Nostalgic.

This week I've mostly been playing old albums, albums from the early 70s - a time when I was first getting into music. As a kid I was in a youth group, and so had a bunch of friends who were a few years older then me. These friends introduced me to their music, which often meant I was the only kid in class who listened to these bands. Of course I listened to what was popular as well, but mostly it's those older ones that have stuck with me.

I've played some Deep Purple, some Mountain, some Ten Years After and some Free this week. Musicians playing real instruments, who could play the crap out of them. Drums with tone and timbre, keyboards that sounded analog, not digital. Guitar solos which make you want to weep cos you can feel the pain. Singers with range, melody and voices.

I watched Jeff Lynne's ELO concert, which was Jeff and Richard Tandy, and a bunch of hired hands. His first show in 28 years. I cranked it, loved the opening tracks - but about halfway through I was getting bored. Why? Because the versions had no drive, no oomph, no punch. Those hired hands sounded exactly like hired hands. Technically perfect, but they weren't invested in the music. I later threw on an ELO disc, and the difference was night and day. It rocked.

Yeah, I know I'm getting older. And I know that music speaks to me because I was there. I recognise all that - but it's my music and I love it. There are some modern bands who manage it, who speak to my soul. But I still love my past.

I've also become a little obsessed with the image of a jigsaw puzzle I once owned. I used to do them quite often, when I was younger, and there was one I had which I wish I still had. My memory may be imperfect, but I remember it like this. It's a photograph along a cobbled street in Europe, with an outdoor cafe. Set in the late 60s, I think. I think there was probably a harbour on the right, with boats and yachts. Everyone is simply enjoying the sun, eating, drinking. I remember a few people wearing RayBan style sunglasses. No one pays any attention to the camera - except one kid who is gazing directly at the lens, and therefore, at me.

I've tried hunting for this photo online. I'd love to see it again. And there'd be a tip of the hat to anyone who could point me in the right direction.

What does all of this mean? Nothing, except I've had a week of nostalgia, and it's been great.

Vale: Jon Lord.

We have lost Jon Lord.

When I was a teenager, a friend and I would occasionally go on weekend fishing trips. On one such trip, up at Eildon, we met this other guy who was also fishing. The three of us sat around the fire at night and listened to music.

This is the first time I recall really hearing Deep Purple. He played us Made in Japan, and I loved it. I traded a Kiss album for the Deep Purple double live album a few days later. I still think it was a great deal for me.

Over the years I've seen the band around seven times. I was lucky enough to see the Mark 2 lineup in their 1984 Perfect Strangers tour. In 1999, I was in the tenth row at Rod Laver Arena. Every time Jon Lord hit the low notes on his Hammond organ and the leslie speakers started spinning, you could feel it right through your stomach.

Amazing.

Don Airey is a fine and fitting replacement.But Jon Lord's Hammond organ sound was so integral to Deep Purple that they were never quite the same after he retired.

And now he has lost his battle with pancreatic cancer.

Tonight I will raise a glass to his memory and listen to some of his finest moments.

Teach Your Children Well.

I can clearly remember the first time I really heard Deep Purple. I was a teenager and was camping with my friend, Johnny. We'd taken a bus up to Eildon and were staying in a tent. During the day we'd fly fish, and then at night we'd sit around the fire eating and listening to music on one of those radio/cassette players that started to slow down after a while when the batteries were going flat. Then we'd switch to the radio. We spent a lot of time listening to Blondie, The Police and Fleetwood Mac on that trip. I remember it well.

One evening we hung out with another fishermen we'd met during the day. We sat and talked and tied flies. And he was playing Made in Japan on his cassette player. That was the first time I really heard Deep Purple.

I remember being completely blown away.

I remember trading my Kiss album (Dynasty) for a copy of  Made in Japan a couple of weeks later at school.

I remembered all this last night at Festival Hall as I saw Deep Purple for the 7th time.

I haven't seen my school friend, Johnny, for almost 30 years now - but I went to this show with current friends, and they loved it as much as I did.  The band was tight - really tight. And they seemed to be having a wonderful time making music together.

I last saw them about two years ago, and then two years previous to that. And both times they were good, but not a patch on 84, 99 or 2001.  But last night. Wow! They were smoking, and sounded the best I've heard them in 10 years.

The concert was filled with middle aged people (mostly men) with a fair spattering of teens and kids. And as we walked out you could almost see parents saying to their kids, "See? Now THAT'S good music."

Deep Purple - five guys who can play the crap out of their instruments and sing like there's no tomorrow.  Ok, I have no doubt artists like Pink put on an entertainment extravaganza, but listen up, kids.  You want to hear music? Real music? Go camping, and bring along a copy of Made in Japan.

p.s. - Looks like James Hird was right all along.  Right?