A Bittersweet Year » rogerglover.com

From winter in Canada to another winter in France. In all, three months of touring, several hot months spent recording a new album, get the laundry done and that’s it; a year slips by. A bittersweet year.

It was in the studio in Nashville that we heard about Jon. It was a real blow to the body, even though we expected it. Stories and thoughts of him flooded the following weeks as the enormity of the loss sank in. Back in England we said goodbye to Jon with great dignity, the service was sadness made beautiful with music. When Jon first gave me Pictured Within, I wept at the beauty of it. At his funeral I wept again at the sadness of it. Such moving music. Music that has the power to stir emotions that run deep. He changed my life. I am a lucky man.

This year, I also said goodbye to my father, Norman, whose influence on me, especially in my youth, was profound. In his later years he developed a wicked sense of humour, a penchant for risqué poems, and loved public speaking. If only I could deliver a speech like he did.

Thank you to all those that wrote to my website at these times, your words mean a lot. I do read all the messages and I am grateful that you care enough to share your thoughts and comments.

The band is on fire. We had some great gigs and met many old friends, and some new ones. It was all made possible by our crew – a better bunch of hard working people you’d be hard pressed to find. My birthday at the gig in Munich was a gas. Thank you to all of you who gave me gifts and greetings.

And I have another rich batch of corridor photos. One day, and that day will come; I will complete the project that I am calling The March of the Corridors. When I’m on the road I see so many corridors daily and each one speaks to me. They represent so much. OK, I’m nuts.

Talking of projects, my daughter Gillian has a video clip on FaceBook. She needs ‘likes’ in order to get a release of her new album, Still Life With Music. It was finished three years ago but she’s finding it difficult to get released. So, if you like it, please ‘like’ it.

We are in that rare, magical time when a new set of songs is completed but nobody except a few people have heard it; it still belongs to us. It belongs to everyone when it’s released. (Isn’t ‘released’ an apt word?)

It has been a great experience to work with Bob Ezrin. Every producer has his personal methods and, having been one myself, it was educational to see how someone of his stature approaches the challenge of getting performances out of musicians. That’s what it’s all about. And he did.

Assuming we’re all still here after Friday the 21st December, my best wishes for a happy, peaceful and Merry Christmas to everyone and good luck for 2013. See you down the road.

15 thoughts on “A Bittersweet Year”

Karin wrote on 2012-12-23:

Dear Roger,
A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your’s.
I can’t even begin to express how much it has meant for me to have been able to meet and slighlty get to know You and Jon. I hope I shall be able to once again meet you. Let’s hope the new Year will bring happier news than last.
Lots of Love
CU
Karin

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Jan wrote on 2012-12-23:

Hello Roger,

you must be so proud of Gillian, her music is wonderful. I absolutely fell in love with her voice after hearing The Bargain Basement, so I got Red Handed and was pleasantly surprised how good it was. I hope she’ll get enough ‘likes’ or any other kind of support to finally have the new one released.

And thank you for the gig in Munich, that was so much fun! I’m glad to hear your enjoyed yourself too 🙂 The trip to Munich was actually my birthday present, so it was great that I finally got to hear Speed King live, for the first time went to a show with a banner which was fun, too, (lesson learnt – don’t get too carried away or you’ll end up with about three meters of “Roger Birthday Happy” 🙂 ), met some online friends from all around the world in person and you guys even got me dancing a little (that doesn’t happen very often to me!), the best possible birthday party indeed!

Hope you’ll have a way sweeter and far less bitter 2013 😉

Greetings from the Czech Republic
Jan

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Peter Neumann wrote on 2012-12-21:

Dear Roger,

thank you for your words about Jon Lord. I did not understand why there was nothing about Jon in the concerts the last weeks. I was so sad that the band did not remember him in the shows. But – the best to you and Deep Purple and especially to you I know how it is when the parents die – it is always hard. Hope to see you and Deep Purple soon again in Germany. All the best
Peter

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George wrote on 2012-12-21:

Thank you for your lovely words, right in my heart. We’ll remember Jon and his music forever. Wish you and DP the best for 2013.

