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Testimonials - page 3

Alan Heron, Glasgow:
I still remember the first time I heard Lazy from Made In Japan. It was on a personal stereo in my school playground. As an aspiring keyboard player who loved his rock music I was in a state of delight listening to a keyboard player of such energy and talent, gathering up anyone that listened and sweeping them away on a carpet of angry, exciting and mesmerising Hammond melodies. Years have passed since I first heard Jon playing, but I am sure that I am not alone in citing him as one of the major influences on my musical aspirations. He is an immensely talented musician - as he has showed not only with Purple, but also with his solo material, such as the wonderful Pictured Within. My only regret is that throughout all the years of Deep Purple gigs, I have never managed to shake the hand of the man that made me believe keyboard players have a place in the guitar-dominated world of rock'n'roll. Alas, fate has conspired against me thusfar, with the latest blow being the cruellest. I had a front-row ticket for the SECC show in Glasgow, and I was as shamelessly excited as that same schoolboy who first heard Deep Purple so many years earlier - until the show was cancelled. My reason for wanting to shake his hand was to let him know how truly appreciated he is. Perhaps this letter, or any of the plethora you will undoubtedly receive, will raise a smile on a recently-retired keyboard player's face. Wishing Jon all the happiness and health he deserves in his well-earned retirement.

Steve Byrne:
I had the pleasure of meeting Jon and talking to him, backstage after a Whitesnake gig and he was such a gentleman. I was also one of the thousands who saw the effort he gave to get some sort of performance from Richie Blackmore, at the 1993 Birmingham NEC concert. That night he played like I have never heard him play before. Possibly because he had to carry the solo work, virtually single handed. Also, his work on the revised Concerto and playing the show at the RAH showed what a master he is. May he enjoy his retirement from DP.

Michael Lückl, Vienna, Austria:
I saw Deep Purple about six times in Austria with three different guitar players - Blackmore, Satriani and Morse - but I only saw them with one keyboard player - Jon Lord. He made the sound of the Hammond famous in the whole world - even to people who don't play keyboards themselves. This is really a great thing. I think it will be hard for Don Airey to fit into the gap left by Jon Lord. Best wishes to Don, Deep Purple and of course to Mr Lord himself.

Errol Ariasa:
My fave Jon Lord memories: The intro to Lazy on Made In Japan, the solo in Wring That Neck on the Powerhouse album, the strange Hard Lovin' Man keyboard sound on In Rock, the intro to Speed King, the Sarabande album (especially Aria), A200 on the Burn album, the intro to You Fool No One on Made In Europe. Basically everything Jon did on keyboards. I hope for more solo albums in the future. Maybe a song or an album with Blackmore's Night....?

Doug Warczynski:
Jon Lord's departure from Purple - as an old rocker at 48, this is the type of thing no one wants to see of the original members of any great group. I feel blessed that I was able to see DP for the first time last summer in one of their rare visits to the US. Jon, as well as the others, were right on top of their game. They were billed as lead-in to Lynyrd Skynyrd, but I could've left after DP as they completely blew everybody away. Thanks Jon for it all. You are a premier player in a difficult game, and you will be missed terribly.

Chris Malinowski, Connecticut, USA:
Losing Blackmore was something I didn't think the band could overcome, but surprisingly they did - I think the best show I saw since Purple reunited was with Steve Morse in Hartford, CT on the Abandon tour. [It was definitely in the top five of all time. Rasmus] However, I think the loss of Jon Lord on keyboards is something that should convince the band to consider ending their brilliant career together.

Sven-Gunnar, Sweden:
Kom tilbaka............... [Come back]

Marko Salo, Valkeakoski, Finland:
Helsinki, September 1998. Jon Lord playing his solo in the dark hall, only one spot on him and the magic of Sibelius coming from the speakers. The gods were smiling...

Willem te Riele, Holland:
Mr. Lord, thank you for all those Hammond riffs and solos, especially the one in No No No. I hope God will give you many, many more years.

Hansjörg Sitner, Graz, Austria:
Thank you Jon, for many precious moments in my life which my parents were never able to understand. A few years ago I met a girl on a Greek island called Antiparos and she told me she was a classmate of your daughter Sara. I could not believe this. You and your bandmates got me so mad about Deep Purple that ever since I was 14 my nickname has been "Purple" (I am 41 now) and I am still rocking and rolling. My wife and I are expecting a baby in November, and one day when the time is right I will try to tell this kid how I felt when I was 10 and I first heard Deep Purple. All the best from an unknown friend.

Gerhard Jahnel, Austria:
Sir Jon, hallo Freunde! Ich war in London und ich habe mir Sir Jon genau angesehen. Sein Gesichtsausdruck hat mir keineswegs gefallen. Der 22.02.02 war das letzte Konzert mit Jon, wir werden ihn sicher vermissen... Doch es geht weiter. Heißen wir den Neuen willkommen. Er wird seinen Job gut machen...

Richard Jucker, Gais, Switzerland:
I have been a fan of Deep Purple since 1970. I have always loved the way Jon plays his keyboards with his a classical touch. I was shocked, when I read he will leave his band. But after so many years I understand him. I hope to see him in another set, maybe more classical. Good luck Jon, and thank you so much for your wonderful music over all these years.

Keith Crowe, London, UK:
It's a sad day. I've just read the news on the website of Jon Lords' departure from Purple and I must say, it's a strange feeling. I guess I've been taking it for granted that he would always be in the band. Without trying to sound, well, scary, I'd almost treated them like family. The first gig I ever went to was DP at Wembley on the The House of Blue Light tour, in 1987. Me and my pal Giles looked at each other after Jon's solo and just said 'Wow!' It's easy to impress teenage boys still at school, but I found myself saying the same thing out loud after the solo Jon took at Hammersmith just a few weeks ago - 15 years after the first time I witnessed the guy playing. Mr Lord, what can I say? Will 'thank you' do? Oh yeah, and....Wow!

Michael Brass, Germany
Danke Jon Lord, seit 35 Jahren gehe ich den Weg mit Dir - mit Deiner Musik. Mit Deep Purple, Whitesnake, Deinen Soloalben und wieder Deep Purple. Wenn ich Dich auf der Bühne gesehen habe, mit welcher Hingabe und mit welchem Können Du die Musik gespielt hast, dann ist mir ein Schauer über den Rücken gelaufen. Du hast mich in meinem Leben begleitet. In schönen wie auch in leidvollen Stunden. Immer hast Du mir mit Deiner Musik geholfen. Blackmore, Gillan, Glover und Paice wären heute nicht das was sie sind, ohne Deine Musik. Ohne Dich bei Deep Purple geht auch leider für mich ein Stück von mir. Danke für die vielen, vielen Stunden Deiner Musik. Alles Liebe wünscht Dir Michael Brass aus Schönow bei Berlin, Germany

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