Donald Smith "Don" Airey (born 21 June 1948 in Sunderland, England) has been the keyboardist in the rock band Deep Purple since 2002, succeeding Jon Lord. He has had a long and productive career, playing with such acts as Gary Moore, Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, Whitesnake, Saxon, Wishbone Ash, Steve Vai, Colosseum II, Sinner, Michael Schenker, Rainbow, Empire, Thin Lizzy, Brian May and Living Loud. He has also worked with Andrew Lloyd Webber.
[on joining Deep Purple] The thought crossed my mind a few years ago: "If Jon [Jon Lord] retired . . . ? Naaaah . . . They'd never ask me". So when he did and they did, I jumped at the chance and it exceeded my expectations from the first number I played with them, "Woman from Tokyo", at the Skanderborg Festival in 2001. Touring Russia and the U.S. last year was a highlight and recording a new album with the band in Royaltone Studios LA, January 2003, the sort of experience I thought I'd said goodbye to years ago - Long may it continue!
#
Fact
1
Recording a new Deep Purple studio album in LA. Due to be released on Aug 1, 2003. [January 2003]
2
Played the classic organ solo intro on the Ozzy Osbourne tune, "Mr. Crowley".
$4 Million