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Wolf Schneider wrote on 2012-12-21:

After Dec 21 we’ll still be here, it’s the Mayans who won’t — only they were off by about 300 years, the Spanish finally ended their world by 1697.

Best wishes to you and your family for the holiday season, and may next year bring much success and happiness.

Hope to share a pint and a laugh with you somewhere sometime as you peregrinate about in support of ? — but until then, here’s a virtual glass for you. Cheers!!

== wolf

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Petr Cejka wrote on 2012-12-21:

Dear Roger,
I feel very honoured because you mentioned the Munich show. It was work of many fans who cooperated with us – so I´m just one of group of fans, but I feel that I can tell you the one and only thing we wished to do is to make you happy – it was your day and as very kind man – we just had to do something for you. As we could see in very front row – we probably succeed. And it makes us very happy!

Thanks for everything and enjoy your well-deserved holiday!
Peter

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Patrick wrote on 2012-12-21:

Thanks for a lot of beautiful moments during French Tour..
I wish you and your family a merry Christmas Roger

See you next year which promises to be a great year !

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Michail wrote on 2012-12-21:

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Mr. Glover.
Thanks for your great and beautiful music.

Of course, this year was terrible because of death of Jon Lord, such outstanding composer and performer. But it’s reality of life, we can’t change it. His music will be with us forever. Every time when I am listening his works, I open something new.

Waiting to enjoy new Deep Purple album and hope to see your in concert next year.

Best wishes from Russia, St. Petersburg.
Michail

PS I hope you will excuse my english, I am little out of practise)))

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bk wrote on 2012-12-21:

Roger, thanks for sharing your thoughts – always a pleasure to read it. I was very suprised to hear Gillian is having problems with getting her second album released. “Red Handed” was a fantastic debut! I listen to it regularly and there’s so much to discover every single time you give it a spin. And I’m not trying to be flattering. It’s a great folk-rock album. I keep my fingers crossed for “Still Life with Music” – both “Catalina” and “Fixin’ a Hole” promise another great (and adventorous!) record. Good luck!

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Roy Hårstad wrote on 2012-12-21:

Dear RG

Best wishes for the upcoming Christmas, and may you and your extended family enjoy a blessed new year!!! Good things will happen in 2013, and Deep Purple will be a part of it:-) Thank you for still sharing your gift with us, your fans, after all these years, and may you long continue!!!

Cheers, and best wishes from

Roy
Trondheim
Norway

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jim murphy wrote on 2012-12-21:

All the best to you and yours, as i type this the calander his ticked over to the 21st and i’m still here, looking forward to the release next year and hoping some of the album is added to the setlist, also hoping that setlist is performed somewhere in the uk(outdoor would be a blast) soon, be good. Jim

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David McCrory wrote on 2012-12-20:

It was a truly sad year, however I wish you and yours a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. I am looking forward to 2013 and ‘the release’ of the new album and hopefully a tour date in Scotland.

Best Wishes

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Nick B wrote on 2012-12-20:

I cannot wait until the new album, thank you for a great year of shows. Enjoy the break and let’s look forward to Dec 22nd. Merry Christmas Roger!

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Caron wrote on 2012-12-20:

je vais voter pour votre fille Mr Glover j aime ce qu elle fait je l ai en amie sur myspace !! vous je vous écoute depuis 40 ans maintenant avec Deep Purple et aussi vos albums personnel votre musique est dans ma vie depuis que je suis gamin j ai vue plusieurs concert de vous en France et j ai hâte de vous revoir merci pour votre musique a bientôt bonne fête

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Ake wrote on 2012-12-20:

Dear Rog!
Thanks for the updating on things,your words on Jon made me cry…..I remeber the day the news came,the guitarplayer in my band (www.missingpieces.se) phoned me in the middle of the night,we,my beloved wife and i had gone to bed when he rang,he was in tears as was i after that call……Lokking forward to the New Purplealbum,i have feeling that it might be your last as ”DEEP PURPLE”…….Sad,but understandable…….

Cheers!!!!
Åke/IKEN
Sweden!!!!

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