Jens Johansson, keyboardist with Finnish power metal giants Stratovarius, Dio, Yngwie Malmsteen, and also the current iteration of Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow (1995, From Jens’ site)
In an 2001 interview with DMME he states this:
(regarding influences)
First of all, Jon Lord, then I listened to the bands like RAINBOW with Don Airey, the best soloist of all. [...]
I always liked Don Airey best of all their players, he was my favourite, for sure. It’s the choice of sounds and general feel.
(regarding Rainbow keyboardists)
And in another, where, both being under ear-music label (Stratovarius and Deep Purple that is), Jens had a chance to interview Don. He opens with:
You're awesome and a huge influence and inspiration to me.. almost everything you had contact with over the years I have listened to, "enjoyed the shit out of" analysed, tried to suck up like a sponge and then enjoyed a little more the-shit-out-of. How did you become so awesome, what do you feel is your ratio between nature and nurture, inspiration and perspiration?
Jan 5, 2014. Ear Music Jens Johansson’s 5 Questions to Don Airey
*The link to the interview has since become dead. Though I do have it saved. Most versions on the web that refer to it, from what I’ve seen, are not complete.
