Monday 16 July 2012

R.I.P. Jon Lord :'(

Today was a very mixed today for me in terms of good and bad. I slept though most classes in college and fooled around till 1 :30.

After that, I got home and listened to some music and ate and stuff. Then, I thought I'd meet up with some friends at the beach because it'd been a while.

So, I text two of them, and they agree to come to meet. I feel happy.

Later, another friend informs me that he'll be coming to the beach. I hadn't met him in months, so I was happy about that too.

I reach the beach early, as usual.

I run into a group of ex - schoolmates, many of whom I hadn't seen in at least a year. We have fun talking and joking and fooling around and stuff. It's been a while so we have a lot to say.

Then, they leave because they have plans.

I meet the friends I was planning to meet, and run into yet another old schoolmate who joins us. We hang out for the next 3 hours or so and we have good fun just talking and stuff.

Then, I reach home after everything, for dinner and rest.

At this point, an event organizer informs me that me and my friends might get a chance to have a gig (albeit small) at this venue we were trying to get to play at. (Finally! Hah.)


So good so far right?


So, we decide to do a Deep Purple cover, something I've always wanted to do since I really admire their work and musicianship and energy. I Google the song, and I notice this sentence.

"RIP Jon Lord"

It hits me really hard, and sudden. Denial is one of my first feelings. How can Jon Lord die? It really, really hits me. I sit, dumbstruck, for a minute or so. Then, I go to iTunes and play Soldier of Fortune. The song and its lyrics give me comfort. I continue listening to Purple songs, blocking out everything else for a while.

I've been a Deep Purple fan for a some years now, I've always loved their ability to fuse rock and roll, blues and classical/folk and present in it in a raw, powerful and racy package. Ritchie Blackmore's influenced me as a guitarist and so has Steve Morse. Ian Paice is one of my favorite rock drummers. Jon Lord... He was one my favorite keyboardists of all time, and I admired him a lot for his skill and unique style. In my mind, he was up there with Richard Wright and Ray Manzarek as one of the rock keyboard greats. He did a LOT for the keyboard in a rock setting. I always enjoyed his work and it's impeccable internal groove. From his Speed King duel solos to his Lazy blues fury to his Wasted Sunsets ballad style playing, he could do it all and still look cool. He was the rock keyboard beast.

I keep listening to more Purple songs. Then, I start thinking.

After a while, I get some solace from the fact that, even though he's dead physically, he lives on through his music, with Purple and otherwise. His organ solos, with their wails and raw Blues howls, and refined Bach - esque noodlings. The songs he wrote and helped write. They all carry a part of him, a part of his soul and his voice with them!

 The thought brings a smile to my face.




R.I.P Jonathan Douglas "Jon" Lord 
(9 June 1941-16 July 2012)

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