ELP Digest 25 August 2004 Volume 14 : Issue 6 The "There Behind The Glass" Edition Today's Topics: Breaking News, Rumors, Etc. - Greg on the BBC (July 8, 2004) - New ELP interviews in Classic Rock magazine (August 4, 2004) - Classic Rock Interview (August 5, 2004) Reader Commentary - karn evil9 (July 6, 2004) - Re: ELP Digest Vol. 14 #05 (July 7, 2004) - Re: ELP Digest Vol. 14 #05 (July 7, 2004) - Re: ELP Digest Vol. 14 #05 (July 8, 2004) - ELP Ultimate collection (July 8, 2004) - Emerson Modular Moog (August 2, 2004) - the ultimate collection bonus disc (August 5, 2004) - Will They Get This One Right?! (August 6, 2004) - Story about ELP influences alive today (August 16, 2004) - Works Tour/Manticore Special DVD Questions (and Answers!) - a little CP trivia (July 27, 2004) - Question re: Keith's Moog (August 3, 2004) ELP-related products, tribute bands, promoters (The ELP Digest does not endorse, etc.) - tribute band seeks musician (July 7, 2004) =========================== Prelude =========================== Hi. After a summer break, we're back and great news is starting to appear. In a moment of fortuitous timing, just as I was starting to prepare this issue of the Digest, word came that Keith Emerson and his band are going to be a support act on the North American leg of Scorpions' world tour. The good news about all this is that it will give a lot more people (in the US, at least) a chance to see Keith and his band. See below for some details and a link to all the details on Keith's web site. Also, some interviews have started to come out that have some interesting things being mentioned. And, while I was away on vacation, Greg appears to have been on the BBC. If anyone heard this, we'd all love to know what he talked about and/or what music he played. Read on for all the news.... - John - ------------------------------ Latest News from the Official ELP sites .... Keith's site has welcome news that his band will be appearing as a supporting act this fall on the North American leg of Scorpions' world tour - get the details at: http://www.keithemerson.com/TourInfo/TourInfo2004.html Places listed include the following (visit the web site for dates): Seattle, WA - (Everett) Arena Portland, OR - Coliseum Boise, ID - Bank of America Center Salt Lake City, UT - E Center Denver, CO - Magness Auditorium / World Chicago, IL - Allstate Arena Detroit, MI - Cobo Hall Grand Rapids, MI - Van Andel Cedar Rapids, IA - Five Seasons St. Paul, MN - Xcell Green Bay, WI - Brown County Arena St. Louis, MO - Saviss Arena Dallas, TX - Next Stage Houston, TX - TBD Austin, TX - Erwin Center San Antonio, TX - SBC Arena Hildago, TX - The Dodge Arena El Paso, TX - UTEP Albuquerque, NM - Convention Center Phoenix, AZ - Crickett Pavilion Las Vegas, NV - TBD Tucson, AZ - SW International Speedway San Diego, CA - Cox Arena Fresno, CA - Savemart Arena Los Angeles, CA - Universal Amphitheater Bakersfield, CA - Centennial Arena Sacramento, CA - Arco Arena San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion San Francisco, CA - Bill Graham Civic Reno, NV - Lawler Pavilion Elsewhere ... Carl's site has word that Working Live, Vol.2 will be released on October 4. Read more at http://www.carlpalmer.com/palmer.html Enjoy! =========================== Breaking News, Rumors, Etc. =========================== From: Roger Evans Sent: Thursday, July 08, 2004 1:20 PM To: elp-digest Subject: Greg on the BBC Hi John, Greg is appearing on The Freak Zone on BBC 6 Music on Sunday July 11th between 22.00 & 01.00 (UK Time). BBC 6 Music is a digital channel- www.bbc.co.uk/6music and click LISTEN LIVE. There is also a "Listen Again" button if anyone misses it. Best wishes, rog --------------------------------------------- From: Gary Stokes Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2004 2:39 PM To: elp-digest-request Subject: New ELP interviews in Classic Rock magazine Hi John, Published today in the UK is the September issue of Classic Rock magazine. All of ELP are interviewed as part of an eight page feature, including some great vintage photos, and centering around 'Brain Salad Surgery'! I have yet to read the full article, but I note with great interest the final word from Carl: "... I spoke to Greg a couple of weeks ago and he tells me that he's getting together with Keith next month and they're going to do some writing together ... " If there is new material then let's hope there are no disagreements about who will produce it! Best Gary --------------------------------------------- From: EAMONN Sent: Thursday, August 05, 2004 11:35 AM To: elp-digest Subject: Classic Rock Interview The UK Classic Rock Magazine September 2004, contains an interesting Brain Salad Surgery 30th anniversary interview with the three boys. While most of the interview is about BSS and the formation of ELP and "why they were allowed to spend so much money?" there is one reference to the present, Carl is talking about the break up in 1979, and then says "But I spoke to Greg a couple of weeks ago and he tells me that he's getting together with Keith next month and they are going