Der Tod von Deep-Purple Legende Jon Lord lässt niemanden unberührt. Die Nachrufe von Freunden und Kollegen:

Ian Gillan (Deep Purple):

He was just an amazing character and, I suppose, the godfather of DEEP PURPLE, and we all looked up to him with tremendous admiration,“ Ian said. „If there was such a thing as a typical English gentleman in rock music, then it was Jon Lord. We’ve all been touched by Jon one way or another — anyone who’s involved in music, not only the fans, but also behind the scenes. We all know Jon for the inspiration and the incredible talent that he was. I could speak for hours about what he’s given us. We shall carry his memory forward and his music, of course.

Steve Morse (Deep Purple):

Jon just died. I’m shocked and don’t know what to do, so I’m going to try to tell you a little about Jon.

Jon was the powerhouse keyboard player that brought rock and classical directly together many times. The first was his timeless organ solo on ‚Highway Star‘. The next was his ‚Concerto For Band And Orchestra‘. I was able to perform with the whole band as it was played at Albert Hall before we toured extensively with it. Just weeks ago, I was able to play on a studio recording of Jon’s concerto and share some heartfelt thoughts and words with him.

Jon was the guy that would stop us from giving up on an idea in songwriting because it wasn’t immediately obvious. I remember him encouraging me in the studio to keep doing what I was doing as I played around with an idea that I was intrigued with. After writing something as amazing as his concerto, he still had the imagination to hear ideas on top of anything I suggested. He always had a regal, gentlemanly manner. Like any of us, he could get annoyed, but he would only show it with his wry and dry wit. Mostly, he was upbeat and a pleasure for anybody to be around. His humor was right up my alley, with us exchanging ridiculous thoughts like, ‚If Brenda Lee married Tommy Lee, her new name would be Brenda Lee…‘ Or having him finish the tune when an announcement at an airport would start with several musical notes to get your attention.

If you have friends, family, especially kids, don’t ever miss a chance to do or say something special…. or simply appreciate the fact that they are there. One day, they won’t be.

Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Rainbow, Blackmore˚s Night):

Jon was not only a great musician, he was my favorite dinner companion.

We are all deeply saddened. We knew he was sick but the word was that he was recovering and doing much better. This news came as a complete shock.

Without Jon there would be no DEEP PURPLE. He lives on in our hearts and memories.

Roger Glover (Deep Purple):

It’s unthinkable that Jon is gone. My thoughts are for his wife Vicky and all his children and family at this sad moment in their lives. I wish them all strength. A great sadness and sense of loss hangs over me. Not only has the music world lost a fantastic musician but a gentleman of the finest order. He was a giant in my life, a great friend, a fellow traveler, a teacher, not only of music, but of life. I am devastated at his passing.

Joe Lynn Turner (Deep Purple,Rainbow, Yngwie Malmsteen):

I am deeply saddened about the passing of Jon Lord. I am proud and humbled to have known him both personally and professionally, and blessed to share a special time with him. He was a true and gifted original, a gentleman of the industry, and he shall be greatly missed! My sincerest sympathies to his family and relatives and to all of us who have lost one of the great musicians of our time! R.I.P., Jon… May God hold you in his hands.

Mikael Akerfeldt (Opeth):

We’re very saddened to hear about the passing of the great Jon Lord. Our condolences go out to his family and friends. He’s obviously partly responsible for OPETH ever being formed, so we’re in massive debt to him.

Martin Mendez (Opeth-Bassist) and Martin Axenrot (Opeth-Drummer) obviously had the pleasure of working with, and playing with Lord, and both said it was such an amazing experience. He was a sheer musical genius. Axenrot even said that when he’d asked what bpm (beats per minute) a song was supposed to be in. Lord had said, ‚Around 140 bpm,‘ and started clapping his hands in the desired beat. Axenrot checked with his metronome and sure enough, Lord was clapping in exactly 140 bpm!

Jon Lord. We love you. Your music lives on and your memory will never fade.

HIER

Lars Ulrich (Metallica):

Ever since my father took me to see them in 1973 in Copenhagen, at the impressionable age of 9, DEEP PURPLE has been the most constant, continuous and inspiring musical presence in my life. They have meant more to me than any other band in existence, and have had an enormous part in shaping who I am. So obviously I’m beyond bummed, saddened and devastated by [yesterday’s] news of the untimely passing of keyboardist Jon Lord.

