1951 – Carl Palmer drummer extrodinaire, (ELP/Asia) is born…
on March 20th, 1951 at 11:56 pm
1951 – Carl Palmer drummer extrodinaire, (ELP/Asia) is born this day in rock history.
Carl Palmer (born Carl Frederick Kendall Palmer, 20 March 1950, Handsworth, Birmingham) is an English drummer and percussionist. He is credited as one of the most respected rock drummers to emerge from the 1960s. In addition, Palmer is a veteran of a number of famous English bands, including the Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Atomic Rooster, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and Asia. He has also contributed to works by Mike Oldfield.
Career
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown was begun, predictably, perhaps, by a musician by the name of Arthur Brown. The drummer of the Crazy World of Arthur Brown was originally an artist by the name of Drachen Theaker. However, Theaker had the misfortune to suffer from a very serious case of fear of flying. This meant he could not tour with his bandmates when the time arrived for them to tour overseas. Thus, Theaker was the drummer on the band’s eponymous album, but afterward, Palmer took his place as the band’s drummer, and became a permanent member of the band.
Atomic Rooster
Following his departure from the Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Palmer joined up with Vincent Crane to form a new band, Atomic Rooster. Palmer played on just one album before departing.
Emerson, Lake and Palmer
After meeting up with a pair of other English musicians, Greg Lake, and Keith Emerson, the young musicians felt an “immediate chemistry”, and by 1970, formed a band and began playing in earnest. In naming the new group, the trio chose their last names alphabetically as the band’s name, Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, also shortened to ELP. It was arguably the most successful band in his career. Palmer remained with ELP (as the group became known) until they eventually disbanded in 1980. They developed a sound that merged Art rock, Jazz, Electronica, Pop rock, and Rock and Roll, and found fans within their peers and the public alike, which still lasts today. During that time, creativity between the various instruments each handled professionally was at a peak, and Palmer released only one single of his own, developing a solo career that he managed alongside other figurations of this band and others to come, for the remainder of his career which still lasts today.
Studio Albums
| Year | Title | Billboard album 200 | UK Top 100 | RIAA | BPI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Emerson, Lake & Palmer | 18 | 4 | Gold | - |
| 1971 | Tarkus | 9 | 1 | Gold | - |
| 1972 | Trilogy | 5 | 2 | Gold | - |
| 1973 | Brain Salad Surgery | 11 | 2 | Gold | Gold |
| 1977 | Works, Vol. 1 | 12 | 9 | Gold | Gold |
| 1977 | Works, Vol. 2 | 37 | 20 | Gold | - |
| 1978 | Love Beach | 55 | 48 | Gold | Silver |
| 1992 | Black Moon | 78 | - | - | - |
| 1994 | In the Hot Seat | - | - | - | - |
Live albums
| Year | Title | Billboard album 200 | UK Top 100 | RIAA | BPI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Pictures at an Exhibition | 10 | 3 | Gold | Silver |
| 1974 | Welcome Back My Friends to the Show That Never Ends… Ladies and Gentlemen, Emerson, Lake & Palmer | 4 | 5 | Gold | - |
| 1979 | In Concert | 73 | - | - | - |
| 1993 | Live at the Royal Albert Hall | - | - | - | - |
| 1993 | Works Live | - | - | - | - |
| 1997 | Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 | - | - | - | - |
| 1997 | Live in Poland | - | - | - | - |
| 1997 | King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents: Greatest Hits Live | - | - | - | - |
| 1998 | Then & Now | - | - | - | - |
| 2001 | The Original Bootleg Series from the Manticore Vaults: Volume One | - | - | - | - |
| 2001 | The Original Bootleg Series from the Manticore Vaults: Volume Two | - | - | - | - |
| 2002 | The Original Bootleg Series from the Manticore Vaults: Volume Three | - | - | - | - |
| 2006 | The Original Bootleg Series from the Manticore Vaults: Volume Four | - | - | - | - |
Compilation albums
| Year | Title | Billboard album 200 | UK Top 100 | RIAA | BPI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | The Best of Emerson Lake & Palmer | 108 | - | - | Gold |
| 1982 | The Atlantic Years | - | - | - | - |
| 1993 | The Return of the Manticore | - | - | - | - |
| 1994 | The Best of Emerson Lake & Palmer | - | - | - | - |
| 2000 | The Very Best of Emerson Lake & Palmer | - | - | - | - |
| 2001 | Fanfare for the Common Man – The Anthology | - | - | - | - |
| 2003 | Reworks: Brain Salad Perjury | - | - | - | - |
| 2004 | The Ultimate Collection | - | - | - | - |
| 2007 | The Essential Emerson, Lake & Palmer | - | - | - | - |
| 2007 | From the Beginning | - | - | - | - |
| 2007 | Gold Edition | - | - | - | - |
Videos
- Isle of Wight Festival 1970′ (Laserdisc 1971)
- Pictures at an Exhibition (Tape & DVD, 1986)
- The Manticore Special (Video tape, 2003)
- Works Orchestral Tour (Video tape, 2003)
- Live at the Royal Albert Hall (DVD, 2003)
- Welcome Back …. (DVD, 2003)
