Keith Emerson

[Mcafgr]

Founder ELP Dead at 71. I guess heaven needed a keyboard player for this new band they are forming for 2016.

[Leasie]

Well dang it. RIP Keith Emerson.

[helo99]

TMZ has just posted that it was suicide. Gunshot to the head.

[john*thomas]

TMZ has just posted that it was suicide. Gunshot to the head.

Even when you have it all sometimes I guess it isn't enough....

No money could save him, so he laid down and died

[RememberTheStation]

Even when you have it all sometimes I guess it isn't enough....

No money could save him, so he laid down and died

That's just it - he was having difficulty playing the keyboards due to advanced arthritis. Keyboard/piano was his life. What would he have after that?

[dionyzus]

So many great musicians already gone this year.. a legendary rock keyboardist, he will be missed!

[phineas117]

had the honor of meeting Keith in 1988. He was charming, and a true gentleman. I know he had colon surgery in 2010, so maybe a re occurrence? or it could be the depression....which he battled on and off. God rest you, keith. jam with jimi and kurt tonight. and give Cobain a hug from me.
unfortunately , TMZ also mentioned that Mari, his long time lady, found him. no one should have to deal with that.
too many this year so far.

[duchessmary]

DAMN. I remember seeing ELP in concert and my ears rang for 2 days straight. R.I.P.

[cleanskull]

^^ Like^^ I saw them when the played in Norman, Oklahoma decades ago and they blew some ceiling tiles out. Good concert.

[BillySmartsC]

A sad loss indeed. RIP.

[john*thomas]

That's just it - he was having difficulty playing the keyboards due to advanced arthritis. Keyboard/piano was his life. What would he have after that?

A lot......I do understand the point but it should be noted though, Rick Allen lost an entire arm and didn't quit.

[phineas117]

exactly. play with one finger if you must. just very sad. got to meet the man once in St. Louis. when he and Carl were in 3.
couldn't have been more down to earth and charming.
breaks your heart.

[Linnie]

Could he not TEACH others to play in his style, perhaps? That's something he could have done without actually playing, I think. Plenty of videos and recordings exist for demonstration purposes.
Plus, he was not alone in the world-- he had a family, friends, musical colleagues, fans.
Perhaps new treatments could have relieved his pain, if not cured the condition.
He must have had mental/emotional ailments and other health issues that have not (yet) been revealed.

[phineas117]

all true. but depression can convince you that people "would be better off without you"
no idea if he left a note. very sketchy info as yet.

[Cynful]

Wow! I just listened to this whole album on headphones... "From the Beginning"... "Still.. You Turn Me On".... absolutely incredible!!! Mind blowing!!! It's been quite a while since I've heard many of these songs... love the numerous comments of a generation written following this YT posting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37e6_hdVonk


Music like great art is suppose to make you think. Deep thoughts and possibilities for all mankind and the world around us. To bad we don't have any of that going on right now. In fact we are starving for a resurgence of artistic creation that comes from the mind of man not from a smart phone or so called silicon valley.

I will quote an original term about what you are hearing. It's "English Thick Rock" ( distilled from highly educated classically trained Caucasian musicians. The themes are broad, lofty and surprising. IT was done at a time where music was created and invented without samplings, robots or mediocre themed and narrow boundaries. Unfortunately, there is high tide for all societies. A high water mark, and everything below that is cheap and unsatisfying . Most of what is written today is the tide going out.

[phineas117]

on another site....people were commenting on "how could I like NIRVANA and ELP"
well hell, johnny rotten and keith were friends.
it's music. period.
I listened to trilogy today. again....just awesome

[john*thomas]

I like both ELP and Nirvana.......I grew up listening to ELP and there was little I liked new when Nirvana came out but I thought they were great.....

I remember in 1977. Being at the mall and seeing a VCR playing a loop with Queen "Bohemian Rhapsody" and ELP "Fanfare for the Common Man". The version outdoors at Olympic Stadium. I stood there forever watching it. LOL

[phineas117]

I would have too!
no news on funeral or memorial service.
some news service stated that the "autopsy results showed depression".
speaking as a nurse, I would kindly want to know HOW that was....
inquiring minds want to know

[cindyt]

How can an autopsy show depression? unless antidepressants show up in the tox and it's too early for that, right? This article says he committed suicide by gunshot http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment...e/?intcmp=hpff

[phineas117]

exactly, cindy. poor , sensational reporting. I mean, I imagine he WAS depressed over not being able to play at a certain level. as greg lake said, "music was his life"
and it doesn't take Einstein to come up with suicide/depression. but really.
either way, another one gone. I hate this year so far.
Keith and dorothy , his mom. 2009

[cindyt]

I agree that he could have done something else with his talent, but I won't judge him for committing suicide. Unless someone has been there they cannot understand that the desire to die is like an entity pushing you forward. It's the most horrible feeling I have ever had, but fortunately through the grace of Jesus Christ I was able to force myself away from that cliff.

[Buddyhistorian]

Even though Keith did not play live much he still gave us a lot of great music.. RIP...

[phineas117]

no, and greg lake has said keith battled depression for years. not judging anyone who even thinks of it.....I did in my teens and never carried through.
still being treated for depression....it's a terrible disease.
no news on services, or a memorial as yet.
the best memorial would be a musical scholarship.

[phineas117]

[Aviatrix]

He really resembles Brian May in the top pics - minus the blond hair.

Too many rock geniuses gone this year, right off the top. RIP, good sir.

[bulletnose]

The mind can be a wonderful thing or your worst enemy. RIP

[phineas117]

true. several items.

[Leasie]

Love the photos.

[phineas117]

and now greg's gone too. I HATE THIS YEAR. and people are harping at keith's sons that "there isn't a headstone yet"
and they have patiently explained that they were waiting a year.

[phineas117]

[phineas117]

[phineas117]

[phineas117]

[phineas117]

[phineas117]

been a year. fans covered keith's grave with flowers.
his favorite, daffodils, and his favorite colors, yellow and orange.

[Jangles]

I watch the outdoor Olympic Stadium "Fanfare for the Common Man" video every Saturday while suppin' me beer on YouTube. It's brilliant. It looks so cold -
and I live in Montreal myself!

Fanfare for the Common Man (link to video)

I like both ELP and Nirvana.......I grew up listening to ELP and there was little I liked new when Nirvana came out but I thought they were great.....

I remember in 1977. Being at the mall and seeing a VCR playing a loop with Queen "Bohemian Rhapsody" and ELP "Fanfare for the Common Man". The version outdoors at Olympic Stadium. I stood there forever watching it. LOL

[Jangles]

Can you imagine how the late Keith Emerson must have felt, having to try to deal with both painful arthritis and depression?

DH has painful rheumatoid arthritis and I, like you, have bouts of depression, but at least we have one ailment each and aren't stuck with both of them at once.

no, and greg lake has said keith battled depression for years. not judging anyone who even thinks of it.....I did in my teens and never carried through.
still being treated for depression....it's a terrible disease.
no news on services, or a memorial as yet.
the best memorial would be a musical scholarship.

[Jangles]

Thank you so much for posting all these fantastic photos; I hadn't seen any of them.

RIP to Mr. Lake, as well.

[phineas117]

thanks. met keith and carl once. very charming.
aaron and mari posted this over on facebook. fans covered Keith's grave on the anniversary of his death. he loved daffodils and the colors yellow and orange, they stated. how lovely.