to do some writing together, so who knows?" In the opening paragraphs the author, Ian Fortnam, states: "For ELP were huge, their every gesture enormous, their deliciously overblown muse utterly titanic and, my God were we impressed... Carrying an Emerson, Lake and Palmer album under your arm became the schoolboy equivalent of mensa membership..." Keith also mentions the Friends final episode. Eamonn =========================== Reader Commentary =========================== From: thomas jones Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2004 5:02 PM Cc: ELP-digest Subject: karn evil9 [ Ed Note: referring to last issue's mention of the version of KE9 done by the percussion ensemble. - John - ] the karn evil 9 stream was brilliant !! mike myers is dr evil all the best T --------------------------------------------- From: ramcfar Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2004 1:58 AM To: ELP-digest Subject: Re: ELP Digest Vol. 14 #05 I appreciate your continuing web site on Emerson, Lake & Palmer, however have to question as to why bother to re-print so as to speak some of the rather derogatory comments from "our" readers like Keith's medical problem I.E. hand injury and its effects and Greg's recent work or association with The Who or then the reference to Carl's playing...What the **** why bother to post such opinions at all? If they were true I for one would never have been or Am the fan that I have been. I simply find these mediocre critiques a boor whereas Emerson Lake and Palmer were anything but over the years that I have experienced their show as I recollect.. called a 'power trio.' Now here is a critical remark meant for the lot of them: Keith (who looks younger than yesteryear), Carl who continues to be Rock's premier percussionist, and Greg whose words and voice are irreplacable for a band mythical-rhytematical-theatrical and quite incomparable as E.L.P. will all ways be.. With all the tragic losses in other wonderful bands, such as Led Zep,The Who, The Beatles ---- Keith, Greg, and Carl are still very much with us so enough of these "All Star" band(no offense, Ringo)/Greg solo/'Nice' reunions and on with the show that never ends!!!!!!!! ladies and gentleman, Emerson Lake and Palmer [ Editor's note: Regarding 'why bother'... it's always been my intent to reflect the thinking of ELP fans around the world and provide a reasonable forum for discussion and reaction. Even when the fans are cranky, disagree with us, etc. At least this is a place to show ELP and the world that people care and that they did and can continue to make an impact on real people. Thanks for your contribution to the ongoing discussion. - John - ] --------------------------------------------- From: Daniel Austen Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2004 8:48 AM To: ELP-digest Subject: Re: ELP Digest Vol. 14 #05 Dear John, I saw Carl Palmer out running 6 months ago, and he told me that ELP had a DVD/VIDEO coming out like the Led Zep one. Any news when this will be out? I've ordered the vault Masters. I've lost my copy of ELP on Beat Club a German TV show, shame it was absolutely brilliant. Best wishes, Dan UK PS: I really enjoy the e-mails you send out. One of the times I went to Emo's house on the south coast (with one of Emo's employees to deliver a syn) I met his dog, called Remy - after the brandy. [ Editor's Note: I don't know the details on the progress of the DVD but I'll be sure to report on it once I hear more details. - John - ] --------------------------------------------- From: psl1999 Sent: Thursday, July 08, 2004 9:23 AM To: ELP-digest Subject: Re: ELP Digest Vol. 14 #05 John--Thanks for all your hard work keeping the dream alive! I guess I'll never really grow up, as even at 45 I still look at ELP as my rock "heroes". As for the confusion surrounding ELP and Jan Wenner's private club (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), I think that comes from this: When the boys played Cleveland on the Black Moon tour, Greg presented the Hall with (supposedly) the accoustic guitar upon which he wrote "Lucky Man". I have seen several pictures of the presentation and I suspect many other readers have too. Keep on keeping on!!! Jim Carpenter Lexington, Ky. --------------------------------------------- From: Philip Barrow Sent: Thursday, July 08, 2004 11:51 AM To: ELP-digest Subject: ELP Ultimate collection Hello! Further to Dave Bailey's comments about the Ultimate Collection limited edition extra disc Live at Anaheim Live 73/74, he is quite right but the situation is much worse! All of the material has been issued before. The Anaheim stuff is the same concert as Welcome Back, albeit in the form it appeared on Bootleg Box Set 3 with a muddier mix. By the way this mix is the same as the King Biscuit disc of a few years ago too! Also, most of the 1977 tracks are the Wheeling Colosseum gig, also on Bootleg Box 3 and the King Biscuit disc. A shoddy performance from Sanctuary records and fans should beware: There is nothing new on the bonus disc at all, so claiming it is previously unreleased is shockingly