British rocker Jon Lord, former keyboardist for Deep Purple, dies at age 71

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FILE - In this file picture dated Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2004 British musician Jon Lord, plays piano during a test run for his concert in Cologne, western Germany. Deep Purple\'s Jon Lord, who has died aged 71, Monday, July 16, 2012. The Leicester-born keyboard player, who had pancreatic cancer, died in London today. (AP Poto/Hermann J. Knippertz,File)

LONDON – British rocker Jon Lord, former keyboardist for the band Deep Purple, has died. He was 71 years old.

A statement on Lord’s official website says the Leicester, England-born musician suffered a fatal pulmonary embolism in London on Monday after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Lord co-wrote some of Deep Purple’s most famous tunes, including “Smoke on the Water,” and later had a successful solo career following his retirement from the band in 2002.

The statement posted on Lord’s website said he died “surrounded by his loving family.”

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Abbey Westbury

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