Legendary Pomp Rockers EMERSON LAKE & PALMER are best known worldwide for the huge instrumental hit 'Fanfare For The Common Man' but have influenced a generation of bands keen on following in their heroes footsteps. The fabled trio specialised in contemporary Rock imbued with subtle nuances of European classical music and American jazz, this adventurism finding a ready audience with Progressive Rock fans. ELP formed in 1969 when ex-ATOMIC ROOSTER drummer Carl Palmer, former KING CRIMSON guitarist GREG LAKE and erstwhile THE NICE keyboard player KEITH EMERSON teamed up. Emerson already had a reputation in THE NICE for mistreating keyboards with knives and violence and generally breaking the mould of static onstage keyboardists. Meantime, Lake had achieved heady success with KING CRIMSON.

The bassist and keyboard player first met when their two former acts had shared a billing at the Fillmore West in San Francisco, a brief soundcheck jam sparking the catalyst for what was to come. Lake was still contractually tied to KING CRIMSON, and recorded the album 'In The Wake Of Poseidon' as his parting shot. The record surfaced in March of 1970, the band, still with Lake at the forefront, delivering a rendition of 'Cat Food' on the BBC television show 'Top Of The Pops'. However, less than two weeks later the UK music media broke the news that Lake and Emerson were to spearhead an all new band.

The duo of Emerson and Lake were originally intent on recruiting GUESS WHO's RANDY BACHMAN and even discussed a liaison with JIMI HENDRIX and Mitch Mitchell before settling on Palmer. Behind the scenes negotiations with Hendrix had leaked to the press, who duly ran stories about the 'Hendrix, Emerson, Lake & Palmer' band - or H.E.L.P. as they wittily tagged it. Plans were made to pursue the idea but Hendrix's death put paid to such notions.

Palmer had come upon the authority of CREAM manager Robert Stigwood, the drummer's fist audition landing him the job. The fledgling band's formative rehearsals would be held at Island Studios on Basing Street in London during June of 1970. Attempting to assemble a set list the trio tried out KING CRIMSON's '21st Century Schizoid Man' but soon abandoned this idea. They would, however, hold onto THE NICE's 'Rondo' and West Side Story's 'America'. The first original composition would be 'Take A Pebble', based upon a riff Lake had conjoured up in an earlier combo THE SHAME.

The band's profile made securing recording contracts relatively easy and, following a round of bidding by interested parties, EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER signed to Island Records for Europe and an Atlantic subsidiary, Cotillion Records, for North America. With Lake delegated as producer, the band commenced recording in July 1970. ELP made their live debut at the Plymouth Guildhall on 23rd August, following up with an appearance at the Isle Of Wight festival six days later, sharing billing with JIMI HENDRIX, THE WHO, JETHRO TULL, TEN YEARS AFTER and THE DOORS. European dates saw the group touring throughout September, delivering their television debut for the German 'Beat Club' programme in Bremen performing 'Knife Edge'. The band launched their first, eponymous, album shortly after, issued in Europe in November and in the USA during January of 1971. Rock fans soon took to the record whilst a valuable Pop hit was also scored with the track 'Lucky Man'.

On 9th December 1970 ELP broke new ground by filming their show at London's Lyceum Theatre for commercial release entitled 'Pictures At An Exhibition'. Typically ambitious and wide ranging, the band not only debuted a Mussorgsky adaptation but also a KIM FOWLEY song 'Nutrocker'.

In early 1971 the triumvirate found themselves back in the recording studio laying down a quick-fire follow up 'Tarkus'. The epic, anti-war statement of the title track took a full six days to record. The album not only contained the expected landscapes of Progressive Rock, but also some more light hearted moments, delving into retro Rock n' Roll and even a splash of Honky Tonk. In the UK 'Tarkus' weighed in at the no. 1 spot on the album charts, and broke the top ten in the USA. The group launched into their inaugural North American dates in April of 1971, finding healthy audiences keyed up by the radio success of 'Lucky Man'. A further round of European dates then ensued.

EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER then found themselves in dispute with their record label over the 'Pictures At An Exhibition' project. The US side of the company was strongly opposed to realizing the album but soon changed their minds when European imports began flooding the market. The record had sold over 50,000 copies in North America even before its official release. When it did see domestic issue, 'Pictures At An Exhibition' gave the band a Billboard top ten. In the UK the album had peaked at no. 3.

Touring in December found the group introducing another new piece of music in a re-work of Aaron Cropland's 'Rodeo' dubbed 'Hoedown'. By this juncture KEITH EMERSON's stage set up now comprised of two Hammond organs, the modular Moog, a Bluthner grand piano, and a clavinet. The band resumed touring in the USA during March of 1972, including a stop off in Puerto Rico to perform at the 'May Y Sol' festival. That July the 'Trilogy' album was released, scoring a no. 2 position in the UK and debuting at no. 5 in the USA. However, the trio's ambitions to have a Salvador Dali painting grace the cover were thwarted by the artist's demand for a $50,000 fee.

Touring for 'Trilogy' spanned a set of US dates in the Spring, Summer European gigs then a second North American leg before closing proceedings in Japan, where the group famously played Tokyo in the midst of a full blown typhoon. Structural changes later that year marked the introduction of KING CRIMSON's Peter Sinfield as a writing partner and the establishment of the band's own imprint – Manticore Records.

