Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Formed
Disbanded
2016
Members
Keith Emerson (keyboards), Greg Lake (vocals, bass, guitar), Carl Palmer (drums)
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Also Known As
ELP
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normanpage
"During the early 1970s, Emerson, Lake & Palmer combined elements of classical, jazz, and rock to create a keyboard-driven form of music hitherto unheard by fans of the progressive rock genre. Utilizing piano, Hammond organ, and early versions of the Moog synthesizer, Keith Emerson led the band through territory often bombastic but always left room for the more acoustic interludes of Greg Lake. Combined with the unstoppably energetic drumming of Carl Palmer, ELP was one of the most commercially successful, and heavily criticized, progressive rock bands of all time. Pictures at an Exhibition is their best overall effort, an LP that works all the way through. Lake and Palmer have to be given credit here for keeping up with what must have been difficult material for them. Emerson probably already knew it by heart, since Mussorgsky had written it originally for piano. Combined with the fact that it is a live recording that comes off so well, Pictures at an Exhibition surely must be the tour-de-force of a band at their creative peak."
RYM Rough Guide for Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Biography
Their 1970 self-titled debut album put them on the map instantly, with the ballad "Lucky Man" being what would go on to become their biggest hit, and tracks like "Take a Pebble" and "Tank" making an impression on music listeners. 1971's follow-up Tarkus saw them getting even more ambitious, attempting a 20+ minute suite which is seen by many as their crowning achievement. That same year, they released a live rock adaptation of Mussorgsky's classical piece Pictures at an Exhibition. Shortly thereafter, Trilogy was released to commercial acclaim. During the recording of their subsequent album in 1973, the band opted to enlist lyricist Peter Sinfield (also a former member of King Crimson) to lend a hand. The ensuing Brain Salad Surgery album is widely regarded as one of the finest progressive rock albums of all time, largely owing to the epic "Karn Evil 9" suite, spanning over 30 minutes in length. This was succeeded by the release of a live album, Welcome Back, My Friends, to the Show That Never Ends - Ladies and Gentlemen, showcasing the group's live performances from that era.
The band's popularity would begin to decline at the end of the century, overshadowed by the rise of punk as a dominant genre. After several years without releasing studio music, the band would unveil Works Volume 1, a double album which allocated one side to each individual member for their solo work, as well as one side for the entire band. During the same year, the band released Works Volume 2 which was a collection of leftover tracks from other album sessions. Both albums received mixed reactions, as they departed from the band's signature prog sound. By the conclusion of their 1977–1978 North American tour, internal tensions had begun to strain relations, though contractual obligations compelled them to produce one final album. They retreated to Nassau, Bahamas as tax exiles to record it. Their subsequent 1978 studio effort, Love Beach, showcased a markedly commercial direction, met with a reception mirroring their prior releases. A subsequent ill-fated tour spelled financial woes and spelled the end for ELP. In 1979, they did release their next live album, In Concert, culled from recordings made in 1977.
Nevertheless, the band experienced several reunions. Their first reunion occurred in 1985, collaborating with Cozy Powell to produce Emerson, Lake & Powell. Initially, the band intended to include Palmer in the project, but he declined owing to his ongoing commitments with Asia. The album was met with overall positive reviews, showcasing the band's exploration of both prog and AOR elements in their music. By 1988, Palmer expressed interest in crafting a new album. However, Lake's unavailability prevented his participation. This void paved the way for Robert Berry to enter the fold as the band's vocalist, guitarist and bassist, birthing the band 3. Following their sole album, ...To the Power of Three, the trio disbanded. Similar to their prior collaboration, this album garnered predominantly positive reviews, reflecting once again a fusion of AOR and prog elements within the music.
After some time, Emerson & Palmer would eventually collaborate with Lake for the 1992 release of Black Moon which marked the first time the band performed together since the 70s. The album garnered mixed reviews, revealing the band's shift towards a more commercial sound. This was succeeded by the release of their next live album, Live at the Royal Albert Hall, featuring tracks from their preceding tour. Their final studio effort, In the Hot Seat, was released in 1994, met with a reception akin to their prior release. Over the ensuing years, the band maintained a steady touring schedule. Following their 2010 reunion, conflicting viewpoints arose regarding their future. Tragically, before any resolution could be reached, the band disbanded following Keith Emerson's passing in 2016.
Carl Palmer's ELP Legacy continues touring, delivering renditions of the band's music to this day. The group comprises several musicians, with Palmer being the sole remaining original member of the trio. In 2018, Berry released The Rules Have Changed under the band moniker 3.2, it contained music he and Emerson had composed and recorded prior to his passing. Then, in 2021, Third Impression was released, containing what appears to be Emerson's final unreleased composition.
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