KEITH EMERSON: THE OFFICIAL ILLUSTRATED STORY

Chris Welch ROCKET 88

A PORTRAIT THAT GOES BEYOND THE ‘WILD MAN OF PROG ROCK’ TROPE.

An affectionate portrait of the prog rock pioneer.

Filled with numerous family photographs of Keith Emerson as a child, his teenage forays into music, and copious snaps of him in action with The Nice and ELP, that winning smile and obvious charismatic presence informs much of this book’s 200-plus pages.

Covering his career from its beginning to its tragic end, the book is bolstered not only by veteran Emo watcher Chris Welch’s discrete timeline, but also by additional narratives from family, friends, industry colleagues and informed observers. Although some quotes will be familiar to fans, there are several new and informative perspectives, especially from other musicians (most notably members of Yes), that are fresh and bring to the fore the respect with which the keyboard player was regarded by his peers.

Throughout, there are numerous testimonials that state although Emerson was essentially a shy person at heart, not only as a child but into adulthood, he nevertheless thrived upon the attention and adulation directed toward him when on stage. As Carl Palmer and ELP manager Stuart Young make clear, the consummate showman regularly experienced preshow nerves that would see him hurling the contents of his stomach in the dressing room before hurling his Hammond organ around the stage.

As medical problems compromised Emerson’s right hand and its technical capacity, Rick Wakeman recalls urging him to go into teaching and focus on composing instead of performing. That this was rejected by Emerson speaks to the extent to which the man defined himself through his onstage persona. Seeing no viable way of continuing with this aspect of his career, he fell into the spiral of doubt and depression that would tragically consume him in 2016.

Inevitably, Emerson’s true nature can only really be truly discerned and properly understood by those closest to him. Therefore the ample commentary from Emerson’s relatives, children and life partners within these pages is especially welcome. Sometimes, it’s small details in their accounts that add up to a greater truth, illustrating the emotional costs fame all too often exacts upon loved ones.

Completing a fuller portrait of him that goes beyond the usual ‘wild man of prog rock’ trope that Emerson himself would often project – and to some extent, rely upon perhaps as a psychological mask – the reflections of those family members on his life and the aftermath of his death act as a powerful reminder that this is also the story not only of a musician but also a husband, a partner and a father.