Keith Emerson

Sound

Keith Emerson

Born 1944-11-02 · Todmorden, West Yorkshire, England, UK

Keith Noel Emerson was a keyboardist and founding member of Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP), the acclaimed English progressive rock group. The musician was responsible for writing and arranging much of the music for the band, which also included singer, bassist, and producer Greg Lake and drummer and percussionist Carl Palmer. Prior to ELP, Emerson was in a number of other bands, including The Nice, a late-1960s band that blended rock, jazz and classical music. The group was formed in 1967 by Emerson, Lee Jackson, David O'List and Ian Hague to back soul singer P. P. Arnold; Brian Davison later replaced Hague. Emerson’s bands’ music was featured in films and television series including the shows Doctor Who, That ‘70s Show, Freaks and Geeks, and Heroes. He also composed the theme song for the 1980s British television series Up the Elephant and Round the Castle. He later worked as a music producer and arranger, contributing to the films Inferno, Nighthawks, starring Sylvester Stallone; and the animated series Iron Man. The keyboard virtuoso also released solo albums, including Honky, Changing States, the all-piano album Emerson Plays Emerson, and contributions to Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin tribute albums. Emerson died March 10, 2016, in Santa Monica, California. He was 71 years old.

Acting credits

Message to Love - The Isle of Wight Festival poster
6.8

In August 1970, 600,000 fans flocked to the Isle of Wight to witness the third and final festival to be held on the island. Besides the music, they also got a look at the greed, cynicism and corruption that would plague the music industry for years to come. They also witnessed the final, drugged out performance of Jimi Hendrix in England just two weeks before he would meet a tragic death. When it all was over, the fans view of rock and roll was never the same.

Message to Love - The Isle of Wight Festival

1996

Revolution: The Legacy of the Sixties poster
NR

'Revolution: The Legacy of the Sixties' is an exploration of the 1960s Western cultural revolution as it ushers in our contemporary society. 'Revolution' explores, partly through interviews with many of its key instigators, the ground breaking cultural and social transformation of the 1960s as we get to the root of what changed during that period, and why. To what extent is our society and culture today a product of those changes? What does the 60s generation feel remains to be done today to complete the revolution, 50 years on?

Revolution: The Legacy of the Sixties

2017

Dario Argento: An Eye for Horror poster
6.8

Documentary that explores Argento's film career.

Dario Argento: An Eye for Horror

2001

Prog Rock at the BBC poster
8.2

Compilation of some of the greatest names and British bands in what they still dare to call prog rock, filmed live in the BBC studios in the early 1970s. Expect to see stadium names like Yes, Genesis and Emerson, Lake and Palmer alongside much-loved bands of the era including Caravan, Family, Atomic Rooster and more.

Prog Rock at the BBC

2009

Moog poster
5.5

Best known as the inventor of the Moog synthesizer, Robert Moog was an American pioneer of electronic music, and shaped musical culture with some of the most inspiring electronic instruments ever created. This "compelling documentary portrait of a provocative, thoughtful and deeply sympathetic figure" (New York Times) peeks into the inventor's mind and the worldwide phenomenon he fomented.

Moog

2004

Keith Emerson Band - Moscow poster
7.0

On Moscow, the Keith Emerson Band includes ace session guitarist, vocalist, and composer Marc Bonilla (who's toured before with Toy Matinee), bassist Travis Davis, and drummer Tony Pia, who, while currently a member of the Doobie Brothers, has also played with Edgar Winter and Brain Setzer. The program features numerous Emerson, Lake & Palmer nuggets (including a 35-plus-minute "Tarkus"), some brief Emerson originals (film cues from his soundtrack work), a pair of Bonilla pieces, and two co-writes between Bonilla and Emerson. Filmed August, 2008, at Central House of Cinema, Russia.

Keith Emerson Band - Moscow

2010

Amougies (Music Power - European Music Revolution) poster
7.0

A film by Jerome Laperrousaz, showing the festival at Amougies, October 1969.

