists that he recorded & played with over 5 decades. Geoff Nicholls, Sabbaths keyboard player also gone last week, never forgotten! Cheers.
February 1st, 2017 at 23:03As long as you’re happy with it Don, then I suppose that’s all that matters. Smiles to ya.
February 2nd, 2017 at 00:31Wonderful acceptance speech Don.You are a class act sir.Congrats.
February 2nd, 2017 at 02:01Well Deserved. Don is incredible player and musician. He’s been a huge asset to Purple the last what 14 years.
February 2nd, 2017 at 02:06WOW! What a guy, and I mean that most sincere! I think Don has captured the true essence of humility here and he has a lot to say that is worth the hearing.
The role of keyboards in ‘metal’ is a difficult one to quantify – in my understanding of the broad genre, there are substantial parts of it where keyboards and keyboardists remain completely unemployed. But Don has created an outstanding profile for the instrument elsewhere within that genre and fully deserves this recognition.
It helps that he is a delight to listen to and has what appears to be a permanent smile.
Long live Don Airey… long live Deep Purple!
February 2nd, 2017 at 04:33Thank you to Don Airey. It was an honor to Induct you into the Hall of Heavy Metal History. Thank you to the Highway Star for posting. That is a great honor as well.
Pat Gesualdo
February 2nd, 2017 at 13:17Founder/CEO
The Hall of Heavy Metal History
… and the Award for the best Award goes too.
February 2nd, 2017 at 14:34great class act and a nice humble man! He erased all the doubts and has become more and more the driving force for this band! I love the fact that album sound is heavier and more progg then the excellent Now What?! I cannot wait to hear the album and see them in the Toronto in September!
Good Bless You Mr Airey!
February 2nd, 2017 at 16:50This is so like him, very modest, but so talented, we are proud to have Don as one of our own, but very happy to share him with everybody. Congratulations Don, well deserved award.
February 3rd, 2017 at 15:53So great. Among everything else, I’d love to see a live release of his solo band. Looking forward to the album and tour!
February 4th, 2017 at 00:13Well deserved, great that he’s finally been recognised. Good news that ‘Infinite’ is going to be heavier, but not so keen on more Prog.
February 7th, 2017 at 17:55