said "Well, it's Deep Purple and there is a Hammond there. There is only one way to go, really. Over the years, I have really worked on my sound, it didn't just happen overnight. The first two, or three, years I was with the band, I was using Jon's C3 and it was pretty knackered. I had it refurbished. It's been put in mothballs now... I much prefer Hammond A-100's, that's my choice." Instruments and gear Airey has employed many instruments and effect processors to aid him in the creation of his music and is well known for the use of his Hammond A100. In an interview with Keyboard Magazine Don Airey explained that he preferred the Hammond A-100 over other organs (including the Hammond B-3) for their "purer tone" in live settings. He also uses Leslie 122 speakers and a Hughes and Kettner Puretone amplifier. For piano sounds, Airey uses a Kurzweil PC3K8 and also uses a MOOG Voyager. He also uses several rack and pedal based units such as a Roland Fantom. Airey is also an endorsing artist for several effects companies including Neunaber Audio and TC Electronic and currently uses a Neunaber Seraphim Shimmer as well as a TC Hall of Fame Reverb and a TC Flashback Delay. Personal life Airey lives with his wife, Doris, and their three children in South West Cambridgeshire. In 1992, Airey's son suffered from a serious illness, causing him to slow down his musical activity until 1995. Airey is an ardent Sunderland A.F.C. fan. He has a brother, Keith Airey, who played guitar for Nik Kershaw during the mid 1980s and the reformed version of The Zombies from 2001 to 2010 and is currently lead guitarist for the London stage show Mamma Mia!. His other brother, Paul Airey, played piano for SlowBone and Rollups and currently works with Robbie Gladwell. He is currently writing a book about his experiences in the music business. Discography Solo As band member As session member Guest appearances 1976 – Babe Ruth – Kid's Stuff 1978 – Jim Rafferty – Don't Talk Back 1979 – Bernie Marsden – And About Time Too 1985 – Alaska – The Pack 1985 – Phenomena – Phenomena 1985 – Gary Moore & Phil Lynott – "Out in the Fields" 1986 – Zeno – Zeno 1987 – Wild Strawberries – Wild Strawberries 1987 – Helix – Wild in the Streets 1988