I met Jon Lord three times during his years in Whitesnake and these conversations can be found on this page. I have lifted the text from articles printed in magazines and newspapers at that time, rather than from the original tapes. Iīm sure I picked out the essential stuff back then. Top picture is taken by Michael Johansson in 1983.
Interview 1 - Mosebacke pub, Stockholm (May 7 1981)
What do you have to say about the Rod Evans Deep Purple con?
- Well, I donīt want to swear on the radio. It was a very silly thing to do, an example of poor judgment I would say. He was an idiot. He was misled by people that wanted to cash in on the name, with no regard to quality. They didnīt care that it could hurt the name, the reputation that we spent years in building. We felt very sad about that. Had we not fought them according to american law for six months they could have recorded as Deep Purple, which would have been the worst lie...
A disaster...
- Yes, to them it would have been a disaster.
And to the name...
- Yes, because people would have bought it thinking that it had something to do with music. But enough about that.
Who says that Whitesnake can not call itself Deep Purple?
- David Coverdale, Ian Paice and myself. Basically because the last 3 years...eh, well Glenn has left the organisation, and Tommy Bolin is dead. So it makes sense to call it something else. We will never use it again either, fancy buying the rights? (laughs).
Lets go back to the early days. The infighting you went through in Deep Purple. Who started all that? Was it Ritchie?
- Most of the time, yes. Ritchie suddenly decided that he didnīt like Ian Gillans voice, which was silly, certainly in the light that he has such an obvious talent. Who else could have done "Child In Time"? And he suited our way of writing stuff. But in time... everything started with a riff...
So this evolved slowly?
- Yes, and then came the time when Ritchie started to hide behind his Fuhrer-mask and at that point Ian Gillan started to entertain the thought that it was time to move on and do something else, which in the end he did. It was so sad. We said "Canīt we take six months off?", but Ritchie left anyway.
That was Ritchie, which happened later. What reason had Gillan for leaving? "Lack of progression" was mentioned at the time.
- No, no, no...but it was easy for him to say that at the time because people would believe him. Progression doesnīt just occour, "Oh God, look how we are progressing!". It takes time and it happens almost undetected. For instanse, it is obvious that quite a lot had happened between "In Rock" and "Machine Head". But it was easy to claim and it was a time of many problems and opinions, but we lived in eachothers pockets for quite a while so that should be expected. But you also have to have something in common to live that life. You are supposed to work together and make things happen on that stage. If you canīt do that you have a problem.
It seems now that Ian Gillan was very upset after the split. He left the music business for years after Deep Purple.
- Ian was a primadonna. On stage he played a primadonna and offstage he was a primadonna. And then Ritchie...eh, I donīt want you to think that there was a problem between Ian and Ritchie, everybody in the band was involved in this. But Ritchie always had a fixed mindset, always with very strong opinions. So he became a primadonna. And when we told him that he was in fact part of a group he used to say "So what?". So to avoid friction we used to say "OK" a lot. In the end he became the person that people thought was the most important part of Deep Purple, that he somehow personified what was Deep Purple. It was a mistake to give him that. But I think he was quite bored with rock when Ian left, which happened in Japan in august 1973. But Ian Paice and myself tried to perk him up. At that point we had seen Glenn Hughes in Trapeze. He was a fantastic singer. Later, when it became known that we were looking for a new singer we were swamped with tapes. We tried to listen but we really had a hard time finding anything decent. And one day, and I swear that this is true, I picked up a tape and said "If this isnīt any good, forget it", and it was the tape from David Coverdale.
What kind of music was it on the tape?
- Iīm not sure, it might have been one of his own songs. The song was nothing to remember for very long but the voice was exactly what we wanted. I remember that there was a hornsection and that you could hear people talk. So we made another two albums and then it all repeated itself.
Did you really want to continue when Ritchie left?
- We were under pressure. The office, the record company, the publishment company. And surely there had to be somebody out there in this big world that could fit us well. We had always been a hard working band, because that was the way that we wanted it to be. When Ritchie left in, eh, 1975, we had been working like that for seven years, which is a long time. We were living in California and David had heard Tommy Bolin play and he said "He is amazing, unbelievable". So we asked him to come over for a jam and he said "Yeah, I would love to man" and he came over, with colored hair and things in it, and with this amazingly beautiful woman with him...and we all said "Heīs in the band!" (laughs). She was so amazing, we all said "Can we borrow her for half an hour?"(laughs). He played with us and it was great.
