Why the Death of 'Deep Purple' Keyboardist Jon Lord, Matters More Than Ever

Yahoo News ^ | 07/18/2012 | Douglas Maher

[My Favorite Headache]

Jon Lord passed away on the morning of July 16th at the age of 71. Mr. Lord left the Earth surrounded by loved ones and leaving behind a legacy that has been so criminally underrated and disregarded by the "intelligentsia media critics" and "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame clique", that his death is creating not only an outpouring of grief and reflection....but anger as well.

Lord served as a founding member of one of the most successful rock and roll bands of all time: Deep Purple. Deep Purple is the band that during the 1970s, 80s, and 90s had guitar shops posting signs reading "If you plan to try out our guitars please don't play "Smoke on the Water" or "Stairway to Heaven", we can't handle it any longer."

You know your band has made it when a single guitar riff is one of the most iconic and hummed riffs and melodies in the history of all man-kind.

But Deep Purple was so much more than "Smoke on the Water", they were and are an institution that continues to perform to this day in venues across the globe. With such classics as "Hush", "We Can Work It Out", "Highway Star", "Space Truckin'", "Perfect Strangers", "Knocking At Your Back Door" , and "Chasing Shadows", it is just appalling that the band has never even once been nominated for "The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame".

[philman_36]

Sweet! Thanks for that link.
I see that several groups have full album links there as well.

[kitchen]

Hip hop and rap are not rock n roll and don’t belong in the Hall.

You can add bubblegum and disco to the list.

[One_American]

Yeah man.

[My Favorite Headache]

And ABBA.

[SamAdams76]

Good article and so true. Many of the truly great rock acts have been overlooked by the critics who are always striving to be "trendy" and thus tend to look down on acts who aren't flashy but just concentrate on creating great music.

Many of the critic's "darlings" I never could understand. Take Bonnie Raitt for example. She's always getting awards for this and that but if I want to hear some real blues, I go elsewhere. I find her flavor of "blues" rather bland.

Some of my all-time favorite bands are 'Til Tuesday, Flash And The Pan and The Cars but they have always been ignored by the "smart set" who purport to be "cooler than thou".

[OldPossum]

I took a brief listen to your “Child in Time” and got to wondering: so this is what appeals to you. Sir, what is it that you like about this “song”? Surely, it’s not the melody since there is no recognizable melody to be heard. Deep, hidden meaning in the lyrics? To discern that would require more patience than I have. About 60 seconds was all I could take.

And this seems to be typical of post-1970s popular music.

One has to also wonder: are all the songwriters dead?

[philman_36]

As you might have guessed from my reply I don't spend a lot of time on YouTube.
It sure beats the Internet Jukeboxes as I've generally preferred albums over singles.
Boston (original), 2112, Rumours, Led Zeppelin I & II, Days of Future Past, Breakfast in America...so many more!

[philman_36]

Oops...Days of Future Passed

[One_American]

I hear you. So many great rock bands back then in their prime.

Save them as MP3s

[Rebelbase]

Deep Purple Guns N Roses is the band that during the 90s had guitar shops posting signs reading "If you plan to try out our guitars please don't play Smoke on the Water "Sweet Child".

[philman_36]

Okay, I'm really telling on myself now...I don't own an MP3 player.
No portable tech gadgets of any kind in fact.
I'm so...eccentric or eclectic, take your pick...that my watch is still a pocket watch.

[One_American]

LOL. I would say you are conservative.

Youtube blocks many of the files from being downloaded but you can find some here and there.

[Tainan]

Rock On man...Woman from Tokyo

[Cold Heat]

Saw them in Frankfurt when I was wearing the green.....

Still have the ticket stubs....

[One_American]

Another Youtube to MP3 converter

[Revolting cat!]

Sorry, but the “intelligentsia media critics” have been right about such popular mediocrities as Iron Butterfly, Grand Funk Railroad, the godawful Chicago, and this particular one, such as another group of “intelligentsia media critics” has been correct about the Stephen Kings, Tom Clancys and Danielle Steels. If you cannot discern mediocrity from greatness it’s your own damn loss. But please do enjoy your Thomas Kinkades!

(Go ahead shoot your cliches at me, I’ve got my armor on!)

[philman_36]

Thank you (52) and thank you.
In the event that I should get an MP3 player I'll know what to do.

[Tainan]

Are you being “subtle”, “obtuse”, “obscure” or “deep.” ?

Say what you mean amigo.

[Revolting cat!]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sturgeon’s_Law

[Tainan]

Ahhh...."obscure " & "deep".

Well, it is to that 10% to which we must aspire.

Listening to "Made in Japan" for the first time since...ohh..'74 or so.
Yes, it is in that 10%.