ELP | Artist
Emerson, Lake & Palmer aka ELP were an English progressive rock supergroup formed 1970 in London by keyboardist Keith Emerson, singer, bassist, guitarist and producer Greg Lake, and drummer and percussionist Carl Palmer. They were the archetypal '70s prog rock band characterised by their technical musicianship, jazz-classical-rock fusion style and lengthy compositions which eschewed traditional pop, blues and rock'n'roll song structures. The three players had impeccable prog credentials, with Emerson previously with The NIce, Lake with King Crimson, and Palmer with Atomic Rooster. They were hugely popular in the early '70s but their sound fell out of favour with the upheaval of Punk in '77. The band came to prominence following their performance at the Isle of Wight Festival in August 1970. In their first year they released two albums, Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Tarkus, both of which reached the UK top five. The band's success continued with Pictures at an Exhibition, Trilogy, and Brain Salad Surgery, released on ELP's own Manticore Records label. After a three-year break, they released Works Volume 1 and Works Volume 2. After one final album, Love Beach, the group disbanded in 1979. In 1991, the original trio re-formed and released two more albums, Black Moon and In the Hot Seat, and toured at various times between 1992 and 1998. Outstanding releases include their first four studio albums; Emerson, Lake & Palmer (1970), Tarkus (1971), Trilogy (1972) and Brain Salad Surgery (1973), plus the live albums Pictures at an Exhibition (1972) and Welcome Back My Friends.. (1974). Their live album Pictures at an Exhibition was notable for its rock interpretation of Modest Mussorgsky's original classical orchestral suite 'Pictures at an Exhibition', arranged for ELP by Keith Emerson. Atlantic Records initially declined to release the album in the US, claiming it would not sell or receive radio airplay because of its classical orientation. ELP convinced Island Records to import 250,000 copies into the US, all of which quickly sold. The strong response prompted Atlantic to officially release it in January 1972 and the album went to number 10 in the US charts. Despite their success and influence, ELP attracted derision throughout their career from rock critics and classical buff's alike, who felt their rather pompous overly complex prog sound was not rock'n'roll enough. Robert Christgau called them "the world's most overweening 'progressive' group", while DJ John Peel, who was definitely not a fan, describe the band as "a tragic waste of talent and electricity." You be the judge. After ELP finally split, Keith Emerson carried on as soloist and leader of the Keith Emerson Trio, Carl Palmer joined hugely successful MOR group Asia, and Greg Lake achieved solo chart success when his single, "I Believe in Father Christmas", which reached number two on the UK Singles Chart and has become a Yuletide perennial favourite.
Artist Website: emersonlakepalmer.com
Featured Albums: ELP
Related Artists: Emerson, Lake & Palmer, The Nice, King Crimson, Asia, Atomic Rooster, Keith Emerson