bad IMHO. Surely there was other stuff in the vaults. Enjoy the site and keep up the good work. Phil Barrow. [ Editor's Note: Thanks for the update and details about that 'bonus disc'. I also want to use this space because I've received some comments from readers who ask things like 'how come ELP releases so many greatest hits packages?', etc. I think it's important for readers to know that, it appears to me, that - in many, many cases, ELP isn't involved in the releases of new packagings of greatest hits material, etc. In the cases I've heard details about, it's a record company or related entity that's trying to get some more people (not us fans who already own everything) to buy ELP CDs, etc. Of course, this doesn't excuse those companies from trying to lure us in with 'new' material that isn't new. But I think it's important to understand that it's not necessarily ELP or their management who is behind these things. - John - ] --------------------------------------------- From: Graham Lilley Sent: Monday, August 02, 2004 12:04 PM To: ELP-Digest Subject: Emerson Modular Moog Dear John, It's always interesting to read the ELP Digest, I have a vested interest, as I was brought in on the Nice Tour last October, to help out on a few shows, and saw the show over a couple of nights, and what a nice bunch of guy's they all are, band and crew. But, just a little put out by some of the comments below concerning the Moog. Prior to the two sets of dates that Keith and the band played 2002/3, a lot of work was put into the Moog, to help it perform on the shows. No doubt, Will has put in some sterling efforts over the years, in various capacities, so nothing against him whatsoever. But I felt that a certain amount of credit was also due to the, by no means, small parts that Bazz Ward (original Nice "roadie") and Dave Croft (Synth Service Centre), put into bringing the Moog into the 21st Centry and ready for many a future live show/recording session to come. The Moog can be a temperamental beast at the best of times, but I feel that a team effort was responsible, to ensure that the Moog will be ready to go, as soon as Keith needs it to, and hopefully it will be back in action on stage again, before too long. So in closing, thanks to Will, Bazz, Dave and Keith for keeping such an interesting musical instrument in the public view and hearing. Regards, Graham. --------------------------------------------- From: danilo galli Sent: Thursday, August 05, 2004 8:36 AM To: elp-digest-request Subject: the ultimate collection bonus disc Being an old term ELP fan I was only but happy to see on the shelf of my favorite cd vendor THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION OF ELP with "previously unreleased" bonus Disc recorded live at Anheim 73/74 world tour. I noticed that the presence of track like "C'est la vie" or "Enemy God" could not have been performed on those years but being a completist I thought of lost tapes or something like that... at last they CLAIMED the magic word "unreleased" ....I bought it, altough having ALL ELP CDs,and....guess what???? The bonus disc is only a bad mix w/crossfade of Welcome Back...tracks and others from the KBFH concert issued years before. Shame on you whoever you are !! Hope no one will buy it! All the best to you all Danilo [ Editor's Note: See my note a few messages earlier about this kind of behavior by the record companies or whoever approves the copy that appears with the ads for many of these re-releases. - John - ] --------------------------------------------- From: jesse mcglown Sent: Friday, August 06, 2004 11:19 AM To: elp-digest Subject: Will They Get This One Right?! Like virtually all ELP fans, I am holding my breath over the pending DVD. I am also not without a certain amount of trepidation as to whether They will finally get one right: Pristine vintage concert footage, unadorned with seventies effects... or will it be just another collection of 75% retread material, interspersed with commentary from aging band members and rabid fans... I remember when Led Zeppelin flooded their fans, a little over thirteen months ago, with a bonanza of previously unreleased material. Their DVD alone has over five hours of wonderfully restored vintage concert footage. As if that weren't sufficient for the time, they augmented this release with a companion 2-CD set of concert material from their 1972 tour. I can only imagine the state of ecstacy the average Zep fan was in last summer! Talk about sheer sensory overload...I was not a little bit jealous, thinking, "Okay, ELP camp...WHEN are we gonna get OURS?! I've blown this horn previously, but it bears repeating: Have the ELP Powers That Be learned from Zeppelin's example last year? Obviously they've been inspired, given all the hype about the pending ELP "dream" DVD soon to come out. Like a great many ELP fanatics, however, I cannot help but feel a bit wary. It seems that every new release bearing our band's famous logo ends up sporting the same old tripe: Fanfare, Tiger, Peter Gunn, etc. Same versions. Same sequence. If by chance something