Any musician with a legacy as rich and expansive as Don Airey’s would understandably want to slow things down after reaching 70. A true keyboard virtuoso, his fingerprints are all over some of rock’s most timeless records, from Ozzy Osbourne’s Blizzard of Ozz to Deep Purple’s modern era. Having contributed to over 300 albums, Airey’s unmistakable sound has become the backbone of hard rock and heavy metal for nearly five decades. And yet, the man remains as productive as ever, not only being extremely busy with Deep Purple, but also maintaining a solo career.
While his session and band work are legendary, Airey has also cultivated a remarkable solo career, showcasing his own vision and songwriting. Albums like K2 (1988), A Light in the Sky (2008), All Out (2011), and One of a Kind (2018) have allowed him to explore a diverse range of sounds, blending hard rock, prog, classical, and jazz fusion into a unique musical identity.
Now, after another monumental year with Deep Purple, Airey is shifting gears to his own creative vision. On March 28, 2025, he will release Pushed to the Edge, a blistering hard rock statement featuring a lineup of elite musicians, including Carl Sentance (Nazareth), Mitchell Emms (The Voice UK), Simon McBride (Deep Purple), Jon Finnigan, and Dave Marks. The legendary keyboardist recently sat down for an interview with Rodrigo Altaf, where he opened up about his new album, the changing landscape of touring, and why AI will never replace human creativity.
Pushed to the Edge – which can be pre-ordered here – had been in the works for several years, with recording sessions stretching from 2019 to 2023. Yet, when Airey finally got the call that a single was dropping, even he wasn’t prepared. “I kind of forgot about it, you know, handed it in. And the next thing I know, I get a phone call saying, ‘Oh, we’re releasing a single called Tell Me.’ And I said, ‘Oh, what’s that from?’ And they go, ‘Your album, man.’” Laughing at his own absentmindedness, he admitted, “I think I’d better listen to it!”
The album’s writing process, like much of Airey’s work, was a highly collaborative effort. “It’s always been a bit of a band thing. It’s not just me sitting at home at a grand piano, writing songs, you know?” He recalled how certain tracks evolved organically, like “They Keep on Running”, which took on a Spanish vibe by accident. “The bass player, John Finnegan, started playing this kind of Spanish thing, and I said, ‘Oh, that’d be great with the trumpet.’” Another standout track, “March of the Requiem”, was an old idea that transformed once guitarist Simon McBride got involved. “It suddenly sounded like something you’d hear on a Ritchie Blackmore album from 1973. It was like, ‘Oh, we gotta use this.’”
For many, his name is synonymous with Deep Purple, where he took on the near-impossible task of replacing the legendary Jon Lord in 2002. Not only did he step into the shoes of one of rock’s most revered keyboardists, but he also helped shape the band’s modern resurgence, contributing his signature virtuosity and classical influences to albums like Rapture of the Deep, Now What?!, and last year’s chart-topping =1, which we reviewed here.
Airey has now been with Deep Purple for over two decades — something even he hadn’t fully processed until recently. “That took me aback, actually. Somebody said, ‘You know, in a couple of years, you’ll have been in the band longer than Jon Lord.’ And I thought, ‘What? No, that can’t be right.’” Originally brought in for just three gigs, he never imagined he’d still be with the band 20 years later. “Well, I joined for three gigs… and here I am.”
He also reflected on how the band was revitalized by Simon McBride stepping in for Steve Morse. “It was like everybody woke up—like Rumpelstiltskin, you know, from their long sleep. And we all started rocking again.” While Morse’s departure was bittersweet, Airey praised McBride’s energy, suggesting it injected a new sense of purpose into the group.
One topic that had him particularly animated was artificial intelligence in music, a development he doesn’t believe will ever match human songwriting. “AI will never write a tune. It can write poetry and paint pictures, but I don’t think it’ll ever write music anybody will want to hear.” He recounted a hilarious experience with an AI-generated Deep Purple song. “It sounds like Gillan, and the riffs are all right, but the solos are the funniest thing you’ve ever heard—just a succession of very fast notes with no gaps.”
The conversation also turned to the difficulties of touring post-Brexit, a challenge that many UK-based musicians now face. “Brexit permitting… it’s very difficult now to do what we used to do. You’ve got to have all the carnets and the visas, and it’s so expensive.” Despite these logistical nightmares, he remains hopeful that he can tour for Push to the Edge later this year, eyeing a September start.
Fans of Airey’s work may also be excited to learn that he’s been working on his autobiography—though finishing it has proven difficult. “I’m always writing a book, but it’s always halfway through because my career keeps going on.” He promises that when it does finally come out, it won’t be a heavy, self-serious rock memoir. “It’ll be lighthearted rather than doom and gloom.”
Looking back on his storied career, Airey remains humble and grounded. He fondly recalled playing on Judas Priest’s Painkiller, though he admits, “I played on Painkiller, but you can’t hear me. I think they did a remix, but I’m not sure what they did with it.” And when asked about performing at Ozzy Osbourne’s farewell show, he had a quick response: “No invitation as far as I’ve heard… and I think all the tickets are gone!”
Despite his legendary status, Airey appreciates that he can still live life relatively normally, free from the burdens of overwhelming fame. “It’s nice to have a little bit, you know, but to be so famous you can’t go out anymore—I wouldn’t like that.” He still enjoys popping into his local pub, where, as he put it, “They get me a seat and a drink. They know how old I am.”
With Pushed to the Edge about to hit, a possible tour in the works, and a memoir that might — finally — see completion, Don Airey shows no signs of slowing down. Watch or listen to the complete interview below, and remember that for more interviews and other daily content, follow us on Facebook, and Flipboard, or subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified about new content we publish daily.
