Biography
Jon Douglas Lord was born in Leicester, England, on June 9, 1941. His first active contact with music was through the family piano, where he took classical music lessons from a very early age. As a teenager he strayed from the path after being subjected to the charms of jazz organ players such as Jimmy Smith and rock n roll piano-playing pioneers such as Jerry Lee Lewis.
At 19, a career in acting beckoned, in the shape of a grant from a leading drama school in London. That was the early sixties, and “Swinging London” was just around the corner. Jon began playing in jazz and rhythm and blues “combos” mainly in pub gigs. The first such band to be documented was the Bill Ashton Combo, a jazz group led by its eponymous, sax-playing leader. So much for thespian aspirations, then…
In 1963, Jon joined Red Blood and his Bluesicians and acquired his first electric organ. By the next year he occupied the keyboard spot in the seminal Artwoods, led by Art Wood, brother of future Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood. The Artwoods struggled for the next three years, releasing several singles and EPs and a now highly collectible album titled Art Gallery.
Lack of success led to the Artwoods splitting up, after failing a last attempt at cracking the charts under the alias St.Valentine’s Day Massacre. Ronnie Wood then recruited Jon, Twink and Kim Gardner for a short-lived endeavour named Santa Barbara Machine Head who recorded three instrumental tracks that only surfaced on a various artists’ compilation, the band having failed to secure a recording contract. Pop stardom (of sorts) was just around the corner.
The Flowerpot Men, a more or less manufactured pop vocal ensemble, had a psychedelic hit and needed a backing band to help them out on the road. They recruited Jon to complete a band consisting of, among others, bassist Nick Simper (future founder member of Deep Purple) and drummer Carlo Little. The Flowerpot Men’s backing band was called, appropriately enough in those pre-ironic times, The Garden.
Then came Chris Curtis and Deep Purple. Between 1968 and 1976 Purple was one of the world’s most popular and creative bands, with Jon occupying a pivotal role both in the studio and onstage, through every permutation of the band’s line up.
In between albums and tours, he found time for quite a bit of classically themed solo work, with albums such as The Gemini Suite and First of the Big Bands. When Purple split in 1976, he delivered his finest solo work to date in the shape of the Sarabande album.
Shortly after, Jon formed Paice Ashton Lord with Purple drummer Ian Paice and longtime friend and musical collaborator the late, great Tony Ashton. After one album, Malice in Wonderland, PAL split up and Jon went to Whitesnake. During Whitesnake’s down time, Jon guested on albums by Cozy Powell, Graham Bonnet and others, and released another excellent solo album, Before I Forget.
Then came Deep Purple’s reformation. Between 1984 and the present, Purple’s career has been a roller coaster ride of six studio albums, literally thousands of live concerts all over the world, five different line ups and album sales in excess of 150 million units.
Jon found time to write and record the highly personal ‘Pictured Within’ album and eventually retired from Deep Purple in 2002 to concentrate on his solo work, playing with Deep Purple for the last time in Ipswich, England, on 19th September 2002. That was a highly emotional night, one that signified a new chapter in the careers of both Deep Purple and Jon Lord.
“I’m going to have myself a long and vibrant solo career,” Jon said that night, and he’s set his sights on fulfilling that promise. Since then he’s dotted his energies across shows in Australia, Europe and Scandinavia, released one solo album and scored a number of new musical pieces.
Thanks to Stathis Panagiotopoulos and Helmut Olschlegel.
Jon was not merely the Hammond player with Deep Purple, he’s a very skilled musician who acted like the musical antagonist to Blackmore as well as on creating music and soloing with Ritchie. His solo efforts are there to testify his greatness. DP would have not been the same without his artistry and skills, many of his solos are exciting like the guitar, no doubt he was a real engine behind the keys. Long live to this wonderful Jon Lord!
I agree,
(pardon my English I’m not a native English speaker). You right, I still enjoy the duels on lazy and and speed king and bloodsucker. Those jazz-inspired fights between musicians is one of the reasons why purple was purple. Also the classical inluence (lord) combined with blues made purple great. My purple is still blackmore and lord. Although Airy and morse are great the magic is missing. perfect strangers showed why and some moments on the house of blue light.
As an avid fan of Jon Lord I was extremely happy when I found the Pictured Within CD. I have been a Lord fan for several years. The keyboard skills that Jon Lord possess are well above the normal skills. The concept of being a (Heavy Metal) artist and also be able to write and compose Pictured Within is just a awesome talent. I would like to see a concert tour in the United States. It would be an thrill to see Jon in a concert again.
