Carl Palmer

Last updated

Carl Palmer
CarlPalmer2014CPB.jpg
Palmer performing in 2014
Background information
Birth nameCarl Frederick Kendall Palmer
Born (1950-03-20) 20 March 1950 (age 74)
Handsworth, Birmingham, England
Genres
OccupationDrummer
Years active1964–present
Labels
Member of
  • Carl Palmer's ELP Legacy
Formerly of
Website carlpalmer.com

Carl Frederick Kendall Palmer (born 20 March 1950 in Handsworth, Birmingham, England) [1] [2] is an English drummer best known as a founding member of the supergroups Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and Asia. He previously was a touring drummer for The Crazy World of Arthur Brown and a founding member of Atomic Rooster. He has toured with his own bands since 2001, including Palmer, the Carl Palmer Band, and currently, Carl Palmer's ELP Legacy.

Contents

Palmer was inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1989, [3] and was awarded the Prog God Award at the 2017 Progressive Music Awards. [4]

Career

Early groups, Arthur Brown, and Atomic Rooster

Palmer began taking drum lessons as a young boy. He took lessons with Britain's best-known classical percussionist of the twentieth century, James Blades. His first band, formed with others from the Midlands area, was originally known as the King Bees, but changed its name to the Craig. In 1966, the band made its first record, "I Must Be Mad", with flip side "Suspense", produced by Larry Page. At this time, Palmer also did his first session work, playing on the song "Love Light" by the Chants, a group from Liverpool. Later in 1966, he was then invited to join Chris Farlowe and the Thunderbirds. [5]

Drachen Theaker was the original drummer for The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, founded by Arthur Brown. Theaker abruptly left the band during a U.S. tour in 1969. Palmer was quickly recruited as a replacement and became a permanent band member. [6]

Vincent Crane was the keyboard player with the Crazy World of Arthur Brown, and both he and Palmer left that group in the summer of 1969 to strike out musically on their own as Atomic Rooster, a trio formed with vocalist/bassist Nick Graham. Palmer reports that Brown himself had "gone missing on a commune on Long Island" and that this was a deciding factor in forming the new band. [7] There were several personnel changes in the band, and their first album was released in early 1970. Meanwhile, Palmer received a call from Keith Emerson to audition for a new group and left Atomic Rooster in the summer of 1970.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Palmer on stage with ELP in 1978 Emerson Lake and Palmer three.jpg
Palmer on stage with ELP in 1978

Palmer met up with two other young English musicians, Greg Lake and Keith Emerson. Emerson had most recently been a member of The Nice, and Lake was in King Crimson, and both wanted to further expand their musical creativity. After discussions with Jimi Hendrix and Mitch Mitchell about forming a group fell apart, [8] they auditioned several drummers, and felt an "immediate chemistry" with Palmer, and by the summer of 1970 they had formed a band. In naming the new group, the trio chose their last names alphabetically – Emerson, Lake & Palmer, also shortened to ELP. The band has been the most successful of his career, and he remained with ELP until they first disbanded in 1979. The band was nominated at the 14th Annual Grammy Awards for Best New Artist, making them the first progressive rock group to achieve this feat. They developed a sound that merged art rock, jazz, electronica, pop rock and classical music and found fans within their peers and the public alike.

Palmer 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. In 1998, the trio split. A one-off ELP performance at the 2010 High Voltage Festival celebrated the 40th anniversary of forming the band. Following the deaths of Emerson and Lake in 2016, Palmer is the only surviving member of ELP.

Asia

Following the first break-up of ELP in 1980, Palmer formed PM with Texas blues rock guitarist John Nitzinger for one album before joining John Wetton and Steve Howe in early 1981, who had been brought together to form a new super-group. They were later joined by Geoff Downes to form Asia. The group was nominated at the 25th Annual Grammy Awards for Best New Artist, making them the second and last progressive rock band to achieve this feat. Palmer became only the second artist to be nominated twice for this award, after David Crosby. Palmer left Asia in 1991 to join the ELP reunion. After several personnel changes the four founding members of Asia including Palmer reunited in 2006.