How well did he function in the band? Was it as good as it had been?
- He could have done if...eh...
He hadnīt been a junkie?
- Yes. We didnīt know that he had problems and how could we have known? And that was the sad ending of the whole thing. I mean, he was so talented, he could be brilliant. Some nights he could stand there below the spotlight and he could be amazing, a wonderful run could come from nowhere. He was an active person, young, good looking. It could have worked, had it not been for the problem with the arm.
Did people want Deep Purple to carry on even after that split?
- Yes, actually they did. But we said "Look, we have given this everything that we can, we have given you eight years of sweat and hard work", and that was it. But we never said "Never again", we just put it to the side. "Let Deep Purple rest for a while".
And we keep hearing these rumours...
- So do we.
Who is spreading them?
- I honestly donīt know. Nothing has emerged from this band. I mean, David, Ian and myself has even publicly declared that we are not interested in reforming Deep Purple and that we donīt want people to think that it comes from us. But maybe a certain guitarist that has a habit of wearing funny black hats and lives in Connecticut...maybe the rumours are coming from Connecticut? I really donīt want to see a reunion for the wrong reasons. The only thing I have heard so far is people saying "Hey, we are going to make a lot of money...lots and lots of money". But I have made enough. Iīm not a millionaire, but my life is OK. I live a comfortable life and I enjoy myself in Whitesnake. I donīt want to see Whitesnake killed off just...and I donīt want to play those songs anymore. It would be like taking a step back and that doesnīt interest me.
What do you think of some of these records that we see now, like "In Concert"?
- We have no control over that at all. We have tried and Ian Paice did some re-mixing for the compilation "Deepest Purple", but they would have released that anyway. So now we say "OK, so you are going to release a new album? Then let us know about it so that we can give you our help, a new mix or whatever". Because it has all been released, thereīs nothing left in the bag.
How about "Last Concert In Japan"?
- You mean the one with Tommy?
Yes. Word is he couldnīt even perform that night, and now people can buy that.
- Money, money, money. We have no control over these songs until, eh, 1987, and then itīs "Bye bye Deep Purple".
There is talk about releasing some bootlegs now.
- Yes, and in a way you could say that it is very flattering. It means that we had great success and that it meant something. My personal advise to anyone that is going to buy one of these titles is, check it out in the store, listen to the quality of the sound, look for the source...because it could be a load of crap. Sorry, eh, rubbish!
How about a few words on Tony Ashton that was involved in your next project?
- Oh, I love him, he is my favourite.
What is he up to now?
- Eh, Tonys life would make a great movie. A series of disasters. He went broke, which was very sad. He never thought that the tax people was for real, thought they were a fairy tale, which they are not. And one day he had them at his door.
When did you first meet him?
- In 1969, we shared the same management company. I still think that Tony is one of the finest performers Britain has ever had. But he had this nervous breakdown, which is why we had to stop the Paice Ashton Lord thing. He was just a nervous wreck. He couldnīt face the public again. He is writing music and doing advertising work today, and I think he is happy doing that. It could all change one day, he has written some music that could well be a huge deal when it comes out.
How was the breakup of PAL?
- As I said he had lost it by then. We were going to record a second album but then he didnīt even work in the studio anymore. Ian Paice and myself paid the bills and it was a lot of money.
Did you want to form a new band after that?
- PAL finished in 1977 and I didnīt do anything until 1978.
How about offers?
- Sure, but I had a nervous breakdown as well. I sat at home and felt sorry for myself. And the longer you do that the harder it is to walk out that door again. I stopped writing, playing, listen. It happens to a lot of people.
So did you view Whitesnake as a chance to rehabilitate yourself?
- (laughs) I hope not. I have always been a good friend with David, apart from a little fight that we had once in a German magazine, which meant nothing.
You donīt like to write songs?
- I donīt think of myself as a great rockīnīroll writer. With a guitar you can come up with a decent riff in minutes. You canīt do that with keyboards.
Any projects in the pipeline?