I really love that way to play the organ. I was born in Argentina in 1974 and in 1987 I bought Deep Purple In Concert (this album is better than Made In japan for me). I play the organ thanks to Jon. When I saw him in concert in Madrid I couldn`t believe, he was really inspired. It`s Magic. I just have to say one thing: Thank You Mr. Lord, Thank you very much for those moments. Classical, Jazz, Rock, Blues, New Age, everithing sounds great. I would like to re-vindicate the mark I and III solos, and Whitesnake also. Thank you all.
I have been a long time fan of Jon Lord. I have had the pleasure of seeing him in concert with Deep Purple in the past and was amazed at the sound that could be withdrawn out of the keyboards through his talent.
I look forward to a new album. The complexity and yet the simplicity that is shown through Jon’s talent is to me a lost talent in todays music. To be able to go from one style of music to another yet both are such great pieces just shows the Talent that Jon Lord has, it is more than a talent but a true Artist at work.
Thank you Jon keep it coming for us true fans.
The world is much better place with people like Jon Lord and that kind of creativity and magic which he has brought to us. His music will live forever!
Undoubtedly, the greatest and most under-estimated composer/musician of the 20th century. Long after we are gone, the Concert for Group and Orchestra (Royal Albert Hall on both performances, about 30 years apart) that was composed by this genius, will be recognised as great classical music of the 20th century. The acclaim is a long time coming, but one day, it will happen.
JOHN LORD is the best musican in the word of all times. He is simply fantastic. Unifortunataly I never had an opportunity to see him on stage. But I thank the god, that there is a such kind of musican in the word. Thank YOU very much JOHN LORD! You are genius!!
Jon lord gave me the opportunities to appreciate a way of feeling the music, not only to “bang my head” on metal stuff… I love Emerson, Airey,…Who are marvelous keyboards players, and musical technicians, but Jon Lord will stay my favorite one ever , because of his inspiration. His “touch” and felling is legendary because he put all himself in each solo. I’ve all Jon CD’s and I love everythings he had done.From Deep Purple To Whitesnake, with the hootchie coochie men, the solo albums (Jon Lord, Bernie Marsden, Cozy Powell, …) Now everybody are older, let’s continue to make music with serenity.
Thanks to be so honest with music ,no compromitions with music bussiness… Stay yourself !
Deep Purple is in good hands with Don Airey, it’s a good finality for everybody. Jon the gentleman, stay like a shadow on Deep Purple music forever !
oh yeah, been a long time fan of Jon Lord. Too bad never caught Lord live in action. When DP came to Singapore twice, it was Don Airey…
I have been a fan of Jon’s since the beginning of Purple & think he is, quite simple, the GREATEST Keyboard Player EVER. He is a ‘proper’ musician & it really shows with his versatility. Long may you continue, Jon – God Bless you, you’re brilliant!
Hi Mr.Lord, i really admire you because besides being a hell of a rocker you also are a great classical music composer. I am a drummer who really aspires to be like you someday. How did you get started into writing classical music?
God bless you.
Jon,
You were brilliant in Deep Purple and still are. I enjoyed your music even more than Ritchie ’s one. Long live to you.
Cheers from Russia
Alex
jon lord is simply one of the most talented and composerof music rock (whatever its mean)
The MAESTRO Jon LORD is the best!!!
Dear Maestro Jon Lord
your two concerts in Bratislava (Slovakia) with Slovak radio symphonic orchestra were excellent. Especially The Telemann Experimant. I liked your music very much.
Michael
jon lord is amazing man…he a legend.He can change the world with music.highway star,burn,fireball,picture of home,lazy,rat rat blue,hard lovin,april,hush,gypsy kiss,fools,child in time,anyone daughter,And many others that are other beautifull song..and My national anthem is highway star.God Bless my grand pa..i wish you fine and keep a rock..!
ARTWOODs..
Is possible to make a european tour ?
En los 70 intentaba copiarle cosas a Lord cuando tocaba en una banda de rock en Montevideo, llamada Etcétera… Una sola vez Deep Purpla pasó por aquí (Montevideo), ya con Don, sin Jon. O sea que nunca lo ví en vivo. Es y será el más grande. Sín ánimo de blasfemar, quizá lo admire tanto porque como a Jesucristo, nunca lo ví!!. Vamos Jon!!!