Palmer has been reunited with the original line-up of Asia since 2006. They celebrated their 25th anniversary, and have since released four new studio albums, Phoenix, in 2008, Omega in 2010, XXX (30) in 2012, and Gravitas in 2014. A live album and DVD from the 2006 reunion tour, entitled Fantasia was released by Eagle Rock Records.

Production credits

The jazz trio Back Door toured with ELP circa 1974, and Palmer began to collaborate with them, producing their fourth album, Activate (1976). Two of the members of the group, saxophonist Ron Aspery and bassist Colin Hodgkinson, co-wrote the song "Bullfrog" with Palmer, also playing (uncredited) on the song, which appears on Works Volume 2 .

Other projects

Palmer performing in 2012 Carl Palmer 2012.jpg
Palmer performing in 2012

Palmer played drums on "Mount Teidi" on Five Miles Out (1982) by Mike Oldfield. Another Oldfield track he performed on, "Ready Mix", remained unreleased until 2001.

Palmer has performed various drum clinics across Europe and the 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 a patron of the British Classic Rock Society, which promotes progressive rock concerts.

In 2001, Palmer formed his own band, initially known as Palmer and then the Carl Palmer Band, featuring guitarist Shaun Baxter and bassist Dave Marks. They were replaced by Paul Bielatowicz and Stuart Clayton, and later by Simon Fitzpatrick, performing instrumental versions of ELP songs as Carl Palmer's ELP Legacy. [9] In 2017, following Emerson and Lake's deaths, the trio embarked on the Emerson, Lake & Palmer Lives On! World Tour. [10]

Carl Palmer performs at William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ, as part of Carl Palmer's ELP Legacy Tour celebrating ELP's 50th Anniversary (November 2021) Carl Palmer performs at William Paterson University.jpg
Carl Palmer performs at William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ, as part of Carl Palmer's ELP Legacy Tour celebrating ELP's 50th Anniversary (November 2021)

In November 2019, Palmer held the Carl Palmer's Prog Rock Camp at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. [11]

In 2019, Palmer performed with Asia and ELP Legacy during The Royal Affair Tour, headlined by Yes. [12]

In 2021, Palmer returned to performing following the COVID pandemic to promote the Carl Palmer's ELP Legacy Tour celebrating ELP's 50th anniversary. In addition to Palmer, the band features Paul Bielatowicz on guitar and vocals; and Simon Fitzpatrick on bass and Chapman stick.

Influences

Having played with a variety of bands, including various anonymous schoolboy bands as a youth, Palmer's style was developed from a wide range of musical influences. Among Palmer's early drumming influences were Joe Morello, Philly Joe Jones, Art Blakey, Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich. [13] Inspiration from their techniques 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 included 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 the eleventh drummer to be inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame. [14]

Personal life

Carl married his first wife, Maureen Fraser, in 1985. She gave birth to his only child, Carissa, now a lawyer. His spouse since 2004 has been Katie, with whom Palmer resides in both Cyprus and the UK. [15] He became vegan in 2010. [16]

Equipment

Drums

In 2011, Ludwig released his "Signature Venus snare drum", made of a green-lacquered brass shell with a 3.7" depth and a 14" diameter. [17]

In 1973, Palmer commissioned British Steel to design a custom stainless steel drum kit using one-half-inch thick shells; [18] the only off-the-shelf equipment were the hoops manufactured by Gretsch. He also had a jeweller engrave the shells with various animals. The kit, along with other percussion instruments and a rotating platform, had a total weight of approximately 2.5 tons and many of the stages on tour had to be reinforced, with some venues cancelling shows because of it. Also, the kit was electronically designed to be "synthesized" to sound like electronic drums. [19] The kit was purchased around 1980 by Ringo Starr for his son Zak, who rarely used it. Ringo put it up for auction in 2015, and it was purchased by David Frangioni, publisher and CEO of Modern Drummer magazine. [20] [21]

Cymbals

Palmer has endorsed Paiste since 1971 and currently uses this cymbal setup :

Heads

Palmer uses Remo drumheads.

