Stuttering Start For Emerson-Lake Tour
First three tour dates cancelled
In terms of inauspicious starts to a tour, you don’t get much worse that cancelling the first three shows, but that’s exactly what happened to the Keith Emerson and Greg Lake tour last week.
With the past history of ELP being what you could call "temperamental”, the Keith Emerson and Greg Lake tour was always going to come under some scrutiny and some pressure.
And when the first three shows of the duo’s North American tour were cancelled at the last minute (the first show was actually cancelled 40 minutes after the scheduled START time, meaning that the near capacity audience was mostly in their seats at the Civic Auditorium in Lakewood) the worst was feared.
A post on his official website from Keith Emerson at the weekend didn’t exactly explain what had happened, and actually fuelled rumours of a major bust-up between himself and Lake.
"I must apologise for the very last-minute cancellation of the show in Lakewood, and also of Glenside and Ridgefield shows, and for my absence of an issuance of any sort of statement.
"The production we had hoped to put on was lacking in its musical and technical preparations. I was too distraught and embarrassed to come on stage to perform or even to announce the sudden cancellation myself, and to issue a statement immediately. What we were embarking upon was completely new ventures for both of us. I could not appear in front of an audience with high-expectations unprepared. At that particular time, the quality of music I wished to present was more important to me than my reputation or financial gain. I now realize fully that the decision had a devastating effect on many including fans, my crew, staff, the promoters and the venues.
"I will make every effort to fulfill our commitments to fans and friends at the re-scheduled dates in May for the cancelled shows.
"I realize that I have disappointed my loyal fans. I know that many of you have traveled afar, used your precious vacation days, and spent your hard-earned money just to see the show. I am very sorry not only to those who came to Lakewood and those who bought tickets for Glenside and Ridgefield shows, but also all fans for whom I have deep respect.”
The Cleveland Scene also reported that the cancellation was due to a row between the pair, quoting a Live Nation rep as saying "Holy hell... What a night! Something between the 2 of them happened, caused them to cancel the show - I'm still waiting on final details on what happened.”
But whatever happened doesn’t appear to have derailed the tour (aside from the first three shows), with the duo making a belated live debut at the Ram’s Head in Annapolis last night for a well received show.
The two prog legends played a set of ELP classics and held a Q&A with the audience, with both bandmates apparently jovial and with no signs of animosity between them.
Here’s the set from last night:
From The Beginning
I Talk To The Wind
Take A Pebble
Tarkus
(Intermission)
Cest La Vie
Bitches Crystal
America/Rondo
(Q&A)
Pirates
Lucky Man
The cancelled shows are now due to be rescheduled for the end of the current tour, and EL will be reunited with P for the High Voltage Festival in London this July. The much anticipated reunion of Emerson, Lake & Palmer takes place on Sunday 25 July.