Deep Purple's Jon Lord dies
2012-07-17 08:40
London - British rocker Jon Lord, former keyboardist for the band Deep Purple, has died. He was 71 years old.
A statement on Lord's official website says the Leicester, England-born musician suffered a fatal pulmonary embolism in London on Monday after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
Lord co-wrote some of Deep Purple's most famous tunes, including Smoke on the Water, and later had a successful solo career following his retirement from the band in 2002.
The statement posted on Lord's website said he died "surrounded by his loving family".