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811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 2429
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Friday, March 11, 2016 - 12:41 pm:   Edit Post

RIP..
bonesrad
Intermediate Member
Username: bonesrad

Post Number: 123
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Friday, March 11, 2016 - 2:00 pm:   Edit Post

One of the most influential musicians on me.

Godspeed.
pauldo
Senior Member
Username: pauldo

Post Number: 1602
Registered: 6-2006
Posted on Friday, March 11, 2016 - 2:22 pm:   Edit Post

Whaaaaa?
Wow, weird I was singing ELP at work today without even knowing.

Ugh, another musical wonder sent to the stars. . .
tncaveman
Advanced Member
Username: tncaveman

Post Number: 312
Registered: 2-2011
Posted on Friday, March 11, 2016 - 6:13 pm:   Edit Post

One of my biggest influences. Sad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psgQsFK7BdA

Luckily, his compositions will live on...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyXJ-sl5yBg#t=387

Stephen
jalevinemd
Senior Member
Username: jalevinemd

Post Number: 1085
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Friday, March 11, 2016 - 6:15 pm:   Edit Post

I have to admit, none of the announcements of recent musician deaths made me quite as sad as this. He was a true visionary and maestro. I had only recently begun buying vinyl again and ELP albums have been at the top of the list. Today, I lost part of my youth. Currently have Brain Salad Surgery on the turntable.
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 12070
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Friday, March 11, 2016 - 6:22 pm:   Edit Post

One of the most influential for me as well. Tarkus is, in my view, one of the greatest compositions from that period. My three ELP favorites were/are Tarkus, Pictures at an Exhibition, and the first album. But Tarkus is just amazing.
bigredbass
Senior Member
Username: bigredbass

Post Number: 2562
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Friday, March 11, 2016 - 10:44 pm:   Edit Post

I saw them on tour, promoting BRAIN SALAD SURGERY, in IIRC 72 or '73. All the stage gags, with Palmer's huge, engraved metal drum kit rotating and levitating, and the amazing gag where the Steinway levitated above the stage and then started rolling end-over-end while he's still playing. Never knew if that was real (I doubt, no wireless in those days) or if it was to a tape, but a stunning visual nonetheless. Carl was in great voice, and it was the first time I'd seen an Alembic, he trotted out that 8-string for several things. As well as a lovely Zemaitis box with the heart-shaped soundhole.

He was such a matador, standing, playing two keyboards with opposite hands while staring the audience down. Never knew HOW he could tour with that Moog, what a beast to keep running, much less in tune. But what a player ! Like Jon Lord in a way, they just attacked it.

A lot of the show was the usual-for-its-day prog-rock bombast ( . . . . it was the 70's, you know), but they performed KARN EVIL 9 in its entirety, and the middle movement is essentially a jazz trio piece, and it was worth the price of admission: All beef, no sides. If you've heard the follow-on WELCOME BACK MY FRIENDS live set, that's essentially the show I saw, Quad PA and all.

I will miss him.

Joey
terryc
Senior Member
Username: terryc

Post Number: 2464
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Saturday, March 12, 2016 - 4:36 am:   Edit Post

I was at the Wembley tour of Brain Salad Surgery but my claim to fame is that I am in the crowd when they recorded Pictures at an Exhibition at Newcastle UK.
Excessive in all respects with their three massive trucks, the modular Moog, the three ton drum kit and Carls' Persian carpet,heady days competing with Yes, Barclay James Harvest, Genesis et al.
RIP Mr Emerson
jcdlc72
Senior Member
Username: jcdlc72

Post Number: 480
Registered: 11-2009
Posted on Saturday, March 12, 2016 - 5:16 am:   Edit Post

The more I read it, the less I can believe it. NO way. And why? Why that way? Geezzz.... ELP was also key for me. I'm speechless about this. As soon as I read the news "Still... you turn me on" began spinning in my head, and then song after song... I guess this will be a long weekend listening to ELP stuff. Can't believe so many valuable and influential artists are leaving us so fast lately. And it scares me so... Would the remaining, newer ones, get to be as influential and important as the ones departing?. Godspeed, another one that will be heartily and fondly remembered...
richbass939
Senior Member
Username: richbass939

Post Number: 1240
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Saturday, March 12, 2016 - 11:10 am:   Edit Post

"I have to admit, none of the announcements of recent musician deaths made me quite as sad as this." Jonathan, I agree completely.
I know we all have to go sometime, but this is a shock.
ELP has always been a huge influence for me.
Rich

RIP, Keith
ed_zeppelin
Advanced Member
Username: ed_zeppelin

Post Number: 283
Registered: 2-2010
Posted on Saturday, March 12, 2016 - 12:52 pm:   Edit Post


quote:

the amazing gag where the Steinway levitated above the stage and then started rolling end-over-end while he's still playing. Never knew if that was real ...




It was. Keith tells the story of how it came about on his Wikipedia page.



[abandons attempt to paste the story here, even after brutally editing it down to random phrases. Just scroll down about halfway, can't miss it.]

I was 17 when Brain Salad Surgery slammed it's way into my rather thick skull, in Dave Swonger's room, after school. I remember the moment.

To this day, listening to it just isn't the same without Dave's dad banging on the door and yelling; "TURN IT DOWN!" I think ELP would have appreciated that, since it seemed to be what they were aiming for.

I want to try something, because I'm really sad. Ready? Just think of the first thing that pops in your head when I say this:

Keith Emerson scandal.

See? Nothing! To have been one of the most spectacular showmen ever born, with the rarified musical genius so few are granted ... And a nice guy.

It doesn't get any better than that. A life well-lived. Here's all I could find of ELP's hedonism;



Bad rock star. No biscuit.

I mean, Bowie joining Major Tom just about dropped me to my knees. This is a different kind of sadness for some reason, that reaches a place in my core.

I think I may have honed in on its source. I read Eric Idle's account of a conversation with George Harrison. Eric was complaining about people constantly asking when Monty Python would reunite. It had become the bane of his existence. Nobody on earth was asked that question more than an ex-Beatle, but George had asked his guru about it, and his response changed everything. From then on, George felt it was the highest form of compliment one could offer, or receive, because it came from the most cherished innocence of our souls.

George said; "when they ask me when the Beatles will reunite, what they're actually saying is; 'can you make us young again?' The answer is; 'of course. Just put one of our albums on.'"






The working title of "Brain Salad Surgery" was "Get Me A Ladder." I love that.

This is the Moog Constellation module in Toronto (nothing plugged in, Keith as poseur. Doing a bang- up job of it, though.) The top module ("Apollo") originally had a Tektronix Oscilloscope mounted in it - as a joke. You can tell the succession of rigs by how big the monitor became over time.



It's even part of the Knucklebonz Keith Emerson statue.



Good joke, Keith.


Considering where we are...



Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends, we're so glad you could attend ...
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 2430
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Monday, March 14, 2016 - 5:29 am:   Edit Post

My brother Pete did his thesis on Tarkus. He needed and received Keith's permission to do it, and was able to interface a bit with him during the process.

http://catalog.rockhall.com/catalog/811566861

And then, in the world of small worlds, Travis Davis, the bassist in the Keith Emerson Band, is a friend from way back.

Still having a hard time processing the talent we've lost this past year.

John
pauldo
Senior Member
Username: pauldo

Post Number: 1605
Registered: 6-2006
Posted on Monday, March 14, 2016 - 2:45 pm:   Edit Post

John, that is truly cool that your brother did that.

Keith was so very proficient at tickling the ivory's and stabbing them. His ability to seamlessly incorporate so many different genres makes him legendary.

Sadness with his leaving.

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