Why the Death of 'Deep Purple' Keyboardist Jon Lord, Matters More Than Ever

Yahoo News ^ | 07/18/2012 | Douglas Maher

[My Favorite Headache]

Jon Lord passed away on the morning of July 16th at the age of 71. Mr. Lord left the Earth surrounded by loved ones and leaving behind a legacy that has been so criminally underrated and disregarded by the "intelligentsia media critics" and "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame clique", that his death is creating not only an outpouring of grief and reflection....but anger as well.

Lord served as a founding member of one of the most successful rock and roll bands of all time: Deep Purple. Deep Purple is the band that during the 1970s, 80s, and 90s had guitar shops posting signs reading "If you plan to try out our guitars please don't play "Smoke on the Water" or "Stairway to Heaven", we can't handle it any longer."

You know your band has made it when a single guitar riff is one of the most iconic and hummed riffs and melodies in the history of all man-kind.

But Deep Purple was so much more than "Smoke on the Water", they were and are an institution that continues to perform to this day in venues across the globe. With such classics as "Hush", "We Can Work It Out", "Highway Star", "Space Truckin'", "Perfect Strangers", "Knocking At Your Back Door" , and "Chasing Shadows", it is just appalling that the band has never even once been nominated for "The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame".

[5Madman2]

Posted from the thread that announced his passing:

Mr. Lord was in many ways the glue that held together the monumental talents with the monumental egos and appetites that made Deep Purple what it was

Peacemaker, mediator and taskmaster to the volatile combination of Blackmore and Gillan.

Coach to Glover and Paice, always bringing out their best

Composer, Symphony class musician, he always took Purple beyond “Metal” and “Progressive” labels, and just plain made them Deep Purple. They were in a class by themselves and he brought that class to them.

RIP Sir. Lazy will be played in your Honor

[Chode]

Tampa Stadium 1973, one of the best shows i ever saw... RIP

[philman_36]

@ Lazy Live, 1972

[Deepest South]

Correct!

I doubt I’ll be around but would like to know what hip hop or rap song ( or artist) is still drawing crowds in lets say 50 years.

[BraveMan]

He could make a leslie sound like no other . . .

[5Madman2]

Thanks for that-good version

When they were on their game live there was no one better. The back and forth between Ritchie and Jon was oustanding.

Ian Paice is thoe only founding member still playing with the band. Not sure I would want to see him drumming with no shirt presently. Sound would be the same but the visual would remind me too mush of my old dumb butt.

Jon Lord brought an orchestral thread to the band that few others had. Made them unique

[Pyro7480]

Child In Time - Deep Purple (live)

[100American]

Had the 8-track and the album, missed the original line up and saw the “Burn” tour when they reformed. One of if not my favorite all time groups, a blend of Rock and Jazz like no other.

[deadrock]

Stormbringer was my DP favorite.

[philman_36]

You can tell they were having fun playing that night.

[CrouchingTiger620]

a pretty stunning list of those left out while “the red hot chili peppers” are on there way in

[rabidralph]

Mine, too! Hush, is a close second.

[rockrr]

I’ve had “Hush” and “Lazy” playing in my head for two days now (not a bad thing).

RIP Jon

[4yearlurker]

My brother and I literally wore out the “Machine Head” 8-track too! Cruising to the tunes! “Lazy” is the best song on the album.

[To-Whose-Benefit?]

RIP and Thanks Jon

Lazy Studio Version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPM6ni4bQzc

Lazy Live in Japan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFRMmZpK0uc

Smoking Cover of Lazy by Brazen Abbot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZywfDDddL8

Thanks again Jon

[Gay State Conservative]

Smoke On The Water,from their Made In Japan album,is very possibly the best live rock performance ever put on acetate.

[One_American]

Thanks man. I gotta break out my Made In Japan CD now.

[CORedneck]

Not only is Deep Purple excluded from the RRHOF but so is RUSH as well. But yet the Hall has admitted Michael Jackson and Madonna in !

[The Mayor]

Deep Purple was a huge part of my teenage years. We drove around blasting their music for hours on end. That was the era of great Rock and Roll and Deep Purple should be in the Hall of Fame!!

[One_American]

Made In Japan