Co-founder of the iconic rock group Emerson, Lake, and Palmer passed away today at age 69. Rolling Stone reported that Lake had been in a long battle with cancer. Before ELP, Lake was also a member of the prog rock band King Crimson. Keith Emerson, another co-founder passed away about 9 months ago.
While the group did have substantial commercial success, Lake was quoted in The Guardian as saying “We never had any commercial or financial intentions, but of course, now everyone wants to know how it feels to receive all the lovely royalties, which are apparently delivered by wheelbarrow by Santa himself, after a long day climbing down everybody’s chimneys.”
The group split in 1979 and Lake began a successful solo career, collaborating with musicians like Gary Moore. Emerson and Lake regrouped in the eighties and eventually Palmer joined in as well. They played through the nineties and had an official reunion in 2010.
Greg Lake discusses the influence of ELP.