Internationally renowned guitar superstar
Joe Bonamassa (pictured below;
BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION) has released the following statement regarding the passing of former
DEEP PURPLE/
WHITESNAKE keyboardist
Jon Lord:
"I am extremely saddened to hear of the passing of
Jon Lord today. [He was] one of the nicest and most talented people I've ever met. Rest in peace."
Jon Lord died earlier today (Monday, July 16) in a U.K. hospital at the age of 71. He suffered a fatal pulmonary embolism at the London Clinic after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
Jon was "surrounded by his loving family," a message on his official web site said.
In addition to
DEEP PURPLE,
Lord played in
WHITESNAKE — the band led by ex-
PURPLE singer
David Coverdale — from 1978 to 1984, having appeared on the albums
"Trouble",
"Lovehunter",
"Ready An' Willing",
"Come An' Get It",
"Saints & Sinners" and
"Slide It In".
Jon Lord is survived by his wife
Vickie and two daughters —
Amy and
Sara.
