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Testimonials - page 5

Jim Collins, Kansas, USA:
I first heard Jon Lord's keyboards on a tiny AM radio in my parent's kitchen way back in 1968 when I was all of 11 years old. I became a Purple fanatic a couple of years later, and if I wasn't listening to this band, I was talking about them. But even at the point, Jon was still just a musician in my book. A musician I had worshipped most of my life, but a musician just the same. That was, until the summer of 2000. My mom died on May 12th, and Jon sent me a poignant and very personal note about moms and their place in our lives and our hearts. For that alone I will always hold him in the highest regard. It is something I will never, ever forget and it touched me more than anything else I can think of. It helped get me through a very difficult time in my life and I thank him for it from the bottom of my heart. Jon is more than a stellar musician, he's a decent and warm human being. He'll be missed on that stage, but he'll remain close to my heart forever. I wish him the best in his retirement and in all things he chooses to pursue. All my best.

Iarnvidsson, France:
Stay! Please! Stay!

Panagiotis Papapanagou, Greece:
In my opinion it was Jon Lord who invented the Purple sound. His career is huge and I can't just choose some of my favourite moments. His solo albums and especially Sarabande and Pictured Within are just fantastic, his work with Purple is classic. I hope we will enjoy him again in the future via new solo work . For now I can just thank for his contribution and wish him the best.

Sebastian Bongartz, Munich, Germany:
Dear Mr Lord, my greetings to you, big thanks for many years of great music. I hope you will have a nice life and good luck for everything you will do in future.

Rudi Köpf, Germany:
I first saw Jon Lord live on the Stormbringer tour in Germany. I also saw him several times with Whitesnake, and then with Purple again. I saw all his solo tours of Germany, like Super Druming, Wind In The Willows, his show at the Thuner Sea in Switzerland and so on. Every time it was great to see him onstage. To describe Jon's keyboard playing, a friend of mine said Jon is making you cry on his keyboard. This is true. Jon always gives me the feeling that I think I'll start to cry from his wonderful playing. I feel very empty without him in the band now. I hope he finds what he is looking for.

Mike Mikocic, Toronto, Canada:
I love Jon Lord's organ playing. In fact, at times he gives me the same feeling that Blackmore did back in the Mark 2 days. He influences me on guitar. I really dig the organ solos on Fireball and Flight Of The Rat. I wish I could have seen him live when he came here in June. Who knew it would be the last tour with him and DP? It's sad to see him go - the end of an era.

Tim Shestakov, Russia:
Thank you Jon, for your being in Deep Purple. My listening to Deep Purple began with discovering my father's tape with a rock'n'roll compilation. First I heard a riff that was on my computer in a mod-form (Smoke.mod - I didn't know what it meant at the time). And there were more tracks by DP (as far as I can remember Space Truckin', Highway Star, No One Came, Burn), as well as other bands. I was very, very surprised when I found out all the tracks that I liked were written by Deep Purple. The final shot was the Hammond solo on Burn. I've bought the DP Anthology CD, making my wheel of Deep Purple spinning.

Dirk Etienne:
Genius in music is defined as doing something special with the same instrument to which everyone else has access. When I first saw Jon Lord in San Jose in 1972, I knew he had changed the role of keyboards forever. His subtle use of the B3 has inspired and influenced rock keyboard players ever since (just listen). Also, Jon was a master at inculcating classical undertones into DP's music. Jon can't be replaced. If imitation is the highest form of flattery, then indeed, Jon must be constantly blushing. Thanks, Jon, for the great memories and music that will live forever.

