On the 14th September 2002, Deep Purple took to the stage of the NEC in Birmingham for one of the most emotional concerts in their long career. Earlier in the year, founder member Jon Lord had announced his retirement from the band and new keyboard player Don Airey arrived. This show at the NEC was Deep Purple's farewell to Jon Lord. Don Airey was the principal keyboard player through the show but at the end of the keyboard solo the lights dipped and Jon Lord appeared on stage for a storming version of Perfect Strangers. The two players shared duties for the rest of the show, and both band and crowd gave the great man a fitting send off.