Eddie Hardin, one of the greatest British musicians, has tragically died, aged 66. Melodicist of the highest caliber, on par with Paul McCartney, he first came to prominence as a keyboard player and singer with SPENCER DAVIS GROUP before quitting (and, later, returning), together with drummer Pete York, to work as HARDIN & YORK for years. Then, there were AXIS POINT with former FAMILY members, and a string of brilliant solo albums of which the “Wizard’s Convention” trilogy, with many guest singers, including David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes, stands out.
And, of course, nobody but Eddie could pull out two beautiful “animal” concepts: “The Butterfly Ball And The Grasshopper’s Feast” and “Wind In The Willows,” although the first one is attributed to Hardin’s friend Roger Glover, while the stage realizations of both of them featured another DEEP PURPLE member, Jon Lord. A master of memorable tune, without whom there wouldn’t be the fantastic “Love Is All” that Ronnie James Dio so gloriously sang, and many more perfect pop-rock confections, Eddie Hardin will be sorely missed.
