Legendary bassist Bob Daisley (pictured below; OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW, URIAH HEEP, GARY MOORE) has released the following statement regarding the passing of former DEEP PURPLE keyboardist Jon Lord:

"[Monday was] a sad day. Jon Lord has 'left the building.'

"Jon put the 'deep' into PURPLE; he contributed greatly to their sound. Whatever he did musically was first-class.

"I feel privileged, honoured and grateful to have been able to work and create with him. He was a great musician and a true gentlemen. He gave his Hammond organ and Leslie speaker a special 'growl.' My joke nickname for him was 'Growly Hammond.'

"Jon has departed, as we all must, but he'll never be forgotten. He was truly one of the greats. He's in the 'real world' now, so rock on, Jon!"

Jon Lord died on Monday (July 16) at age 71 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Lord, who was known for his keyboard virtuosity and his reinvention of the Hammond B-3 organ sound, co-wrote such PURPLE classics as "Smoke On The Water" and "Child In Time", among others. Lord and drummer Ian Paice were the only original members to last through the band's initial run from 1968 to 1976. He was on board for their 1984 reunion and stayed on through to his 2002 retirement from the band, after which he's worked primarily in the classical field.

Over the course of his career, Lord also worked with the ARTWOODS, FLOWER POT MEN, PAICE, ASHTON AND LORD, WHITESNAKE and good friend and neighbor, George Harrison.

(Thanks: NJthrasher)