DAILY FIX: Deep Purple, “Space Truckin’ (Live In New York, 1973)”

by | Jul 16, 2012 | MUSIC

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.

Marilyn Drew Necci

Marilyn Drew Necci

Former GayRVA editor-in-chief, RVA Magazine editor for print and web. Anxiety expert, proud trans woman, happily married.




more in music

Salon de Résistance | A Live Interview Series From RVA Mag

"The absurd is the essential concept and the first truth" - Albert Camus Dispatch NUmber One: Salon de Résistance | presented by RVA Mag, Black Iris, and Le Cachet Dulcet Not long ago, salons were a catalyst for intellectual expression. Spaces where creators,...

Confederate Nostalgia, Black Voices: The Paradox of Polk Miller

Over a century ago, engineers from the Edison Company hauled their bulky recording equipment from New Jersey to Richmond, Virginia. In 1909, they captured one of the first interracial recording sessions in American history: Polk Miller, a white Confederate veteran...

Weekend Frequency Vol. 23 | The Southern Gothic Fest Playlist

Richmond gets it. More than any other city in Virginia. That’s why we created Weekend Frequency, a reader-curated playlist built for the city, by the city. Each week, a different voice from Richmond’s creative community shares the sounds that move them, shaping...

It’s Still Our City | Ep. 13 GULL

"When Nate first got on my radar, it was via SNACK TRUCK. Thanks to @falseidolstoys for this wonderful discovery. There were so many Virginia-based bands absolutely knocking it out of the park, really helping me and my bandmates in our project at the time, The...

Topics: