According to TMZ, Emerson, Lake & Palmer keyboardist Keith Emerson’s death is being investigated as a suicide.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, Emerson had a single gunshot wound to the head when his girlfriend found him in their home in Santa Monica.
He had recently been suffering from a serious medical problem — a degenerative nerve issue in his right hand … according to TMZ sources. They were told he could only play the keyboard with 8 fingers at this point and knew it was only going to get worse.
As a result, he was struggling with depression.
Emerson passed at the age of 71.
4 Responses
Very sad news. Losing Dio and Lemmy and Jon Lord to degenerative diseases was bad enough and then to hear this news about the legendary Keith Emerson, just too many great musicians we’ve lost and all too many so recently. Keith Emerson was arguably THE greatest rock keyboard player of all time! We can only imagine how he must have felt as he couldn’t come to grips with not being able to perform at the top of his game. We’ve lost rock icons to diseases and we’ve lost them to overdoses, but rarely have we lost one of them to taking their own life. Nonetheless, we should embrace the same position as his band mates in ELP, Greg Lake and Carl Palmer, to remember and celebrate Keith’s life through his MUSIC and the legacy he has left behind. Go ask any modern prog rock synth/keyboard player if Keith Emerson wasn’t a MASSIVE influence on them, Jordan Rudess, Derek Sherinian, Neal Morse, etc. So CRANK UP Karn Evil 9, their entire Brain Salad Surgery album, Works Volume I, Trilogy and in particular, their headlining performance at the California Jam 1974, over the likes of Deep Purple AND Black Sabbath! Rest In Peace Keith Emerson
Metal fans should not overlook the album Cozy Powell did with Keith Emerson and Greg Lake.
From the very first track, you get that thundering sound only Powell could deliver.
Touch and Go
Holy s–t. You’re 71! Retire! Be happy at home with loved ones.