Deep Purple keyboardist Jon Lord passed away today after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 71. It seems a lot of the time that people who talk about heavy metal pioneers hold Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath up on lofty pedestals, but neglect the equally profound legacy of Deep Purple. I’ve never held with that perspective, though–in their mid-70s heyday, Deep Purple were one of the heaviest bands on planet Earth.
Deep Purple keyboardist Jon Lord passed away today after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 71. It seems a lot of the time that people who talk about heavy metal pioneers hold Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath up on lofty pedestals, but neglect the equally profound legacy of Deep Purple. I’ve never held with that perspective, though–in their mid-70s heyday, Deep Purple were one of the heaviest bands on planet Earth. And there’s no better way to both remind ourselves of that truth, evident to any with open ears, eyes, and minds, and to celebrate the life and legacy of Mr. Jon Lord, than to on this day present you all with a truly epic 11-minute live performance of one of Deep Purple’s biggest hits, “Space Truckin’,” filmed live in New York in 1973. The epic organ solo starts at about the three-minute mark and goes on for most of the rest of the song, and there’s plenty of other awesomeness going on throughout this video as well (dig those hairy freaks in the audience!). Enjoy this one, readers–and here’s to you, Mr. Lord. Godspeed.
Thundercat Has Entered the Chat
Next Saturday, October 17th, the weird, funky spaceship that carts Thundercat around will land in Richmond for his show at The National. As a massive fan, I will absolutely be there. His is the kind of unique sound that makes a concert a “happening.” A funk so deep...