- Masters From The Vaults (DVD, 2004)
- Live At Montreux 1997 (DVD, 2004)
- Beyond The Beginning (DVD, 2005)
- Pictures At An Exhibition – 35th Anniversary Special Edition (DVD, 2005)
- The Manticore Special; Works Orchestral Tour (DVD, 2005)
- The Birth Of A Band – Isle of Wight 1970 (DVD, 2006)
- Live At The Royal Albert Hall (DVD, 2009)[5]
Singles
| Year | Title | Billboard Hot 100 | U.S Mainstream Rock | UK Top 100 | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | “Lucky Man” | 48 | - | - | Emerson, Lake & Palmer |
| “Stones of Years” | - | - | - | Tarkus | |
| 1972 | “Nutrocker (live)” | 70 | - | - | Pictures at an Exhibition |
| “From the Beginning” | 39 | - | - | Trilogy | |
| 1973 | “Jerusalem” | - | - | - | Brain Salad Surgery |
| 1977 | “Fanfare for the Common Man (edit)” | - | - | 2 | |
| “C’est La Vie” | 91 | - | - | ||
| 1978 | “Watching Over You” | - | - | - | Works, Vol. 2 |
| “All I Want Is You” | - | - | - | Love Beach | |
| 1979 | “Peter Gunn (live)” | - | - | - | In Concert |
| 1992 | “Black Moon” | - | - | - | Black Moon |
| “Affairs of the Heart” | - | - | - |
Asia
Palmer followed Emerson, Lake and Palmer, with a new band called P.M., however he left that project in favour of Asia with former members of Yes, King Crimson, and Buggles.
Band: 3
Palmer and Emerson combined again, this time with American guitarist and singer Robert Berry, to form a group called 3. The trio released one relatively unsuccessful album in 1987.
Reunions
Palmer later rejoined the newly-reformed ELP in 1992 for Black Moon, In the Hot Seat, a box set, as well as several DVDs and the subsequent tours. Following the final break-up of ELP in 1998, Palmer worked with Asia’s John Wetton in the band Qango, and subsequently toured with his ‘Carl Palmer Band’ featuring Paul Bielatowicz on guitar and Stuart Clayton on bass. In addition to these tours, he has released four “new” albums, most notably Working Live Vol. I & II as well as an anthology album.
Influences
Having played with a variety of bands, including various annonymous schoolboy bands as a youth, Palmer’s influences were gathered from a wide range of musical influences. Among Palmer’s early drumming influence were Joe Morello Philly Joe Jones, Art Blakey, Gene Krupa,and Buddy Rich. Inspiration from their technique can be heard in his own drumming style, which was initially influenced more from jazz than any other genre. Known for his technical prowess, another of Palmer’s trademarks inclded solos in many of his performances. His later work in Asia saw a more basic approach, although he began to play double bass drums more frequently during that period, and was one of the first drummers to be inducted into the Modern Drummer Magazine Hall of Fame.
Ringo Starr purchased and donated Palmer’s 2½ ton stainless steel drum kit. Although none of the groups Palmer performed with are yet in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the drums already there on display in Cleveland with an apparent expectation that he will be meeting them there.
Most recent work
Carl Palmer in 2008
In recent years, Palmer has performed a series of drum clinics across the UK, Europe and United States. Highlights of Palmer’s live drum solo over the years have included the use of both gongs and tambourines, and also his ability to extract himself from his t-shirt while playing complex double bass drum patterns; the latter leaving him stripped to the waist to play the final part of his show. The removal of his shirt was a major attraction in Palmer’s drum solos during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. On recent tours, however, his shirt has remained on throughout his performances.
Palmer is currently on tour with the original line-up of Asia, celebrating their 25th anniversary. A live album and DVD from the tour, entitled Fantasia was released by Eagle Rock Records.
Discography
Emerson, Lake & Palmer studio albums
Year Title Billboard album 200
1970 Emerson, Lake & Palmer 18 4 Gold -
1971 Tarkus 9 1 Gold -
1972 Trilogy 5 2 Gold -
1973 Brain Salad Surgery 11 2 Gold Gold
1977 Works, Vol. 1 12 9 Gold Gold
1977 Works, Vol. 2 37 20 Gold -
1978 Love Beach 55 48 Gold Silver
1992 Black Moon 78 – – -
1994 In the Hot Seat – – – -
Emerson, Lake & Palmer live albums
Year Title Billboard album 200
1971 Pictures at an Exhibition 10 3 Gold Silver
1974 Welcome Back My Friends to the Show That Never Ends… Ladies and Gentlemen, Emerson, Lake & Palmer 4 5 Gold -
1979 In Concert 73 – – -
1993 Live at the Royal Albert Hall – – – -
1993 Works Live – – – -
1997 Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 – – – -
1997 Live in Poland – – – -
1997 King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents: Greatest Hits Live – – – -
1998 Then & Now – – – -
2001 The Original Bootleg Series from the Manticore Vaults: Volume One – – – -
2001 The Original Bootleg Series from the Manticore Vaults: Volume Two – – – -
2002 The Original Bootleg Series from the Manticore Vaults: Volume Three – – – -
2006 The Original Bootleg Series from the Manticore Vaults: Volume Four – – – -
