Υπερτιμημένοι ως ένα βαθμό στην εποχή τους, εντυπωσιακά υποτιμημένοι στη συνέχεια, οι Emerson, Lake & Palmer κατέληξαν συνώνυμοι των ελαττωμάτων του progressive, είδους μουσικής που αντιμετώπισε εξ αρχής συστηματική δυσφήμιση από τον “μουσικό τύπο”…
Το συγκρότημα είχε το δικό του, διόλου ευκαταφρόνητο μερίδιο σε αριστουργήματα. Ένα από αυτά είναι το φινάλε του άλμπουμ τους Trilogy. Το ακούμε στην original studio ηχογράφηση και σε live
Αβαδδών, στην Αποκάλυψη του Ιωάννη, είναι ο Καταστροφέας Άγγελος της Αβύσσου.
Oι Keith Emerson, Greg Lake έχουν γεννηθεί αυτό το μήνα – ο Palmer τον Μάρτιο [Η ζωδιακή ταυτότητα του γκρουπ : δυο Σκορπιοί και ένας Ιχθύς]
Overrated to some extent in their time, tragically underrated afterwards, Emerson, Lake & Palmer ended up being synonymous with the faults of progressive, a music genre that was systematically defamed from the start by the “music press”.
The band had its own, fair share of masterpieces. One of them is the finale of their album Trilogy. We hear it on the original studio recording and also live
Abaddon, in John’s Revelation, is the Destroyer Angel of the Abyss.
Keith Emerson, Greg Lake were born this month – Palmer on March [The band’s zodiac identity : two Scorpios, one Pisces]
That was epic! Your opening sentence is right on! Thank you!
I’m not sure I agree they were overrated but certainly underrated now. What is true is that they had grander intentions than financial acumen. I seem to recall they had to sack most of their orchestra halfway through an American tour because they went bankrupt! A pity, because I don’t think any other band did more for bringing classical music to a rock generation. Superbly talented musicians who gave use really very complex music and made it popular. Plus, got to love them for specifically giving us Copland’s Fanfare!
Maybe the reason I think they were overrated to some extent, is that some of their music has lost its appeal to me …to some extent, unlike others’ I idolized from the progressive era [Genesis, Van Der Graaf Generator, Gentle Giant etc].
Still a fan of ELP though, and I agree with what you say about them introducing classical to the rock world. Emerson and Wakeman were the reasons I became a musician in the first place.
The sad case of ELP quitting the tour had to do also with timing : “punk/new wave” was becoming the news of the day, with bands like them facing the dilemma “adapt or die”.
At this very moment, ELP decide to release their most ambitious project ever – including Keith’s Piano Concerto!
Ιt was a case of a disaster foretold, somehow.