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![[face]](/hs-pics/portraits/faces/gillan.jpg)
Key to keys
Don Airey was a guest on Rick Wakeman’s Key to Keys this Wednesday, December 21, which aired on BBC Radio 2.
In this first show Rick also chats to fellow rock pianist Don Airey. Keyboard player with Deep Purple since 2002 he has also written and played keyboards for artists like Gary Moore, Ozzy Osbourne, Rainbow and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Rick and Don chat about how he started his career playing on a cruise ship before being spotted playing live in a London club and being invited to play with Cozy Powell. Don also treats us to a live version of one of his own compositions on the Elton John piano.
Lots of hilarious anecdotage in this one, from the story of Jon Lord meeting Brian Wilson, to the 5-minute audition for Purple, to “I surrender, I surrender, livin’ down the road from our Brenda”.
The show is also available via BBC iPlayer (and will be available there until January 20th). Don’s interview starts at approximately 32 minutes into the show, right after Hush.
Thanks to Nigel Young for the info and the clip.
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
Two Greats!!! 😉
December 23rd, 2016 at 19:54Wednesday, 21st.
December 23rd, 2016 at 20:11Nigel:
December 23rd, 2016 at 20:39oops! thanks.
Splendiferous. Don, you da man!. Merry Christmas to you & to everyone reading this. Well, I have a little something for you all….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGVEr_eVrVg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KDr6FPSiHs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RvbKNoLcN8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZBYSgEnFjM
Enjoy!. Now don’t say I never gave you anything….. Lol.
BTW, ex Black Sabbath singer Tony Martin has a Christmas song on youtube called ‘Who Put The Devil In Santa?’. It’s a corker, but I don’t have the https address for it.
Happy holidays everybody & smiles to ya.
December 23rd, 2016 at 20:44What Don is doing in Purple is already great but I must say I kind of start to realise that his previous projects impress me even more, as well as the easiness he seems to have when he approaches the music of all these different bands. One must be blessed with loads of talent to do this. Though I miss his very own signature when I listen to his music because I fail to identify it – it seems to be snowed under. The only thing which is really missing in his impressive CV is that he had never founded a successful band himself (e.g. like Jon did with Purple) nor had he been part of a band being on top at that time (e.g. Deep Purple Mark II, Rainbow with Dio, etc.). I’m sure that he would have left a much bigger footprint. Instead it seems that he always jumped in after someone else already set the tone which is quite an invidious task for a man of his talents. Still a career like this is simply awesome.
December 23rd, 2016 at 23:37With Jon, Keith Gone these are the Last two Standing
December 24th, 2016 at 03:31Don is a nice guy but he is too nice to make his mark among other artists. look at Roger he is too nice too and not too many people talk about him. They are both the quiet ones.
December 24th, 2016 at 08:50Everyone still talks about how Richie and Ian never got on and their bitter in fights.
Talent and odd character makes you famous. The nice normal ones they tend to fade away.
‘To notice such things’ what a great work by Jon Lord. I bet you if Jon Lord was an odd charter it would have been compared to work by Mozart or Bach!!!
Rick Wakeman is a hero!!! Love his work with Yes!
December 24th, 2016 at 09:55Enjoyed listening to that. Wish it’d been longer.
December 24th, 2016 at 11:58I am always surprised that few people only visit great shows Don Airey & Friends. (Around 200 people). And then during Deep Purple shows thousands and thousands celebrate his virtuosity. I’m not sure if fans prefer the “brand Deep Purple” more than the ability of individual members. I’m glad to see next year in Prague, all of my heroes: Deep Purple Don Airey, Glenn Hughes.
December 24th, 2016 at 12:04Long Live Rock n’Roll.
Would love to hear a ballad written by Don and Ian Gillan.
December 24th, 2016 at 16:14Blackwood Richmore @ 4;
Got your back bro…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAjTEPRDgpA
MERRY “CHRIST”-MAS
December 24th, 2016 at 22:32Great interview.
Can’t recommend Colosseum II’s Electric Savage & Wardance albums too highly – phenomenal musicianship. Seek out the short BBC Sight & Sound thing they did – genuinely up there with best show I’ve ever heard.
December 25th, 2016 at 19:13Dons role in DP is that of a full member. He is making his mark as an individual (like Steve) but still tipping his hat to the great Jon Lord. I saw Don many times live with Colloseum II An amazing band (especially when they had Mike Starrs on vocals) Don had a similar role then Swapping licks and solos with the late great Gary Moore. Don’s way to great a musician and composer to just be a sideman. HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!
December 27th, 2016 at 11:47Fantastic interview… Not heard “Dark Side…” for god knows how long…
December 27th, 2016 at 23:04