# RIP, Keith Emerson **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 11, 2016, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-keith-emerson/748683 "2016-03-11T19:51:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-keith-emerson/748683/1 "2016-03-11T19:51:12Z")
I just saw the news on the ELP Facebook page. What an amazing keyboard player he was. I’ll be spending the rest of workday listening to ELP. I only got to see him in concert once, as part of the short lived Emerson, Lake, and Powell tour. > **[Keith Emerson of Emerson Lake and Palmer Dies](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/keith-emerson-dies/)** > > Keith Emerson of Emerson Lake and Palmer died on March 10, 2016 in Santa Monica, Calif. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-keith-emerson/748683/2 "2016-03-11T19:59:15Z")
This is a tragic loss for the music world. It’s a big loss for me personally as well, as Emerson was a huge inspiration to me in my own musical development. Farewell Keith. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-keith-emerson/748683/3 "2016-03-11T20:00:53Z")
Sad news. I’m glad to see he lived to be 71, though. He had a long and fulfilling life. That seems to be the trend now, a rocker living to an advanced age instead of dying in their 20s. That makes their deaths a little easier to accept. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-keith-emerson/748683/4 "2016-03-11T20:06:45Z")
[RIP, Keith Emerson.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hv5kAOWKpY) ☹ ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-keith-emerson/748683/5 "2016-03-11T20:11:43Z")
Aw, man! The icons of my youth are dropping like flies. I guess the show that never ends…has ended. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-keith-emerson/748683/6 "2016-03-11T20:16:21Z")
I was a big fan of ELP when the first came out, and I still love the way Emerson did rock versions of classical music. Certainly flashy, but he could back it up with his playing. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-keith-emerson/748683/7 "2016-03-11T20:27:41Z")
I only “discovered” ELP a few years ago, but “Karn Evil 9” is one of my favorite compositions of all time by any musician/band/act of any era. The world is lessened by the loss of someone who was capable of producing a work of such magnitude and excellence. RIP, Keith. Your grave has no need of flowers; the tapes have recorded your name. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-keith-emerson/748683/8 "2016-03-11T20:39:43Z")
[…please, be someone else named Keith Emerson…please, be someone else named Keith Emerson…] _Noooooooooo!!!_ ☹ [RIP, Mr. E.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjkD39dCvBI) ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-keith-emerson/748683/9 "2016-03-11T21:03:58Z")
Damn Damn Damn! I discovered ELP in the early 90s when I was in HS. They were the first of the big prog bands I learned of and I instantly became a huge fan. I think Brain Salad Surgery (the album) is a total masterpiece. I was fortunate enough to see them live (I think twice actually) and they were incredibly tight. Rest well Keith. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-keith-emerson/748683/10 "2016-03-11T22:22:31Z")
I’m so sorry to hear this. Saw them back in the early 90’s. What a great show. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-keith-emerson/748683/11 "2016-03-11T22:34:50Z")
Sorry to hear that… Tangentially-related, he had a pretty nice house… > **[Is this the most perfect house in Britain? Colourful history revealed of...](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2348768/Is-perfect-house-Britain-Colourful-history-revealed-timber-framed-country-pile-worth-2-25m-home-JM-Barrie.html)** > > Set in five acres of rolling Sussex countryside, Stonehill House has been home to some of Britain's most famous artists, musicians and writers. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-keith-emerson/748683/12 "2016-03-11T23:44:52Z")
His death is being investigated as a possible suicide. ☹ > **[Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake & Palmer Dead at 71 of Suicide](https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/keith-emerson-dead-emerson-lake-palmer-7127455/)** > > Keith Emerson, one of the most legendary keyboardists in rock history thanks to his work in Emerson, Lake & Palmer and The Nice, died at age 71 on March 10, according Emerson, Lake & Palm… ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-keith-emerson/748683/13 "2016-03-11T23:50:09Z")
Well, crap! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-keith-emerson/748683/14 "2016-03-11T23:53:58Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > His death is being investigated as a possible suicide. ☹ > > [Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake & Palmer Dead at 71 of Suicide | Billboard](http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7127455/keith-emerson-dead-emerson-lake-palmer) Gunshot wound to the head? Considering that, I certainly _hope_ it’s suicide… I wonder what would have brought that on. He had some problems with tendinitis but no other medical issues or mental illness that I’m aware of. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-keith-emerson/748683/15 "2016-03-12T00:40:53Z")
☹ ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-keith-emerson/748683/16 "2016-03-12T00:41:11Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Sad news. I’m glad to see he lived to be 71, though. He had a long and fulfilling life. That seems to be the trend now, a rocker living to an advanced age instead of dying in their 20s. That makes their deaths a little easier to accept. 71 is not an advanced age! I liked ELP, though not at their most bombastic. Keyboards add a lot of needed texture to rock. Emerson was clearly a major name in that world. This has been a terrible year for classic rock and we’re not even up to the Ides of March\*. \*who are all still alive. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-keith-emerson/748683/17 "2016-03-12T00:45:42Z")
2016-The Year the Music Died. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-keith-emerson/748683/18 "2016-03-12T01:15:50Z")
I liked ELP I did not know they were still together. In the 70s they tried a tour with an orchestra but quickly found out it was costing way too much. I think they dropped the orchestra after 10 or so shows. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-keith-emerson/748683/19 "2016-03-12T01:45:56Z")
Sorry for his passing. Wan’t a big fan but appreciated his playing. > [@](#): > > Since, Emerson had regularly collaborated with Marc Bonilla. If you get the chance, check out Marc Bonilla’s **EE Ticket** , with Keith playing piano. \*Phenomenal \*record! ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-keith-emerson/748683/20 "2016-03-12T02:32:29Z")
Oh god DAMN it. Really fucking hate this. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-keith-emerson/748683.md?page=2)