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Testimonials - page 7

Mark Makatura, Ohio, USA:
I opened up The Highway Star earlier this week and read the news about Jon retiring. To say that I was stunned is an understatement of massive proportions. I then went to my Purple collection and listened to everything that I have from Shades to Live With The LSO, went back, read the news again and shed a tear. The man that influenced so much of what my musical tastes have become, is calling it a day. Jon, I wish you well, but you made 34 years go by so fast that I feel I hardly got to know you. Please enjoy your retirement and all the projects that lay ahead of you. May God bless you and keep you in his peace.

Bartosz Kazana, Poland:
When I first heard that Jon Lord might abandon the Purple ship I almost burst into tears. I knew this could happen but never really believed it would come true. For me Jon Lord was and still is the musician I admire most and a person I truly respect. He is a living legend, an icon and an inspiration for other artists. His latest solo project Pictured Within is obvious proof of this. This album is the most beautiful piece of music he has ever composed. It comes straight from the heart and it reaches the listener's heart. Jon Lord is a very sensitive man, and he seems to have reached that moment in his musical career when he can easily touch the most remote and unknown points of music which lie deep in his soul. I hope he will successfully continue to proudly walk this path. It is impossible for me to list the most magical moments if it concerns my fascination with Jon Lord's playing. I always enjoyed Lord's inspired and thundering organ solos, but he's such a versatile keyboard player - I also love his piano playing. He can easily create various moods and move within them without a hitch. And finally he has his own style which makes him sound different and be easily recognized. He is the music. I completely understand Lord's decision of leaving Deep Purple and I respect his choice. I'm grateful for all he has done for the band. I sincerely thank you, Mr. Jon Lord for creating and being the part of Deep Purple and I wish you all the best in your future projects.

Lucio Judge, Canada:
I met Mr. Lord for the first (and last) time in Kalamazoo, Michigan back in 1994. I was in awe. His presence made me shiver and then become paralyzed. I have been a fan since 73 (Made In Japan). After 25 or so years, I finally met the whole band and spent some time speaking with Mr. Lord back stage after a concert. He is a gentleman and a creative genius. I will miss him in DP but respect his decision to leave the band. Mr. Lord, you deserve all good fortune which may come your way. You have shown everyone that you can reach for the stars and keep your feet on the ground. Your almighty Hammond sound will never be replaced. Good luck to you and thank you for the memories.

Duncan Smith, UK:
I was very fortunate to meet Jon in a pub in Oxford, England, whilst he was touring with Whitesnake in 1978. It was great to be able to chat with him about his solo work (Sarabande), his favourite Deep Purple album (at the time, it was Burn), and about the late Tommy Bolin. I lived at Twyford at the time - not far from where Jon lives. It was a pleasent evening, a great concert (it was the year Jon was doing a medley of Deep Purple songs as part of his solo), and, to top it all, he (literally) shot past us in his Porshe as we drove home. I really enjoyed seeing him at Reading in 1996 when, with Steve Morse in the band, it really rekindled my interest in DP, but at Oxford 2002 the end seemed near, as his solo was a rather poor and uninspiring effort. Thanks for the memories and best wishes to Jon for the future.

Dip Let:
The music and all it had to offer to us all emotionally and inspirationally will always be dear to our hearts and our souls. You should know Jon, that your contributions within Deep Purple have been immeasurable. I have a passion for the Hammond organ, that wouldn't be there if it weren't for you. I look forward to hearing many more new Jon Lord compositions in the future. I'm sure you will not let us down. Pictured Within was outstanding. Jon, and the rest of the guys, thank you for all the great music you have given us - it will always be apart of our lives.

Tony Bannon, Annalong County, Northern Ireland:
With the sad news of Jon Lord's departure from the touring ranks, Deep Purple's first time ever in Dublin on Feb 4th has taken on a more poignant significance. It was also one of the happiest and most memorable nights of my life. With the departure of Jon a part of the history and mythology of Deep Purple has gone (hopefully not for good). He goes with the adulation and best wishes a gentleman and musician of his calibre deserves. In this land of a thousand welcomes, there will always be one for this illustrious maestro and composing keyboard genius. Farewell dear friend, and thank you for the joy your music has brought into the lives of me and millions of others.

Williams León, Venezuela:
Lord is Lord. My best wishes for Jon Lord, my best wishes for the most important band in rock, Deep Purple. Speed King is a trade mark for Lord, and Airey will be the new partner for the guitar. Welcome Mr. Airey.

Simon Harris:
A very sad moment. Thanks to you for the last 30 years or so. For those amazing solos, that wonderful fusion of classical, jazz and rock, for Sarabande and for keeping that rocky ship, Deep Purple afloat and buoyant. Like countless others, I will miss you. Good luck and keep on movin'.

Joe Sac, USA:
Two memories of Jon stand out. March 13, 1974 at Madison Square Gardens, sitting in the front row, right in front of the man himself, making eye contact with me and my friends several times during the show. The second was March 16, 1985 at Hollywood Sportatorium - the reunion that would never happen - Deep Purple Mark 2. They tore the house down.

