The Most Violent Keyboard Solo Ever

If this isn’t the most violent keyboard solo ever, I don’t know what is. 

ELP’s Keith Emerson delivers the type of full-bodied solo that helped redefine the role of keyboards in rock. 

Captured in Belgium in 1971, Emerson first throws the keyboard around and then drops it onto his body for a little simulated sex.

Then he stabs it a knife, plays a few wailing riffs, stabs it with more knives and jumps on it. Finally, Emerson throws a knife at his piano for good measure. 

Don’t try this at home!

14 thoughts on “The Most Violent Keyboard Solo Ever

  1. This was vandalism…was he stoned? I hope that he fixed it after some live shows and didn’t just throw it away…The fact is that it was a very durable instrument though…

  2. Keith Emerson is brilliant beyond compare. ELP’s music is a direct influence on Final Fantasy’s battle tunes, and many people don’t realize this. It was a revelation to hear Tarkus and then make this connection.

    Thanx for sharing this vid, I actually heard stories of this in Keyboard mag years ago, but didn’t think to look it up when YouTube got invented. =)

  3. Keith was doing this same kinda schpiel in the 2000’s. I’ve seen ELP play 3 times and he always did this. Great stuff. Dunno how anyone can play a keyboard upsidedown.

  4. Yes that is a great solo! I always was a littlesorry for keyboardists because they can't maneuver around like you can with a guitar! Keith sure changed that! Altho this is just a piece of that performance! The whole 18:30 version is on "The Live Broadcasts" with a great drum solo in the middle! Gotta watch the whole thing! ELP at it early best!

  5. Yes that is a great solo! I always was a littlesorry for keyboardists because they can't maneuver around like you can with a guitar! Keith sure changed that! Altho this is just a piece of that performance! The whole 18:30 version is on "The Live Broadcasts" with a great drum solo in the middle! Gotta watch the whole thing! ELP at it early best!

  6. Hey Macalexter! Yes it's the user formerly known as ELP. Just wanted to let you know I finally got the "In The Hot Seat" album! THX for the encouragement! 🙂

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