Keith Emerson - Master Of Classical Destruction

Introduction

The title of this may sound like I am not too impressed with Keith Emerson, but while some of his work with The Nice and Emerson, Lake and Palmer left me cold, a lot of it made my jaw drop.

I suppose he was unusual leading bands from the keyboard rather than being a guitarist or singer. Onstage he was majorly impressive, attacking his keyboard with knives and playing a piano that rotated 360 degrees in mid-air as he played.

He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on 11 March 2016 at his home in Santa Monica, California.

Emerson was widely regarded as one of the top keyboard players of the progressive rock era. AllMusic describes Emerson as "perhaps the greatest, most technically accomplished keyboardist in rock history". In 2019, readers of Prog voted him the greatest keyboard player in progressive rock.

His official website and Wikipedia page are here:

So here are a few of Keith Emerson's finest moments, I have tried to source live performances so you can see him in action. He was a brilliant musician and a total showman.

I'll start off with the spinning piano. Apparently, the innards had to be removed in order to do this so Keith wasn't actually playing just miming, but still looks mightily impressive.

The Nice - "Rondo"

This video shows Keith attacking his Hammond L100 during a performance of "Rondo" a take on Dave Brubeck's "Blue Rondo A La Turk" The first two videos show Keith onstage and give an indication of his showmanship. It amazes me that he can play the organ backwards, but that is similar to Jimi Hendrix playing his guitar with his left or right hand.

At some point, there were rumours that Hendrix was going to join E.L.P. to form H.E.L.P but as far as I am aware it never happened.

The Nice - "Rondo" From "The Thoughts Of Emerlist Davjack"

This is the studio take of the song above where Keth destroys his Hammond. It is a little more subdued but still shows the band with Emerson and Davy O' List (who briefly joined Roxy Music) to the fore.

The Nice - "America" (single)

This version of Leonard Bernstein's classic West Side Story show tune was described by keyboardist Keith Emerson as an instrumental protest song against the Vietnam War.

Bernstein was so incensed when Emerson burnt the Stars and Stripes at one of The Nice's concerts that he prevented the band from putting "America" out as a single in the US.

Classical fans will probably recognize that Nice's arrangement includes fragments of Dvorák's "New World Symphony."

According to Emerson's biography, the child who can be heard speaking the "America is pregnant with promises and anticipation" lines at the end of the single version, was P. P. Arnold's three-year-old son.

"America Is Pregnant With Promise And Anticipation,

But Is Murdered By The Hand Of The Inevitable"

The record is still with us as you can hear.

The Nice - "Intermezzo From The Karelia Suite" from "Ars Longa Vita Brevis"

A take on the Sibelius piece, again this is probably better heard on the live version on the "Nice " album, but I want to give coverage to all recordings.

Emerson Lake & Palmer - "Pictures Exhibition" Live 1970 Isle Of Wight

From their debut live performance, at the Isle of Wight, with cannons, a fire and more. They made a full recording of Modest Moussorgsky's "Pictures At An Exhibition" which I have on all formats, and am still impressed with.

Emerson Lake & Palmer - "Fanfare For The Common Man (Medley)"

This take on the Copland piece is probably their most famous piece, though not their best. It does merge into "Rondo" which is a piece that I love. I wish I could play like that.

Emerson Lake & Palmer - "Hoedown" from "Trilogy"

This is another Copland cover from the "Billy The Kid" ballet and my favourite Keith Emerson piece.

A great closer for this playlist methinks.