Legendary keyboardist Don Airey recently shared his thoughts on lead guitarists, describing them as “very insecure” individuals. He argued that the more talented they are, the more eccentric and uncertain they tend to be.
Airey, 76, has earned a reputation for being one of the most versatile musicians, known for collaborating with some of the biggest names in rock history. With degrees from the University of Nottingham and the Royal Northern College of Music, he began his career as a keyboardist with drummer Cozy Powell’s band Hammer. He went on to leave his mark alongside rock legends such as Gary Moore, Black Sabbath, Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, Ozzy Osbourne, and more.
Since 2002, Airey has been a permanent member of Deep Purple, following Jon Lord’s retirement. In a recent interview with Rock ‘N’ Roll Grad School, Airey shared some fascinating insights about his experiences working with legendary guitarists.
“Part of the job of being a keyboard player is to provide the backing, especially in rock, for the guitar player. Guitar players are very strange people; they’re very insecure. The more talented they are, the more eccentric and unsure of themselves they are, because they don’t really know how they do what they do,” Airey remarked (via Blabbermouth).
Airey, who is currently promoting his solo album Pushed to the Edge, also recounted a story about guitarist Randy California, who had worked with Jimi Hendrix early on. “Randy asked Jimi, ‘How are you getting those sounds?’ And Jimi replied, ‘I don’t know, man.’ He just didn’t know. As a keyboard player, you know exactly how you do it,” Airey explained. “So you have to take charge of the situation a bit, without letting the guitar player know, and make them feel comfortable. That’s part of the job.”
Despite any challenges, Airey takes pride in his collaborations with some of rock’s finest guitarists. He expressed particular pride in his work with legends like Ritchie Blackmore, Randy Rhoads, and Gary Moore. “I really helped Gary just feel happy with what he was doing,” Airey said. “I’d suggest, ‘How about doing something different at the end?’ You just have to collaborate and hope that the magic happens — and it usually does.”
When asked about the role of a keyboard player as a band leader, Airey explained, “There are two types of leadership. You can lead from behind, which is what I do in groups like Rainbow or even Purple. You’re at the back, but pushing things forward. But with Pushed To The Edge, I was leading the charge, trying to get the best out of people. That’s what you hope for.”
Airey continued, “You can’t tell people what to do; you have to create the right environment that sparks creativity in them — and hopefully, in yourself too. That’s the most important thing.”
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