Emerson, Lake & Powell
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Defunct | 1986 |
| Headquarters | England |
| Products | Studio album, live albums, singles |
Emerson, Lake & Powell (ELP) was a progressive rock ensemble from England, established in 1985 as a variation of the original Emerson, Lake & Palmer lineup. The band issued a single studio album in 1986 through Polydor and Manticore Records. Their debut single, "Touch and Go," achieved a peak position of number 60 on the Billboard charts.
In 1984, Keith Emerson and Greg Lake aimed to revive the original ELP group; however, Carl Palmer was unable to participate due to existing contractual obligations with Asia. After trying out several drummers, they enlisted Cozy Powell, known for his work with Whitesnake and a longtime collaborator of Emerson. By coincidence, the band preserved the ELP initials since Powell's last name also started with "P." Recording sessions were disrupted early on when Emerson’s studio sustained damage, necessitating partial re-recording of material.
The album, bearing the band's name, embraced the traditional ELP sound with lengthy progressive compositions, ballads, and a classical reinterpretation of Holst's "Mars, the Bringer of War," a piece Lake had previously performed with King Crimson. One composition titled "The Score" included lyrical references to ELP’s earlier song "Karn Evil 9." Emerson initially hesitated to record "Mars" but consented after reviewing Powell’s prior performances. Their live setlists featured classics from both ELP and The Nice, such as "Tarkus" and "Lucky Man."
Following their 1986 tour, internal management conflicts led to the group's dissolution before a follow-up album could be produced. Subsequently, Emerson collaborated with Palmer and Robert Berry in the band 3 (formed in 1988). The original ELP trio reunited in 1992 to release Black Moon, an album stylistically reminiscent of the Emerson, Lake & Powell record.
Throughout the 1990s, unofficial live rehearsal tapes and recordings circulated among fans before official remastered editions were issued by Manticore Records in 2003.
Tragically, all three members have since passed away: Cozy Powell died in a car accident in 1998; Keith Emerson took his own life in 2016; Greg Lake succumbed to pancreatic cancer later that same year.
Band members
- Keith Emerson – keyboards, synthesizers (1985–1986; died 2016)
- Greg Lake – vocals, guitars, bass, co-producer (1985–1986; died 2016)
- Cozy Powell – drums, percussion (1985–1986; died 1998)
Discography
- Studio albums
- Emerson, Lake & Powell (1986)
- Live and compilation albums
- Live in Concert (2003)
- The Sprocket Sessions (2003; live rehearsal recordings)
- Live in Concert & More (2012; double CD combining Live in Concert and The Sprocket Sessions)
- The Complete Collection (2024; three-CD set compiling studio and live material)
- Singles
- "Touch and Go/Learning to Fly" (1986)
- "Lay Down Your Guns/Step Aside" (1986)