Amougies (Music Power - European Music Revolution)

1970

Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Live at Montreux poster
7.3

Keith Emerson, Greg Lake and Carl Palmer first joined forces in 1970 and went on to become a global success story. After a break in the eighties, they reunited in the early nineties and took to the road once more. In 1997 they made their debut at the Montreux Jazz Festival with a performance that included all their trademark virtuosity and showmanship. The show includes classic tracks from across their career including Karnevil 9, Hoedown, Take A Pebble, Lucky Man, Tiger in the Spotlight, Tarkus and Fanfare for the Common Man. Recorded live on July 7, 1997 at the Audtitorium Stravinski, Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland). Programme copyright 2010.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Live at Montreux

1997

The Rhythm of Life poster
NR

An examination into life and work of celebrated drummer Carl Palmer, a founding member of influential bands such as Asia and Emerson, Lake and Palmer.

The Rhythm of Life

2023

Emerson, Lake & Palmer: The Birth of a Band, Isle of Wight Festival 1970 poster
8.0

Continuing our release of DVDs from Oscar-winning director Murray Lerner’s filming of the August 1970 Isle Of Wight Festival, we have Emerson Lake & Palmer’s The Birth Of A Band. It was ELP’s first proper live concert, their only previous gig having been a warm up in Plymouth the previous night. Playing in front of a record 600,000 people, at what remains the biggest festival in rock history, they became overnight stars. With a spectacular stage show that included real cannons being fired over the heads of the audience, they became overnight stars with the press raving about their virtuosity and daring. lntercut with the live footage from the show , this film also features brand new Interviews with Keith Emerson, Greg Lake and Carl Palmer as well as their then manager John Gaydon and creates a vivid portrait of the birth o f a band. They would go on from here to become multi-million selling artists, but this unique film is there right at the beginning.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer: The Birth of a Band, Isle of Wight Festival 1970

2006

Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Masters from the Vaults poster
NR

This is Emerson Lake & Palmer captured at the very beginning of a legendary career. Filmed at the time when the band had only just recorded their ground breaking first album ELP had to use all of their huge individual creative talents to create a full show. This is an essential addition to the collection of any fan of the progressive rock era.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Masters from the Vaults

2004

Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Works Orchestral Tour poster
7.0

Works Orchestral Tour is live in Montreal on Aug. 26, 1977, where ELP became the first rock band to assemble and tour with a full 65 piece symphony orchestra before a sold-out audience of 70.000 enthusiastic fans. This is Emerson Lake And Palmer "Symphonic Live" recorded during the works tour on August 26th 1977 at the Montreal Olympic Stadium. The band was accompanied by the Royal Montreal Philharmonic 65 Piece Orchestra and a 12 person choir. This show, filmed before over 70,000 fans is considered to be Keith Emerson's Opus.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Works Orchestral Tour

1977

Inside Emerson, Lake & Palmer 1970-1995 poster
6.0

This is the definitive critical review of the music of Emerson, Lake and Palmer in concert, on record and on stage. During the seventies ELP were the biggest band in the world playing to colossal crowds and mounting ever more spectacular and flamboyant stage shows. When the band split in 1978 the legacy disappeared almost overnight. Featuring rare archive footage, every ELP studio album is reviewed and critically assessed by a leading team of critics, working musicians and musicologists to explore the secrets behind the phenomenal rise to success and the equally spectacular fall from grace of this legendary band.

Inside Emerson, Lake & Palmer 1970-1995

2003

Moogfest 2006: Live poster
NR

Moogfest, the festival celebrating the groundbreaking achievements of maverick inventor Rober Moog and his namesake synthesizer, captures the spirit of instruments that altered the course of modern music. Live from the B.B. King Blues Club.

Moogfest 2006: Live

2007

Emerson, Lake & Palmer - California Jam 1974 poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer - California Jam 1974

1974

Keyboard Wizards - The Ultimate Anthology poster
NR

Keyboard Wizards – The Ultimate Anthology is the first collection to truly celebrate the greatest keyboard players in rock history. Too often the spotlight has shone on the guitar heroes, leaving the keyboard masters in the shadows. This anthology redresses the balance, showcasing the virtuosity, power, and genius of musicians whose outstanding technical and artistic ability shaped the sound of progressive and classic rock. Featuring unforgettable performances from legends including Keith Emerson, Jon Lord, Rick Wakeman, Geoff Downes, David Sinclair, Karl Jenkins, Thijs Van Leer, Ken Hensley, and Vincent Crane, this anthology brings their artistry to the forefront. Also included is The Next Generation of Keyboard Wizards, with contributions from Iain Jennings (Mostly Autumn) and Jonathan Edwards (Karnataka). Digitally remastered for 5.1 surround sound, this two-hour program gives these maestros of the keys the collective bow they so richly deserve.

