THE NICE are generally acknowledged as providing one of the central lynchpins of the 70's Progressive Rock movement in keyboard player KEITH JACKSON. Emerson had created the group with bassist Lee Jackson, vocalist David O'List and drummer Brian Davison upon leaving the backing band for Soul singer P.P. ARNOLD. Both Emerson and Jackson had also been members of GARY FARR & THE T-BONES.

It was with THE NICE that Emerson was to evolve his notorious wild stage antics with his keyboards later put into full effect with supergroup EMERSON LAKE & PALMER. With THE NICE Emerson was noted for his radical reinterpretations of Classical and modern themes, including covers of artists as diverse as SIBELIUS and BOB DYLAN.

Indeed, so chaotic was Emerson's aggression to his keyboard - including simulated rape and stabbings - that O'List's presence was pushed further back out of the limelight. So much so that the singer quit in 1968. He was later to turn up in ROXY MUSIC and also THE JETS. THE NICE, meanwhile, persevered as a trio.

the band's first single 'The Thoughts Of Emerlist Davjack' (named after the band members surnames) and album flopping, fortunes for THE NICE turned a corner when they scored a notable hit single with their spin on 'America', culled from the musical success 'West Side Story'. With the Vietnam War in full flow the single was prevented from attaining an American release when composer Leonard Bernstein heard news that during live performances of the song the band would burn the American flag onstage. Compounding matters was the single sleeve, which depicted images of a dead Martin Luther King as well as both Bobby and John F. Kennedy.

By 1970 THE NICE had folded. Emerson joined forces with ex ATOMIC ROOSTER drummer Carl Palmer and former KING CRIMSON guitarist GREG LAKE to forge the enduring multi platinum Rock institution EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER. Davison and Jackson founded JACKSON HEIGHTS releasing four further albums before creating REFUGEE with future YES keyboard player Patrick Moraz.

Quite incredibly, after a 32 year absence, THE NICE- KEITH EMERSEON, Lee Jackson and Brian Davison, reformed for a one off gig at the famous London 100 Club on April 9th 2002.