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Pete Sinfield, 80.

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Songwriter, lyricist, Pete Sinfield has passed. Sinfield had an early involvement with progressive rock band King Crimson. Sinfield wore many hats in his years working with Crimson. He wrote song lyrics, helped out with the band’s stage rigging, made suggestions about Crimson’s branding, acted as the resident hipster, providing the other members with ideas about what to wear to fit the image of the times, and even contributed bits of playing EMS VCS 3 synthesizer to the group’s sound.

Eventually, he wore out his welcome with the band and went on to work with Emerson, Lake and Palmer providing more lyrics to their tunes. ELP’s bass player Greg Lake and Sinfield collaborated on Lake’s single, “I Believe in Father Christmas” and had a hit on their hands.

Other names he has been associated with include PFM, Roxy Music, Cher (!) and Bucks Fizz.

A hero to me in my youth. Rest well, Dear Sir.

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GOODBYE, DEAR FRIEND: JOHN WETTON

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Another bass playing giant has left us.  John Wetton enters the ranks of those beloved bass players who have recently passed away.  Chris Squire, Lemmy, and Greg Lake preceded Wetton into the afterlife and all were unique and irreplaceable.

John Wetton always impressed me with his passionate, powerful vocals and his strong, at times, brutal bass chops.  He ripped it up with King Crimson for years and had stints in Roxy Music, Family, UK and Asia.  An utterly immense talent.

I saw this tour of the three piece dynamo known as UK.  They opened for Jethro Tull in Oakland, CA.  Their star shone brightly for a brief few years but they were brilliant in their moment and it is certainly represented here.

John Wetton was a truly memorable performer.

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GREG LAKE – PROG ROCK GREAT PASSES AWAY

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Greg Lake was a legend in the annuls of progressive rock.  He was a co-founder of King Crimson with Robert Fripp.  With the band, Lake was a youthful, energetic lad with a sonorous voice and a powerful bass player.

Although he remained for only one Crimson album, he did the vocals for this particular song on Crimson’s second recorded venture, “In The Wake Of Poseidon”, which I always found very appealing.

Lake would go on to join Keith Emerson and Carl Palmer in ELP (Emerson, Lake and Palmer).  This outfit allowed him to play guitar as well as handle bass and vocal duties.

Greg Lake had a very distinct voice and playing style.  Witness his songs “Lucky Man’, “From The Beginning”, “Still, You Turn Me On”.

Talent like this doesn’t come along everyday.  A true original who can’t be replaced.

2/14/17 – Sad update:  The Grammy Awards ran their “In Memoriam” segment to pay respects to the music industry folks who passed away in the previous year.  Greg Lake’s picture was not included or mention made of his name.  Emerson and Wetton were there but not Lake.  Very sloppy and stupid treatment.

 

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“JERUSALEM” – Emerson, Lake and Palmer

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elp

A rousing, electrified musical number from ’70’s supergroup, Emerson, Lake and Palmer.  I always play this song around Christmas time because it just radiates that time of year for me.  The song itself is an ode to England and its majesty but ignoring the lyrics and listening to the music itself is a Christmas time treat.  If that makes any sense.  Swirling organs and flavorful synthesizer phrasings from Keith Emerson.  Percussion professor Carl Palmer adds his intricate drum fills.  String whiz Greg Lake also provides the shimmering, powerful vocals.  A delight.  Break out the cordials!