new comes out, we're warned to "stay away from it" (!) I'm tired of being ripped off. It's insulting to ELP fans everywhere, to keep feeding them the same stuff. We deserve better. ELP reproduced its sound far better, given just three people onstage, than Zeppelin could ever have thought of doing live. We deserve our document of that bygone era, not interspersed with stupid comments right in the middle of every song. Whatever California Jam costs...pay it. This blistering set was done over thirty years ago. Why hasn't it come out? I'm tired of my D-minus bootleg footage. I want to be able to see the elaborate etchings in Carl Palmer's stainless steel drums...even given the terrible quality of the bootleg footage, you can tell that ABC had plenty of stage lighting (unlike the poorly lit Montreal stage, hence the washed out color). Bad enough that we could've had an extra camera angle except for Ritchie Backmore's infamous temper tantrum during Deep Purple's set. This set represents ELP in its arguable prime...yet it's still unavailable after all these years. What's going on, Bruce? Ditto the Lyceum footage. I'm given to understand that there is a version of this show WITHOUT all of the Marvel stuff superimposed. Wish I could remember where I read this, but it's apparently true. Pay whoever owns it for the rights. Then pass it on to us...we'll pay, believe me. Before Greg Lake decided his schedule was apparently too crowded to answer a few questions on his website, he mentioned the existence of sixteen-track tapes from ELPs 1972 Mar y Sol concert. This would be ELPs answer to the companion "How the West Was Won" 2-CD set of Led Zeppelin's 1972 tour. Food for thought, gents. The 1997 Poland show was professionally shot, as well as recorded in multitrack. I am lucky enough not only to have seen them in Kassel, Germany six days prior to this concert, but to have bootleg footage of this one as well. What a contrast that would make on the mother of all ELP DVDs...California Jam dissolving right into Poland's set! I think I speak for a great many ELP fans when I say, after all this time, PLEASE GET THIS ONE RIGHT. We don't mind dropping the thirty to fifty bucks for this stuff. Just give us at least the equivalent of what those Zeppelin fans got a little over a year ago! Finally: Please relegate any commentary, reminiscing, etc, to the BONUS EXTRAS section of the DVD...NOT between songs. May your precious teddy bear lose its stuffing if you ignore this one! --------------------------------------------- From: Ted Anders Sent: Monday, August 16, 2004 4:58 PM To: elp-digest-request Subject: Story about ELP influences alive today I support a local band (The Floating Men, see floatingmen.com) and they make CDs through the support of their fan base. I have become an "Executive Produce" (meaning I gave money) for a song on the new CD (The Haunting) and was able to sit in on a recording session during which my song "Haunt You Down" and others were laid down. Sitting around before the session began, the drummer was commenting about having played a stainless steel set the night before. "Like Carl Palmer used." says I. "Oh Yeah." says Steve (Ebe). Then later as I walk in to the control room I hear some very elp-ish jazz piano and drums as Jody (Nardone on keys) and Steve are warming up. All very innocent. Later in the day it's time for "Haunt You Down" and after listening to a take Jody and the guitar players go "back in" to add a few things. At the outro comes a most familiar synthesizer riff, "Welcome back my friends, to the show that never ends..." I mutter to Jeff Holmes (singer/songwriter who is still in the control room) as the outro fades. "Welcome back my friends..." says Jody as he returns to the control room with a cheshire grin and whether planned, inspired by my comment, or just a last minute thought; the impact of ELP carries on. Thank you Jody and thanks ELP. The Floating Men are a Nashville based band who defy categories even when using eclectic labels like "alernative". I am on old ELP fan who first heard "Lucky Man" coming from a convertible while pumping gas at a gas station in '72 and later got the chance to see them play in Detroit '77 (with the orchestra!) and 20 years on in '97, also in Detroit. Now if I can only get Greg to come by "Nashvegas" on a tour when his new stuff comes out... --------------------------------------------- From: Karen & George Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 11:33 PM To: elp-digest-request Subject: works tour/manticore special DVD Got mine through deep discount video for $19 plus change, well worth it. Finally got to see that double neck guitar that Lake used, it is one of the ugliest (my opinion) guitars I’ve ever seen. The backstage footage of the early years was a real eye opener and did show some of the things mentioned here such as Greg Lake, he cleared the room after a problem with the timing of the lights to talk with the crew, not very happy about it either. Emerson comes across as a quiet sort of loner except when on stage and Palmer seems to have a pretty good