- I have written music for another soloalbum. Iīm very interested in English music from 1600-1800. Iīll try to utilise those influences and incorporate them in a more modern way. I have no expectations that it will sell, I just hope that it will pay for itself. Cozy Powell and Simon Phillips are going to play on it. I was going to use Bonzo from Led Zeppelin but ofcourse that is impossible now. The songs will feature different stars and it is all written. I donīt know when I will have the time to do it. Which is the same old problem that I always used to have. But I didnīt do anything for two years and that was hell. As long as my legs will allow it I will continue to tour. It has nothing to do with age, if you have the energy and the will it will not be a problem. But you have to convince yourself that you really want to go up on that stage and make people happy. To make them sing. It has to have some meaning. If you have that self confidence, youīre fine.
You said in an interview once that playing extended solos bored you. How do you view this today?
- I play a short solo now as well, but not Bach and Tscaikowsky because I donīt think that the people want to hear that.
How about playing something from "Sarabande"?
- I usually listen to what the bassplayer and the drummer is doing and then anything goes, which is a step back to how it used to be in the early days when rockīnīroll was one with improvisation. I find that interesting, itīs a challenge.
Progressive?
- Not necesserily, but something is going on that keeps you awake(laughs). But sometimes everything works out great and that is wonderful. Today, I want to stick to the traditional role of a keyboardplayer - and this is not my idea or anybody elses - I just want to roam inside the big picture. And on top of that the drums, the guitars and the bass can deliver. It is like a huge orchestra. But I always looked at the keyboards as something of a small orchestra. Weīll see tonight if you agree with me.
(Jon played a snippet of "Sarabande" that night - nice!)
What is it like to work with Ian Paice, who surely is the best drummer in rock?
- I have always said that I have considered myself lucky to work with Ian. You canīt be in top shape every night. Maybe the journey have tired you, or maybe you feel a bit ill. OK, you may want to appear to be in good spririt, but there are bad nights. You know, up with the arm and "Hey, hey", but you feel bad. But Ian is always so full of energy, "Come on, yeah, push, push...". I have worked with a lot of drummers but nobody has his enthusiasm. Thatīs why I love him.
Yes, he worked hard even on that final UK tour of England with Deep Purple, when the rest of you had given up.
- Yes, but then we had a drug addict on one side of the stage and an alcoholic on the other, and Glenn was pissed out of his mind.
Is it true that Ritchie wanted you to join Rainbow?
- Five times.
And it doesnīt interest you at all?
- No.
Would you use him on your album then?
- Sure, but then he would have to do what I told him to do(laughs). I really donīt want to be a background musician, and I wouldnīt even be sure that I had a job because he fires people more often than he changes his underwear. You would never know who would be in the band, whom you would socialise with. Because it wouldnīt be with Ritchie, you never see him. It could be Freddie Mercury. I will never understand why he had to change it. Cozy Powell was a great drummer and Graham Bonnet is an amazing singer. I considered that band to be a very good one. He should have kept it. I just did some work for Grahams solo album and he told me that the problem with Ritchie was that he kept telling him how to sing all the time.
David Coverdale has said that he thinks that Ritchie may end up being the Frank Sinatra of rockīnīroll.
- (laughs). Thatīs funny, it could happen.
He never changes his style.
- No, but he changes the band, but not the music. But I donīt want you to think that I have anything against Ritchie, thatīs not true and I like him. I find him very hard to work with but I like him. I also have great respect for his talent, but it hasnīt moved in the last five years. He plays pretty much what he played back in 1975 but in my opinion not as good. And I think I know why. He doesnīt have to fight anymore. The moment he encounters another opinion, he change the band. So the energy might get lost in that situation. He just avoids conflict now, like the one he had with me in Deep Purple. I wasnīt about to let him have all the spotlight and that resulted in all the duels that we had, which became a trademark for Deep Purple. He doesnīt have that now in Rainbow. The only guy that used to be like that in Rainbow was Cozy Powell.
Do you think that Deep Purple still had that energy when Tommy Bolin was in the band?
- When he could play, yes. But that was like one night out of five. It was a sad period and I really donīt like to talk about it very much.
OK.
- He destroyed himself and that was a tragedy. But Ritchie annoys me, he doesnīt try hard enough. He doesnīt give anybody a chance to inspire him. He always wanted to be on top of the world and now it continues. It was sad that he had to leave Deep Purple.
( End of Interview )
The rumours of a Deep Purple reunion persists. Thereīs a note in todays newspaper that it is going to happen.
