The Lord of the Keys

It was sad news indeed to hear of the passing yesterday of Jon Lord, keybordist and founder member of Deep Purple.

Deep Purple played a big role in the soundtrack of my youth. At a time when schoolmates were jumping around to Dr Alban and Haddaway, I was discovering 'Deep Purple In Rock' and jumping to the defence of guitars and long hair. Lord's keybord and organ playing were a driving force behind the Purple 'sound', and he was one of a small group of people who can be said to have turned the piano (and it's electric children) in to a heavy rock instrument.

Always looking to push different musical styles, Lord's 'Concerto for Group and Orchestra' is piece that I definitely recommend searching out, demonstrating that he also had symphonic ideas in his head as well is some severe ivory-bashing.

I have a special commemorative edition 'Black Night' single on 12-inch purple vinyl, a brilliant reminder to more carefree days and the joys of discovering great bands.

A Well Spent Minit

Finding new and obscure music is one of my favourite things in life.

For the uncostly sum of only £1 in a dusty record bin in a Brighton record store I picked up a compilation of blues and soul from the Minit label in New Orleans. Acts such as Jimmy Holiday, Clydie King and even more reknowned names like Bobby Womack and Irma Thomas released through the label, which ran from 1961 and 1970.

Rarely again am I likely to find such high quality:value ratio.

I probably won't stop looking however

Techno-phobia

Well I guess the new question is whether I can write a blog on an iPhone? It's been a long time comin' but I know, I know, I've finally joined the Modern Age. Maybe this is what The Strokes were talking about 10 years ago. Visionaries, them boys.

Anyway, we'll see how it goes. It may take some time.
In the meantime, news of the day is that White Denim are back on tour and will be doing a 4 show run in the UK at the end of March (Bristol, London, Manchester and Leeds I think). GET YOUR TICKETS BOOKED! They were my band of 2011 I think.

Check out www.whitedenimmusic.com for details