Article Source:
Cyberpresse - Archives, Montreal
Arts and Entertainment, Friday 12 June 1992, p. C3
Author:
Lemay, Daniel
Contributed by:
Sylvie Turgeon and James Hatch
Images:
Emerson, Lake & Palmer's path still runs through Montreal
Fifteen years later, the three men are reunited in the great stadium where they became the first group to present a rock concert. On August 26th 1977, 80,000 people invaded the Olympic Stadium for the largest mass ever celebrated in Montreal: Emerson, Lake & Palmer!
The wine had changed to beer and the incense to hemp, which at the time, we still believed came from India. Oooh! What a lucky man he was! Yesterday, Keith Emerson, Greg Lake and Carl Palmer returned to Montreal to launch Black Moon, their 12th album, but their first since 1977. Black Moon is also the basis for their world tour, which will carry them on stage at the Forum on Friday, August 7th (the tickets will be on sale this coming Monday at all Admission outlets).
Bassist and vocalist Greg Lake appreciates this coming back: "Montreal occupies an important place in the history of the group. Of course there was that first concert at the Stadium, but we also shot one of the first rock videos in history here." Lake - 6 feet 2 inches, 220 pounds - a big guy - appreciated the European feel to the city where the team basically lived for five months in preparation for its 1977 tour.
The following year, the trio separated; no stadium in the world could contain their egos. Progressive rock lost a big chunk, but so did the trio. In all the subsequent variations of the group - Emerson, Lake & Powell (86), the forgettable Three with Emerson, Palmer and Robert Berry (88) - none of the original energy and synergy could be found.
Black Moon marks a grand reunion of the three men who now seem to be able to better appreciate each other; being in their mid to late forties might have helped. Our music critic Alain Brunet will soon provide an in-depth analysis of their new album, but for us, mere musical mortals, the ELP sound is unmistakable: Greg Lake's voice, Keith Emerson's weaving of all the keyboards from the past fifteen years, the flights of "Palmah" who has redefined the definition of the word "drumming."
Still progressive? "As a musical style," explains Greg Lake, "it is not new, but the emotional force of the album makes it original. And, in these years of programmed hype, everything is original and thus, progressive."
How has Greg Lake, whom we originally met 20 years ago with King Crimson, evolved as a singer? "I only sing the songs that I truly enjoy. And with a little more reserve like in 'Farewell to Arms' (wonderful melody) where everyone expects me to vocally explode... Well! No!
"Wherein my voice is concerned, it is lower and deeper. Just like the emotions of a forty-five year old man..."
- Categorie:
- Arts et culture
- Sujets - La Presse:
- Concerts et spectacles
- Type(s) d'article:
- Critique artistique; Illustration, photo, etc.
- Taille:
- Moyen, 347 mots
- ©1992 La Presse. All rights reserved.