- I have not been asked. And if Deep Purple ever did return we would have to be the Best, not the second best. I really enjoy being in Whitesneke and I have no time for nostalgia. I donīt want to play "Smoke On The Water" again. Itīs history now. Also, I feel that the current version of Whitesnake is more demanding than Purple ever was. Cozy Powell says that he had never worked so hard before as he is now in Whitesnake and he has Rainbow and others to compare with.
Yes, Cozy Powell is the drummer now. How is it not to play with Ian Paice anymore?
- Well, Ian and I have played together for 14 years and thatīs a long time. On the other hand I always knew what he would do next. I donīt know Cozy that well as yet. It has been very hard for Cozy to replace Ian because he feels that he isnīt good enough, or as good. Itīs a complex that we are trying to help him to deal with. And lets face it, Cozy is pretty good.
On your new album "Before I Forget" there is a song called "Bach Onto This" that is just amazing. Lots of magnificent playing. Is that song to hard to fix live?
- Probably, yes, because itīs not just about me. A lot would depend on the drummer and the guitarist. "Before I Forget" is my thing and I wanted people to know that the old guy is not dead yet. Basically itīs a very quiet album with very personal lyrics, some of which are dedicated to my wife whom I love. On "Bach Onto This" I could take it somewhere else, do something more demanding.
How is the plans for Whitesnake looking the next few months?
- Well, in march/april we will hit the studios again and record the next album. Even I have a couple of songs ready for that one. Before that we will finish a tour in Japan were 36 000 tickets are sold in Tokyo alone. Later in the year we will do Europe again and Iīm sure that Sweden will be included in these plans. We have just got the most expensive sound equipment that exists on the market so we want to perform to as many people as possible. Right now we are getting to know oneanother as a unit after the changes so the next tour might be the best yet. We are also going to film parts of it.
( End of interview )
(Jon buys us a beer and chats willingly in the bar)
- Iīm so tired, I have hardly slept at all since we arrived in Sweden. Iīll have to steal an hour or so before the show tonight.
It was sad to hear that Mel Galley had broken an arm.
- Yes, thatīs the sort of thing that give you an ulcer. Two weeks from now our most important tour of the States begins and Mel canīt be there. Right now we donīt know how to deal with this but if it works out fine with John Sykes here it should work out in America as well. But it is all quite nerv wrecking.
The american market is the only one left to conquer. Is David ready to work as hard as it takes to crack it over there as well?
- David might well be but then he would have to do it without me. Thatīs how Deep Purple conqured America, loads of concerts all the time. And it finished us as well. I hope that Whitesnake cracks America but I donīt intend to kill myself to make that happen. But what happens over there now is very important for the future of Whitesnake.
I know that you hate this question but what about Deep Purple? I spoke with Ian Gillan a few months ago and he claimed that it was close to happening in january last year.
- Iīm disappointed that he said that because Iīve never said yes, and neither has Ian Paice. It seems to me that Ritchie Blackmore, Roger Glover and Ian Gillan wants to get Deep Purple back together again, but I still have to say yes. But weīll have a chat about this soon.
( Little did I know that Deep Purple would reform right after this hinted meeting! )
What is your opinion about Chris Charlesworth Deep Purple biography, are you happy about how the band is portrayed in this book?
- As happy as I can be, but naturally everything that happened was not revealed even now. If we talked about everything that occured girlfriends and others could get hurt. You know, thereīs a lot of stuff going on in a band that people never see.
It seems like Ian Paice was basically fired from Whitesnake...
- Yes, but he had himself to blame. He became a little lazy when we recorded "Saints AnīSinners" and David took notice. Ian Paice is a better drummer than Cozy Powell, but Cozy is probably better suited for Whitesnake now.
Do you keep in touch?
- Sure. We will always be the best of friends. My wife Wicky is his wifes Jackys sister. They are twins, I think I have just discovered how to tell them apart(laughs). I talked with him just three days ago.
You didnīt write anything for the new Whitesnake album "Slide It In", why is that?
- Iīm really not that good at writing stuff that suits Whitesnake and since David is good at it I just forget about that. Iīve been busy working on music for a couple of movies and a tv-series. And Iīm thinking about making a followup to "Before I Forget", my last record.
If you excuse my candidness, I feel that Whitesnake is still a better liveband than studioband. Any plans for a new livealbum?
- So far we have still to achieve in the studio what we can in a live situation, that is true. There is talk about a new livealbum but then you know how the situation is at the moment. Maybe later.
( End of Interview )
