Once again we have sad news to report in Metal world, last Friday it was announced that the legendary keyboardist and leading Progressive icon Keith Emerson had died. We now have a confirmation that his death was in actual fact a suicide.
Found dead last week with a self inflicted gun shot wound, at 71 the genius composer passed away. The County Of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner’s decreed other significant causes of death were the slower killers of heart disease brought on by alcohol and sadly depression.
Emerson’s girlfriend stated that the man had come from worrying about a forthcoming tour in Japan due to the keyboardists hands making it difficult for him to play. It transpires that the keys master’s right hand and arm were giving the man grief, after a successful operation the nerve issues and pain worsened. In even worse news, Keith was sensitive towards the comments that were issued under some of his videos of people stating “I wish he would stop playing” and the like and ultimately, understanding that he would never be able to play perfectly again took his own life. The news that Emerson had died had not come as a shock to band member Greg Lake knowing that Emerson had been battling depression for years and had somewhat become a shell of what he once was.
Truly horrific news, depression needs to be understood as one of the most severe mental illnesses out there. I think I can speak for everyone when I say that every single person reading this article has someway or another been affected by depression. Recently it has seen the likes of the genius of Robin Williams also take his own life. Perhaps the illness aided his decision in the end but its also pertinent to remember that just because you are behind a computer, writing hurtful comments are truly detrimental not only to the man’s career but clearly his self esteem. Particularly as Emerson was an absolute perfectionist, I for one will be listening to some ELP today.
Rest In Peace Keith Emerson, your Prog Rock legacy will live on and you will always have the perfection of your recordings.
