Karl Palmer

Karl Palmer

Renowned drummer, known as a member of the bands EMERSON, LAKE
Date of Birth: 20.03.1950
Country: Great Britain

Content:
  1. Early Life and Influences
  2. Early Professional Career
  3. The Crazy World of Arthur Brown and Atomic Rooster
  4. Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP)

Early Life and Influences

Carl Palmer was born on March 20, 1950, into a family of musicians. His grandfather played drums, his grandmother was a cellist in a symphony orchestra, his mother played several instruments, and his father sang, danced, played guitar, and drums. His brother also played guitar and drums, and Carl himself began classical cello lessons.

Karl Palmer

In 1959, the film "Drum Crazy" (also known as "The Gene Krupa Story") made a deep impression on him, and Gene Krupa and drum legend Buddy Rich became his main influences. On his eleventh birthday, he received a drum kit and immediately began exploring the instrument.

Karl Palmer

Early Professional Career

Over the next three years, he studied with local instructor Tommy Canliffe, played in the Midland Light Orchestra on the radio, and performed with his father's dance band. At 14, he joined his first professional band, The Mecca Dance Band, earning £23 a week. At 15, Palmer played in The Motown alongside guitarist Richard King, bassist Len Cox, and vocalist Jeff Brown. The band was later renamed The Craig.

By the age of 16, Palmer was a respected drummer and joined The Thunderbirds with guitarist Albert Lee and keyboardist Dave Greenslade. He said of the band, "Yeah, this was a blues band and also, at the same time, a soul band with saxophones and everything. And we were actually produced by none other than Mick Jagger."

The Crazy World of Arthur Brown and Atomic Rooster

At 18, Carl Palmer joined The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, replacing drummer Drachen Theaker at the height of their success following the hit single "Fire" ("I am the God of Hellfire..."). Palmer toured with the band alongside such acts as the Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, and Iron Butterfly. However, management issues, health problems, and personality clashes led to his departure. Together with guitarist Vincent Crane, he returned to the UK to form Atomic Rooster.

In Atomic Rooster, Palmer enjoyed his first success as a bandleader. The band was well-received by the media and fans, as progressive rock was in high demand in the late 1960s. Their debut album, "Atomic Rooster," reached number 49 on the UK charts, and singles such as "Tomorrow Night" and "Devil's Answer" gained significant popularity. The album showcased Palmer's drumming solos, establishing his reputation as a highly technical and fast drummer.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP)

In 1970, Palmer received a life-changing phone call. Keyboardist Keith Emerson and King Crimson founder Greg Lake invited him to audition for a new group. Palmer was reluctant to leave Atomic Rooster, which was gaining momentum, but he agreed to an audition.

At the audition, all three musicians felt an immediate connection and played exactly the way they wanted to. However, Palmer still had doubts and asked Lake and Emerson for time to think it over. The next day, he accepted their invitation and joined the group.

The newly formed supergroup Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP) had high expectations. In August 1970, they played their first concert in Plymouth while working on their debut album. They then headed to the iconic Isle of Wight Festival. ELP's performance of a rendition of Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" did not live up to the hype. As Palmer said, "Whether we played well or not, I don't really recall, but we certainly went down." This was likely due to the audience's unfamiliarity with their music.

In November, the band released their self-titled debut album. It was a critical and commercial success, reaching number 5 in the UK and number 20 in the US. The single "Lucky Man" became a hit, and the memory of their poor festival performance faded away.

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