Jon Lord

Deep Purple and Blue Oyster Cult are two of heavy metal’s most legendary, influential bands, but does anybody realize it? In 2016, they’re often reduced to the “the band with the song every beginner guitarist can play” and “the band with the cowbell song.” Here’s a look at their often-silenced legacies.

Born in Leicester, Lord learned classical piano at an early age before being seduced by watching early rock ‘n’ roll star Jerry Lee Lewis and jazz organist Jimmy Smith…