We can all be guilty of lightly throwing adjectives like ‚unique,‘ ‚one-of-a-kind‘ and ‚pioneering‘ around when we want to describe our heroes and the people who’ve moved us, but there are no more fitting words than those right now and there simply was no musician like Jon Lord in the history of hard rock. Nobody. Period.

There was nobody that played like him. There was nobody that sounded like him. There was nobody that wrote like him. There was nobody that looked like him. There was nobody more articulate, gentlemanly, warm, or fucking cooler that ever played keyboards or got anywhere near a keyboard. What he did was all his own. Including obviously his unique sound. Whatever it was he did with that Hammond organ, the way the Leslie distorted what he was playing and pushed it to some unheard of place, the way he attacked it while he was throwing it around, and whatever the fuck else it was that was going down between Jon and ‚The Beast,‘ as he called his organ, it was unlike anything before, during or after. That simple.

DEEP PURPLE, of course, was also an entity all their own, always unpredictable, often impulsive, never repetitive and most of the time, otherworldly. I had the good fortune of seeing them three times in Copenhagen between ’73 and ’75, numerous times again on the reunion runs in ’85 and ’87. We even played a couple of gigs in Germany with them in the summer of ’87 and, needless to say, every time was an experience that had a major impact on me. Seeing Jon on stage right playing the riffs, the colorings, the textures, the next level solos, intros, outros, blues bits, classical pieces and whatever else came into his head each night AND on top of that keeping up with Ritchie Blackmore song after song, night after night, was the sign of the master of his craft . . . the most accomplished, original and unique hard rock keyboardist that ever walked this planet.

In 1992 when we played Munich on the ‚Black Album‘ tour, Jon Lord and lead singer, Ian Gillan came down to the show and stood in the snake pit the whole time. I was in heaven. Performing in front of members of the band that had meant more to me than anything in my life was a dream come true. And when I got a signed note after the show that they had had to leave and get back to their milk and cookies and be ready for the recording sessions the next day, I was simply beyond psyched. My hero(es) in the fuckin snake pit.!!!!! ‚Look, Mom, on top of the fuckin world!!‘

….Full circle for the impressionable 9 year old from KB Hallen in Copenhagen in February ’73.

Rest in peace, Jon, and THANK YOU for everything.

Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath):

I was so shocked and saddened to hear the news of Jon’s passing.

Jon was not only a magnificent keyboard player and musician but a wonderful human being and a true gentleman. I’m honored to have had the opportunity to play together with him.

We’ve lost a true legend but his music will live on in all of our hearts.

My deepest thoughts go out to his family.

R.I.P., Jon, my friend.

Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath):

[I was] very sad to hear of [former DEEP PURPLE keyboardist] Jon’s [Lord] death, following his battle with the demon cancer. [He was] one of the great musicians of my generation. Tony Iommi [BLACK SABBATH guitarist] recently worked with Jon, and said what a lovely bloke he was. I met him a few times, but never got to work with him. Blessings.

Bill Ward (Black Sabbath):

My wife and I wish to respectfully send out condolences to the Lord family. News of the recent passing of Jon Lord has been met with sadness in our house. Reflecting upon his keyboard sounds, I must endorse how much he brought in originality and vision to the defining edge of hard rock. He is well-proven as a part of rock’s historical journey and will not be forgotten.

Thank you, Jon Lord. Rest in peace.

Slash:

It’s a sad day in rock and roll; Jon Lord has passed on. One of the biggest, baddest, heaviest sounds in heavy metal. One if a kind.

Michael Anthony (Van Halen, Chickenfoot):

I am deeply saddened to hear of Jon Lord’s passing. Growing up listening to music, Jon Lord and DEEP PURPLE had one of the biggest influences on me both vocally and musically. The first DEEP PURPLE album I listened to was ‚In Rock‘. The keyboards totally blew me away, and continued to do so on every one of their albums there after!! A huge piece of rock history for me is now gone.

R.I.P., Jon. You were the best. My condolences go out to your family.

