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Goddammit, 2016! RIP Greg Lake of ELP

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Greg Lake, the vocalist for Emerson, Lake and Palmer, has passed away after a long bout of cancer. It was earlier this year (March 11) that his bandmate, keyboardist Keith Emerson, took his own life. The only guy left is drummer Carl Palmer.

Palmer released this statement this morning:

It is with great sadness that I must now say goodbye to my friend and fellow band-mate, Greg Lake.  Greg’s soaring voice and skill as a musician will be remembered by all who knew his music and recordings he made with ELP and King Crimson.  I have fond memories of those great years we had in the 1970s and many memorable shows we performed together. Having lost Keith this year as well, has made this particularly hard for all of us.  As Greg sang at the end of Pictures At An Exhibition, “death is life.” His music can now live forever in the hearts of all who loved him.

Carl Palmer

December 8, 2016

Before ELP, Lake was in the original lineup of King Crimson, one of the great early prog bands. This from their 1969 debut and features Lake on vocals.

ELP arrived less than two years later, heralded by this prog classic.

And Lake’s Christmas song remains one of my all-time favourites. (Read his letter to The Guardian about this song as you listen.)

Goddamit, 2016. You suck.

 

 

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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