Anthony Cianfarano:
My first experience with Deep Purple was when I gave a listen to one of the 8-track test tapes that my father had in his TV and radio repair shop. The recording was Machine Head, and I was 14 or 15 years old (1974 or 1975). I was just begining to develop my own tastes in music, and I remember listening to that tape over and over again. My favorite song was Lazy, and the coolest part to me was the organ intro. I obtained other Deep Purple albums; In Rock, Fireball, Made In Japan, etc, and by now I knew much about Deep Purple and they became my favorite band. I knew each of the band members names and faces, and I always thought Jon Lord looked the coolest - I liked his long hair and mustache and often imagined the same look for myself. I missed my first opportunity to see Deep Purple live in the mid-70s, but in the mid-80s I was so happy to hear the news of the re-union and the Perfect Strangers tour. This time I wasn't going to miss them no matter what, but I felt a little disappointed that they were playing in a relatively small venue. My image of a Deep Purple concert was in a packed football or baseball stadium, not a small college Events Center. Nevertheless, the show was as awesome as I knew it would be. From that time until today, I have been a loyal, avid, follower of Deep Purple, and I have been treated to years upon years of fantastic music. When Ritchie left again I found to my surprise that Deep Purple carried on. I realized that Deep Purple is the greatest band ever, not because of any one individual, but because of the sum of it's parts. I thought Steve Morse fit in so well, and I saw this version of Deep Purple in 1998 - only my second live concert. So, I have been pretty lucky. The news of Jon Lord leaving is saddening - from a very selfish point of view, that is. Certainly these guys couldn't go on forever, but somehow I wished that they would. Jon Lord's retirement, I realize, was inevitable. I am happy to hear that the rest of the band will carry on. What we all must realize is that the music will stay with us long after everybody from Deep Purple retires. I treasure my collection, and I'm going home to listen to Machine Head again for the one millionth time. I'm certain the organ intro to Lazy will sound just as great as it did almost 30 years ago.

Dave:
I was seven years old in 1972, and aspiring to be a drummer. Made In Japan, Machine Head, and everything I could find on 8-track or vinyl that said Deep Purple was my inspiration. To this day I have never been more inspired to play music than I was by DP. Jon Lord's presence always seemed the soul or the foundation of that inspiration (even as a drummer). Jon's use of the ring modulation (Made In Japan intro to Lazy, etc.) is only a fraction of his originality and acute talent. And his ridiculous speed in later years soloing along with Morse note for note (Almost Human, etc.)... I could go on forever but let's just let Jon's legacy do just that. Have a good one Jon - and thanks for all the years. God Bless.

Joe Caiola, New Jersey, USA:
What can one say when a man such as Jon decides to retire. You can't say anything but thank you. Thank you for what you have given of yourself for the past 34 years. You will be missed and although Purple will go on, it will never have the certain touch of class that Lordy brought to the band. Jon once said that Blackmore was the microchip that when plugged into the Deep Purple computer, made it run. If that's so then Jon is the keyboard and monitor. Jon, you have always made me feel like I was listening to an old friend when I heard that Hammond play and nothing will ever make that sound in Purple again. I love this band and with a heavy heart I wish Jon all the best in whatever he does in the future. Play on, old friend, all the best - and thank you.

Fernando e Denise Mattedi, Sao Paulo, Brazil:
The first time I heard Deep Purple was in the early 80s. The band was inactive, but the Purple classics were as alive as ever. Along with all the other great bands (Sabbath, Heep, Zeppelin, etc.), they were always present in the soundtrack to the life of 14-15-year-old boys - such as myself. But with Purple there was a difference. They had something unique, a detail that allowed you to recognize anytime. An organ. Sometimes smooth as in church (Child In Time), but most times aggressive as a pit bull (Highway Star), and to our astonishment, soloing. Jon brought the Hammond from the depth of the bars up to the front, raging over guitars and drums, and from the now distant original release of Hush onwards, Jon put the keyboards into hard rock. Good luck, Jon, we wish you the best. And thank you for everything, from Hush to Evil Louie.

Ron Ditty, Pennsylvania, USA:
Jon Lord is simply the most underrated musician ever. Jon plays his Hammond as hard as Blackmore played his Strat. I had the pleasure to meet this legend at Harvey's Lake in upstate Pennsylvania in 1998, and it is still the thrill of my life. His presence commanded respect. He was warm and friendly - there was such a presence of greatness to him (no snobbery at all). It is a fact that one day Deep Purple will be gone, a day that I dread. But until then, I will enjoy whatever Purple I can hear or see. My father saw them in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with Tommy Bolin. He didn't care for them then, because there wasn't a good vibe - Coverdale and Hughes were openly hostile to each other. I really wish my dad had come to the Harvey's Lake show. They really jammed and Gillan, despite having a cold, was all over the place. But now I'll never get the chance to take my son to see the (almost) classic Deep Purple.

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