Doogie White (Rainbow, Yngwie Malmsteen, Midnight Blue, Tank):

Dear Jon, thank you. Thank you for being the very best, the most honourable, the most inviting. The finest host (Ritchie [Blackmore] often told me that you were his greatest and favourite dinner guest). I remember you telling me off for buying a round of drinks in Luxembourg. You paid anyway. You were the greatest of storytellers.

But really, Jon, thank you for not only the most dynamic music I ever heard, that changed my world and many others, but for the most beautiful musical moments I ever had, for three – yes! only three – but three of the most outstanding and joyous concerts I have ever had the pleasure to be part of. You gave me a shot and how you both with Tarquin mocked the H/H Tartan suit I had bought for the occasion.

There are those who have known you much longer and worked with you much harder. But dear Jon, I will miss you. ‚..the Poet and the Pilgrim.‘

Much love to the Lord family.

Peter Baltes (Accept):

Just like Ronnie James Dio was the master on vocals, Jon Lord was the king on the Hammond organ…

R.I.P., Jon Lord.

I grew up on DEEP PURPLE. He was truly the best… It’s a very sad day for rock.

Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine):

RIP the great Jon Lord, DEEP PURPLE’s cornerstone/keyboardist. So many great, great songs and that incredible SOUND of his! Thank you.

Rick Wakeman (Yes):

I first became aware of Jon Lord in the mid-Sixties when ‚Hush‘ was released and I bought the album ‚Shades Of Deep Purple‘, which was an album way ahead of its time. For obvious reasons, I paid special attention to the organ style and sound as it was quite different from how other Hammond players were using the instrument. I became a genuine admirer and fan of Jon that day and remained so with everything he did.

We became real friends just a few years ago, although we had met on numerous occasions prior to that. We did talks together at music conservatories, we met for lunch and most importantly made music together. We wrote a piece 12 months ago for the Sunflower Jam at the Royal Albert Hall. We wrote this piece together at John Henry’s rehearsal studios in London and it was so easy because we had such different styles and because Jon was concentrating heavily on the Hammond and I on synthesizers, the blend was quite magical. The piece was performed just the once and I am told was filmed, although I have never seen the footage.

We sat in the dressing room which we shared at the Royal Albert Hall and made plans to do an album together. We were both utterly convinced that we could come up with something very special as our styles blended so well together. Our love of classical music and also working that style within that of rock music also completed the bond. We arranged to meet up later that month.

One week before we were due to meet, Jon called me with the news he was ill. He was very positive and actually said he’d never felt better in his life and so he would beat it however long it took and so to bear with our project which went on hold.

We spoke a couple of times after that and the last message I got was that he was responding well to his treatment. The news [yesterday] has hurt me like no other loss of a musician I have known. I can only thank him for the legacy he has left us all with his great music, great vision and for his kindness as he was one of the most gentle and kind persons I have ever had the pleasure of being able to call my friend.

My heart goes out to Vickie, his wife, and all his family.

Graham Bonnet (Rainbow, Michael Schenker Group):

It is with great shock and deep sadness that I was informed of the loss of a dear friend and great musician, Jon Lord. You brought fun, laughter, silliness and light with your sense of humor to everything you worked on, you changed the world of rock with your unique take on it all. I send my love, thoughts, and deepest sympathy to his family. God bless you, Jon. [You will be] forever in our hearts.

Tracii Guns (L.A. Guns):

Wow, I can’t believe Jon Lord passed away today. His style of playing the organ set the standard by which every rock band with organ lived by. A real legend and a real star. RIP, Jon!

Damon Johnson (Thin Lizzy, Alice Cooper):

Love and respect to the legendary Jon Lord. Condolences to his family. His mark in contemporary music is long and permanent. R.I.P.

Joe Bonamassa (Black Country Communion):

I am extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Jon Lord today. [He was] one of the nicest and most talented people I’ve ever met. Rest in peace.

Rudy Sarzo (Ozzy Osbourne, Dio, Whitesnake, Quiet Riot):

My condolences to Jon Lord’s family, fans and friends on his passing. Jon, thank you for being a part of the soundtrack of my life.

Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater):
I’m very sad to hear about the passing of Jon Lord. He was an inspiration to me!

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