Nord User Forum

[Horacio]

We will never forget you.

[Johannes]

indeed. RIP.

[Ritchie333]

Have posted about this elsewhere, but it's hard to overstate how much of an influence Lord had on my musical career.

In autumn 1990, I was 16 and I'd already done a stint in a Bon-Jovi style covers band playing synths and the odd bit of digital piano and not really liking it. I'd pretty much decided I was going to forget about keyboards entirely and learn guitar or bass. I caught somebody (probably John Peel or Tommy Vance) play Deep Purple's "Speed King" on one of Radio 1's rock shows they used to have back then. I picked up a "best of" LP the next day, and was transfixed that a Hammond organ wasn't that cheesy cinema music instrument after all, but a genuinely powerful keyboard that could take on a guitarist and beat them at their own game. From then on, all keyboards went on the "Hammond" patch and got shoved through a distorted amp, and of course it was only a matter of time before I picked up the real deal, culminating in an A-100, and the Nord Electro for practical gigging purposes.

I've grown up and become a bit more refined since then, but if I hadn't discovered Jon Lord's playing, I would have lost interest in keyboards completely and either just be a guitarist or bassist, or not in bands at all. I certainly wouldn't be on this forum.

RIP Jon - you will be sadly missed.

Edit : Click here for my own mini tribute

[bdodds]

Hah, I was 16 in 1990 too, probably discovered all of this around the same time.

Worth posting:

[Michael Wright]

Yes that's a shame. RIP

[Horacio]

I was 15 in 1990 and my life changed after hearing Jon's solo in "Highway Star", the live version of Made in Japan.

[kevinbro]

I know that this has nothing to do with issues or anything with the Stage 2 so pardon the indulgence.

I was greatly saddened to hear of Jon's passing this morning. He has been an inspiration to me for over 40 years. His playing on Deep Purple in Rock so inspired me as a teenager in the 1970's. Child in Time is still my favourite song of all times. That Organ sound on the iconic song and Album is easily replicated on the Nord Stage 2. I wanted to share the fact that Jon Lord had influenced me for years and I saw him many times when he played with Deep Purple in concerts around Australia. The highlight for me was when he played with the Hoochie Koochie Men at Sydney's iconic "The Basement". He was at his trusty Hammond B3 (it might have been C3 on the night) and was 2 metres away!!! That performance is available on CD/DVD. What a night!

So this post is for Jon and all the people around the world who loved his music, his playing and his quiet and humble nature. From that to his history making coupling of the mighty B3 with a Marshall amp, truly makes him unique.

It is fitting that the Stage 2 has several organ patches called Jon Lord and they remain my favourite B3 sounds on the Stage 2.

You will be missed Jon, but not forgotten.

Anyone else have memories of Jon?

Cheers
Kevin

[bdodds]

I was 15 in 1990 and my life changed after hearing Jon's solo in "Highway Star", the live version of Made in Japan.

My band will be covering it at our next gig in tribute. The vocals will be tough, but it's not Gillan we're paying tribute to.

[shark]

He singlehandedly brought the mighty B3 from the church to the concerthall. Rock wouldn't be the same without him.
As keyboard players it's hard not to associate a palm smear here and a touch of leslie there and some overdrive across to Jon. A giant.

[magic_dillitzer]

Yes, an absolute giant - Rest in Peace! He was the one who make me switch over from Classical / Jazz-Organ to more Rocky tunes when I was a boy. Wanted to play all his great Hammond solos ...