sense of humor along with a serious dedication to his craft. When you think the Manticore special was shot over 30 years ago, it doesn’t seem possible. Musical highlights for me was seeing them rip through "Hoedown" and the band in rehearsal for Brain Salad Surgery. The Works video shows a more mature band and some very good playing. Hearing the "nutrocker" was a real surprise and I had to think about what was in Emerson’s book about the altercation with Lake about playing it early on, it does burn with Emo pulling out all the stops. I thought the orchestra both added and took away from the music, it’s hard to imagine how hard it must have been to pull off. All in all a very enjoyable time, hope there will be more video coming out of the woodwork in the future. George Adams =========================== Questions (and Answers!) =========================== From: Thomas Maffucci Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 2004 10:01 AM To: elp-digest Subject: a little CP trivia Hi John, Hope all is well. I thought I'd add some fun for the CP fans out there who are into his drum kits as I am. Anyway, put this question out there and see what happens. "What piece of drum equipment has Carl kept using on his many different drumkits throughout the years?" Starting with his mammoth steel kit. answer is the cymbal holder that looks like a pitch fork and holds 3 cup chime cymbals. This piece is seen inside the Works volume one photo to Carl's left and was used on his premier kit in Asia up to his now current Paiste kit. You could tell it belonged to the steel kit because not only is it one solid piece (no screws) but it's also missing in the photo of his kit that was auctioned off at Sotheby's! (excuse the spelling). Anyway, I know I should get a life but I thought it would be fun! Take care! Tom Maffucci --------------------------------------------- From: John Whapshott Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2004 9:13 AM To: 'elp-digest' Subject: Question re: Keith's Moog Hi I've been reading the ELP Digest for several years, but seeing the pictures of Keith in concert recently reminded me of something I've always wanted to know ever since I saw ELP at the Albert Hall all those years ago. Which is: is the mighty Moog on stage for effect, or is it actually used to produce some of the sounds? I know he doesn't actually play it, but all those cables look as if they ought to be doing something! Thanks for the fantastic job you do - I'm sure there are lots of us who read the Digest but don't write to thank you! Cheers John [ Editor's Note: I'm sure others will chime in with more details but I want to (a) refer you to the note earlier in this Digest about the Modular Moog that shows it is very much a real, played instrument and (b) to mention that the Modular Moog is legendary in electronic music circles. Keith used it quite a bit - even live - in the 70s for parts of Hoedown and the sample and hold/sequence at the end of Karn Evil 9 - 3rd impression. More recently, it was used as part of the Keith Emerson Band shows earlier this year for some of the same parts as well as the Lucky Man solo. Back in the days of analog synthesizers, the Modular Moogs were very, very influential in electronic music (used in Switched On Bach) and, along the with the ARP Music 2600 (famous for the sample and hold riff in The Who's 'Won't Be Fooled Again'), helped put electronic music become part of popular music. There's a whole history of other influential players and their instruments (including Rick Wakeman and Stevie Wonder) but, in my book, you can trace almost all of it back to Keith (first, taking the Hammond to new heights, and then his work with the Modular Moog, Mini Moog(s), PolyMoog, etc. - John - ] =========================== ELP-related products, tribute bands, promoters (The ELP Digest does not endorse, etc.) =========================== From: elp band Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2004 1:30 AM To: elp-digest Subject: tribute band seeks musician ELP tribute band based in New York City is seeking a Greg Lake. Contact elpband@yahoo.com Thanks. =========================== Digest subscription, mailing address, and administrative stuff to: elp-digest-request@reluctant.com ELP-related info that you want to put in the digest to: elp-digest@reluctant.com Back issues are available from the ELP Digest web site: http://www.brain-salad.com/ Note: The opinions, information, etc. contained in this digest are those of the original message sender listed in each message. They are not necessarily those of the mailing list/digest administrator or those of any institution through whose computers/networks this mail flows. Unless otherwise noted, the individual authors of each entry in the Digest are the copyright holders of that entry. Please respect that copyright and act accordingly. I especially ask that you not redistribute the ELP Digest in whole or in part without acknowledging the original source of the digest and each author. Thanks! End of ELP Digest [Volume 14, Issue 6] **************************************