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.
Cosmic Jazz Legend Lonnie Liston Smith is Returning to Richmond
Just announced: Cosmic Echo Live, taking place at the historic Hippodrome Theatre on September 13, will celebrate the life, music, and legacy of Richmond-born cosmic jazz icon Lonnie Liston Smith. The event will feature live performances, stories from across his...
