Graduations 2024: Music Legend Don Airey honoured by University

Published on 27, November, 2024

Music legend Don Airey received an Honorary Doctorate of Music from the University of Sunderland at its Winter Graduation Ceremonies this week.

Don is one of the most prolific and successful musicians in history, appearing on over 300 albums over six decades.

Don was born in Sunderland and grew up in Ashbrooke. Encouraged to take up music by his father, a huge jazz fan, Don began classical piano lessons at the age of seven.  

In 1963 when Don was aged 14, The Beatles exploded onto the scene. Inspired by them Don set up his first group while at school, The Atoms, playing at church halls, youth clubs and local working men’s clubs.  

Don went on to study music at the University of Nottingham, and then at the Royal Northern College of Music, a solid grounding for the less conventional musical career he was to undertake. 

In 1974 Don joined his first rock band, drummer Cozy Powell’s band Hammer. From there Don went on to work with some of the greatest rock bands of all time.

He played with Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Whitesnake, ELO, Judas Priest, Jethro Tull, and Gary Moore. It would be easier to list the rock legends he hasn’t played alongside.

He worked with Ozzy Osbourne for four years, on the albums Blizzard of Oz and Bark at the Moon, after which he said: 

“Being with Ozzy’s band was an experience that made me proud to be there …  but I wouldn’t necessarily want to go through it again.” 

As a solo artist Don has released five albums, and, as a self-proclaimed Eurovision fan, was the musical director and keyboard player for Katrina and the Waves 1997 Eurovision winner, Love Shine a Light.  

He says: “We were the last British band to win Eurovision – which I think is my main claim to fame!” 

Today, Don shows no signs of slowing down. In 2001 he joined rock royalty Deep Purple “for one gig” – and over twenty years later still plays with them. He says: “It has been one of the most notable things to happen to me. Long may it continue.” 

Don received his honour at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday 27 November 2024 where he was joined by friends and family.

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