A Sunday of memories

Today, Sunday September 16, two months after Jon’s passing, sees him remembered at two different events – in London and in Liverpool.

The Sunflower Jam at London’s Royal Albert Hall will feature a slew of Jon’s peers including his brother-in-law and Deep Purple band mate Ian Paice, Led Zeppelin‘s John Paul Jones, Queen‘s Brian May, Steve Balsamso who toured with Jon in recent years and many more.

The evening’s programme is not entirely devoted to Jon’s memory, but promises to afford him special attention.

Listen to Classic Rock Radio‘s interview with Ian Paice speaking about how the Sunflower Jam came into being, and Jon’s involvement in it.

Before I Forget in Liverpool
Also today, at Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall, Jon will be remembered by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society with a performance of the title track from his 1982 album Before I Forget arranged for cello and piano.

At 1pm, for the afternoon’s events in the Hope Street Feast, The RLPO’s principal cellist Jonathan Aasgaard will be joined by Mike Neary on piano to bring together what Jon himself described as his ‘two first loves’ of rock and orchestral music.

– It is a measure of the immense respect and affection in which Jon is held that our rehearsal went without any hiccups whatsoever. Such was the desire to pay proper tribute to the man, writes Mike Neary.

Jonathan Aasggard appears on several of Jon’s recordings and Neary will be playing the very same piano that Jon played many times when he recorded and performed with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

Find out more:
The Sunflower Jam
Liverpool’s Hope Street Feast (pdf)