Keyboard Wizards - The Ultimate Anthology

2003

Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Live at the Royal Albert Hall poster
6.0

Live at the Royal Albert Hall is a live album by Emerson, Lake & Palmer. It was recorded at a show at the Royal Albert Hall during the Black Moon tour in October 1992. Highlights of the album include a 9 minute outfreakage of "Tarkus", the song "Black Moon", and "Finale", which is a three song medley.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Live at the Royal Albert Hall

1996

Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Live In Zurich 1970 poster
8.0

Performance filmed in Switzerland December 4, 1970 and later broadcast in 1971 on Belgium TV program Pop Music (AKA Pop Shop)

Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Live In Zurich 1970

1971

Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Live in Concert poster
NR

Isle of Wight 1970: 1. Blue Rondo a la Turk ELP - The Works Live With Orchestra, Montreal Olympic Stadium 1977: 1. The Enemy God Dances With The Black Spirits 2. Karn Evil 9 / 1st Impression, part 2 3. Pictures at an Exhibition 4. C'est La Vie 5. Piano Concerto No. 1 3rd Movement Toccata, con fuoco 6. Tank Manticore Special 1973 Excerpts of: 1. Abaddon's Bolero 2. Karn Evil 9 / 1st Impression, part 2 3. Karn Evil 9 / 2nd Impression 4. Pictures at an Exhibition 5. Benny The Bouncer 6. Lucky Man 7. Tarkus 8. Still You Turn Me On and more.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Live in Concert

2004

Emerson, Lake & Palmer - 40th Anniversary Reunion Concert poster
6.0

Emerson, Lake & Palmer, also known as ELP, are an English progressive rock super group. They found success in the 1970s and sold over forty million albums and headlined large stadium concerts - one of the largest at California Jam (Cal Jam) in 1974 was in front of 200,000 people. The band consists of Keith Emerson (keyboards), Greg Lake (bass guitar, vocals, guitar) and Carl Palmer (drums, percussion). They are one of the most commercially successful progressive rock bands and from the outset focused on combining classical pieces with rock music. The legendary Rock Band reunited to celebrate their 40th Anniversary and headlined London's first High Voltage Rock Festival. This was the historic moment when Emerson Lake and Palmer performed for the first time since 1998.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer - 40th Anniversary Reunion Concert

2011

Emerson, Lake & Palmer: C'est La Vie poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer: C'est La Vie

2010

Emerson, Lake and Palmer: The Live Broadcasts poster
NR

This is the Holy Grail for progressive rock fans. Emerson Lake and Palmer are captured here at the very beginning of a legendary career. Filmed at the time when the band had only just recorded their ground breaking first album, ELP had to use all of their huge individual creative talents to create a full show. That's what makes this film so special. Extensive improvisation virtuoso playing by Keith Emerson, inventive percussion from Carl Palmer and a bravura performance at the mike by the young Greg Lake make this an essential addition to the collection of any fan of the progressive rock era. TRACK LIST 1. The Barbarian 2. Rondo/Bach Improvisations 3. Drum Solo 4. Nutrocker 5. Take A Pebble 6. Knife Edge

Emerson, Lake and Palmer: The Live Broadcasts

2006

Emerson, Lake & Palmer on Tour poster
8.0

A documentary film of the final dates in Emerson Lake and Palmer's 1973 'Get Me A Ladder' European tour, on and off-stage, along with footage of the three musicians' private lives, plus the band rehearsing in Fulham, London.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer on Tour

1973

Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Beyond the Beginning poster
7.0

Featuring performances from every stage of their career, including 44 minutes of ELP headlining the California Jam Festival in 1974 on Disc 2 which also showcases footage of the famous spinning piano sequence. The DVD also contains 'Beyond The Beginning', an hour-long documentary.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Beyond the Beginning

2005