Don Airey

Don Airey (Donald Smith Airey) is an English keyboardist and producer born in Sunderland in 1948. He is best known as the keyboardist of Deep Purple, a role he has held since 2002, but has built a distinguished career spanning five decades with major rock and metal acts including Rainbow, Gary Moore, Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, Whitesnake, and numerous others.

Following classical piano training and studies at the University of Nottingham and Royal Northern College of Music, Airey began his professional career in the mid-1970s as a session musician and member of the influential jazz-rock band Colosseum II. He gained prominence as keyboardist for Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow from 1978 to 1981, contributing to the hit albums Down to Earth and Difficult to Cure. He subsequently undertook extensive touring and session work with Ozzy Osbourne from 1980 to 1982 and with Whitesnake on their 1987 self-titled album, which achieved multi-platinum status. He released his solo album K2 – Tales of Triumph and Tragedy in 1988.

Since joining Deep Purple in 2002, Airey has recorded eight studio albums with the band, including Bananas, Rapture of the Deep, Now What?!, and Infinite. His session and touring work has extended to Judas Priest, Ten, and other prominent rock and metal acts. In 1997, he arranged and performed on Katrina and the Waves’ Eurovision Song Contest-winning single Love Shine a Light. Airey was honored with induction into the Hall of Heavy Metal History in 2017. He remains available to book for festivals, corporate events, and private shows.