José I Torres H, Mexico:
Not only the best in the business but a gentleman. An awesome musician that helped many people find sense in life, and who shared our happy and sad moments with us through his music. I saw him in Mexico where he left behind many believers in his playing. As a master of the keyboard his performance is still commented on the streets. Fortunately we have his recordings and maybe he will return to the band. Who knows? Best Wishes.

Tony Birks, UK:
I saw Purple at Nottingham a few weeks ago - they played with such enthusiasm, especially Mr Lord. He really seemed to be driving them on and he will be greatly missed.

Schwendener Hansueli, Switzerland:
Lieber Jon, Du wirst allen Rockfans fehlen. Du hast mich über drei Jahrezehnte mit deinem Excellenten Keyboard Spiel begeistert. Immer und Immer wieder höre ich 'Dein' Lazy. Du und Deine Kollegen von Deep Purple gehören zum Rockolympiade. Du und Deep Purple haben Musikgeschichte geschrieben. Ich wünsche Dir alles Gute und hoffe noch auf viele Deep Purple Konzerte - leider ohne Dich.

Marcelo Costa, Goiania, Brazil:
I would like to (also) remember Jon's contribution to Whitesnake, making his last album - Slide It In - a true blast. What I would like to say is that Jon always gave the impression of a fine and calm man - the structural base of DP. Among DP's albums Abandon is a beautiful expression of the Hammond power. It's amazing to see a band that have been on the road for 34 years renewing its work continuously. I hope they can make it without Mr. Jon Lord. I wish you well, Jon.

Alan Vance, Canada:
Jon Lord - simply the best.

Ross:
Dear Jon Lord, I can't believe you're leaving the band. You're the glue that held this very underrated and underappreciated band together. Nobody can replace you - you're one of the best that ever lived. You're Deep Purple's heart and sound. Thanks for making my life a lot more enjoyable.

Stefan Nielsen, Sweden:
I remember my first concert with Deep Purple back in 1996 in Brottet, Halmstad, Sweden (also my first concert ever). I was 16 years old and it was one of the best experiences I ever had. I remember Jon Lord as a man of control who knew what he was doing. My impression of Lord is that he is a calm man with lots and lots of love for his music and for Deep Purple. I think Jon Lord is a great man, and I think it's sad that he left Deep Purple but I respect his choice and I wish the best for both him and Deep Purple.

Astrid & René van der Kraan, Berkel en Rodenrijs, Holland:
In 2000 my wife and I went to Purple's concert in Belgium. When Jon entered the stage and welcomed us he called the Sportpaleis in Antwerp "the house of echo." My wife and I laughed very hard - Jon was right, it was the house of echo. A month later at the Ahoy in Rotterdam they gave a perfect concert you can now hear on the CD. Jon, we wanna thank you for all the years of fun listening to you play and we want to wish you very good luck with your solo projects.

Tommy Carlyle, Wichita, Kansas:
Jon Lord has given me so many great memories over the years. Being a keyboardist myself, it was through his sounds and solos that I first became addicted to the Hammond organ. Those early recordings, especially Made In Japan, influenced me so profoundly that now, 30 years later, I still carry a Hammond and Leslie with me to each and every gig. There are so many great solos of Jon's but my personal favorites are certainly the intro to Lazy from Made In Japan; the smooth ending of The Cut Runs Deep; the Bach-influenced synth solo in Burn; and especially the honky tonky out of tune piano solo on What's Goin' On Here - such a bizarre and creative piece. The list goes on and on - from the classically influenced Rat Bat Blue to some of the blistering dual work he's done with Steve Morse, of which I'm Not Your Lover stands out. With his often copied but never duplicated distorted Hammond sound, Jon Lord basically created the chair of a hard rock heavy metal organist. From an organist's perspective, his work is unsurpassed in the rock'n'roll field. Many nuances of his instrument go unnoticed by most people. For example, on Rosa's Cantina - all the slappy stuff in the intro is actually Hammond percussion. Great, creative sounds are his trademark. I also admire the detuned organ/synth line in Mad Dog, and of course the ultra bizarre Arp growls in Strangeways. Jon has taken whatever technology is available keyboardwise at the time, and bent it in ways that none of the manufacturers ever imagined, all the while using it as a supplement to the cornerstone of the Hammond. Many keyboardists color their band's sound. Jon defined Purple's. It was a wonderful ride, and waiting for that next album to come out in the old days, to see what wonderful sounds he would come up with next. It's been a large part of my musical and personal life for many, many years, and I thank him for that. Whichever path he chooses, I wish him peace, and from one fan who has taken Jon's work deep within his soul, a heartfelt thank you.

Fabio Collina-Florence, Italy:
Jon - a very special friend 'for my ears' since 1971. His best solo? There are too many best solos! For a man who was able to follow Ritchie's musical flights, now it's time to retire. Forever your name will be written inside our musical dreams.

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