European concerts in March of 1973 limbered the band up for recording of their next opus, 'Brain Salad Surgery'. Such was the band's status in the USA that in April EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER headlined the Ontario, Motor Speedway 'California Jam' festival above DEEP PURPLE and BLACK SABBATH to over 350,000 people. Filmed for ABC television, the concert went down in history for Emerson's stunt of performing on a grand piano being spun in the air.

'Brain Salad Surgery' was released in November and made an immediate impression with its now famous album cover, an elaborate fold out designed by Swiss 'Alien' artist H.R. Giger. The record hosted many of EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER's classic pieces such as 'Still You Turn Me On', 'Karn Evil 9', the traditional 'Jerusalem' and 'Toccata', adapted from the fourth movement of Alberto Ginestera's first piano concerto. In the charts, 'Brain Sald Surgery' scored no. 2 in the UK and no. 11 on the US Billboard ratings.

In April of 1974 the band put in an unprecedented seven night run at London's Wembley Empire Pool venue. That August the sprawling, three disc live set, 'Welcome Back My Friends to the Show That Never Ends...Ladies and Gentlemen...Emerson, Lake & Palmer', emerged. The collection hit no. 4 in the US charts.

Following the live album band shied from public view, working on solo material. GREG LAKE scored a major UK hit with the perennial 'I Believe In Father Christmas' whilst KEITH EMERSON tackled a piano concerto with the London Philharmonic and put time into an abortive movie soundtrack, 'The Dogs Of War'.

As a band unit they finally returned with the release of 'Works Volume I' and 'Works Volume II' in 1977. This album spawned their only real single success with a rework of Aaron Copeland's 'Fanfare For The Common Man'. Uniquely, the 'Works' albums combined three sides of solo material and one of EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER tracks.

A mammoth world tour saw the band accompanied on the road by a full 75 piece orchestra and choir. However, union regulations for musicians dictated no more than three shows per week and, facing enormous financial losses, the group pulled the plug on these shows after just three weeks of US dates. Resuming action as a a more Spartan trio once again EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER soon recouped their losses, US dates that Summer seeing support from JOURNEY.

The band members then planned further solo endeavours but their label exercised contract to force another album. The three musicians retired to Compass Point Studios in The Bahamas to record 'Love Beach'. It was widely criticized by both fans and critics. EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER announced they were to fold in December 1979.

Going into the new decade the trio began to work on solo projects with Palmer forming PM together with keyboardist Todd Cochran, NITZINGER guitarist John Nitzinger, bassist Barry Finnerty and singer Erik Scott. Emerson worked on film soundtracks and Lake recorded with GARY MOORE in the GREG LAKE BAND before teaming up with Carl Palmer in the multi platinum ASIA. The sheer scale of ASIA's enormous success and its turbulent history would interrupt the ELP work pattern for many years to come.

Going into the new decade the trio began to work on solo projects with Palmer forming PM together with keyboardist Todd Cochran, NITZINGER guitarist John Nitzinger, bassist Barry Finnerty and singer Erik Scott. Emerson worked on film soundtracks and Lake recorded with GARY MOORE in the GREG LAKE BAND before teaming up with Carl Palmer in the multi platinum ASIA.

sheer scale of ASIA's enormous success and its turbulent history would interrupt the ELP work pattern for many years to come.

After initial negotiations with drummer Simon Phillips failed to gel Emerson and Lake reformed the band in 1985 with veteran drummer COZY POWELL, whose career trail had tracked through RAINBOW, MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP and WHITESNAKE amongst others, as EMERSON LAKE AND POWELL, releasing an album in 1986. The resulting album sold well in America but Powell quit to join BLACK SABBATH and Emerson and Lake were briefly reunited with Palmer during 1987 but this liaison was short lived.

In 1988 Emerson and Palmer appeared at the Atlantic Records 40th anniversary concerts aided by former HUSH vocalist / bassist ROBERT BERRY to perform renditions of 'Fanfare For The Common Man' and THE NICE's 'America', this trio having formed 3, recording an album for Geffen.

In 1992 EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER were working together again, releasing the 'Black Moon' album for ex Atlantic man Phil Carson's Victory label. A live album, 'Live At The Royal Albert Hall', followed in 1993 through London Records and the new studio release 'In The Hot Seat' appeared in late 1994. In 1996 the trio toured in America as support to JETHRO TULL.

A tribute album 'Encores, Legends And Paradox' was issued in 1999 that featured the likes of ex DEEP PURPLE man GLENN HUGHES, DREAM THEATER's James La Brie and Mike Portnoy, veteran session man Simon Phillips on drums, GEOFF DOWNES of YES and ASIA, guitarist MARC BONILLA, MAGELLAN's Trent Gardner and even JETHRO TULL's Martin Barre and Doane Perry.

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the 'Fanfare For The Common Man' single Castle Music would re-issue the track, complete with a previously unreleased live version of 'Hoedown', as a single in June 2002.

By early 2004 rumours would be in circulation suggesting GREG LAKE had joined legendary British act THE WHO.