Sticks

Pro-Mark produced his first signature drumsticks. They were made of American hickory, with a quite short length (15 7/8") and a diameter between a 5A and a 5B (0.579"). After leaving Pro-Mark, he joined Vater Percussion drumsticks in 2022, who made him a brand new signature stick. The new signature sticks, while still made of American hickory and still having a diameter between a 5A and a 5B (0.580"), brings the length back up to a standard length (16"). [24] [25]

Other

Palmer also uses timpani, tubular bells and tam-tam as usually used in the symphony orchestra. Other percussion he has used include temple blocks, triangle, church bell, vibraslap, electronic percussion synthesizers and ratchet. [26]

Discography

With Emerson, Lake & Palmer

With Asia

Other

YearBandAlbumNotes
1966The CraigI Must Be MadSingle
1966The ChantsLove LightSingle
1967Chris Farlowe and the ThunderbirdsMoanin'Single
1970Atomic Rooster Atomic Roooster Studio
1998Atomic Rooster Devil's Answer 1970–81 BBC Radio sessions
2000Atomic Rooster Live and Raw 70/71 Live
1980PM1:PM [27] Studio
1982Mike Oldfield Five Miles Out Studio
19883 To the Power of Three Studio
20153Live Boston '88Live
2000Qango Live in the Hood [28] Live
2001Carl PalmerCarl Palmer Anthology – Do Ya Wanna Play, Carl?Compilation
2003Carl Palmer BandWorking Live, Volume 1Live
2003Carl Palmer BandWorking Live, Volume 2Live
2006Carl Palmer BandIn Concert: Carl Palmer plays the Music of ELPDVD
2010Carl Palmer BandWorking Live, Volume 3 [28] Live
2011Carl PalmerDrum SolosDVD
2016Carl Palmer's ELP LegacyLive In The USALive
2016Carl Palmer's ELP LegacyPictures At An Exhibition – A Tribute To Keith EmersonDVD
2018Carl Palmer's ELP LegacyLiveLive (CD/DVD)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emerson, Lake & Palmer</span> English progressive rock band

Emerson, Lake & Palmer were an English progressive rock supergroup formed in London in 1970. The band consisted of Keith Emerson (keyboards) of The Nice, Greg Lake of King Crimson, and Carl Palmer of Atomic Rooster. With nine RIAA-certified gold record albums in the US, and an estimated 48 million records sold worldwide, they are one of the most popular and commercially successful progressive rock groups of the 1970s, with a musical sound including adaptations of classical music with jazz and symphonic rock elements, dominated by Emerson's flamboyant use of the Hammond organ, Moog synthesizer, and piano.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keith Emerson</span> English keyboardist, songwriter, and composer (1944–2016)

Keith Noel Emerson was an English keyboardist, songwriter, composer and record producer. He played keyboards in a number of bands before finding his first commercial success with the Nice in the late 1960s. He became internationally famous for his work with the Nice, which included writing rock arrangements of classical music. After leaving the Nice in 1970, he was a founding member of Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP), one of the early progressive rock supergroups.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Nice</span> English progressive rock band

The Nice were an English progressive rock band active in the late 1960s. They blended rock, jazz and classical music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Van Halen</span> American drummer

Alexander Arthur Van Halen is an American musician who was the drummer and a co-founder of the rock band Van Halen, which was formed in 1972 by Van Halen and his younger brother Eddie under the name "Mammoth" before adding Michael Anthony and David Lee Roth in 1974 and changing their name to Van Halen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny Carey</span> American drummer

Daniel Edwin Carey is an American musician and songwriter who is the drummer for the progressive metal band Tool. He has also contributed to albums by artists such as Zaum, Green Jellö, Pigface, Skinny Puppy, Adrian Belew, Carole King, Collide, Meat Puppets, Lusk, and the Melvins.

<i>Pictures at an Exhibition</i> (Emerson, Lake & Palmer album) 1971 live album by Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Pictures at an Exhibition is a live album by English progressive rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer, released in November 1971 on Island Records. It features the group's rock adaptation of Pictures at an Exhibition, the piano suite by Modest Mussorgsky, performed at Newcastle City Hall on 26 March 1971.

<i>Tarkus</i> 1971 studio album by Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Tarkus is the second studio album by English progressive rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer, released on 14 June 1971 on Island Records. Following their debut tour across Europe during the second half of 1970, the group paused touring commitments in January 1971 to record a new album at Advision Studios in London. Greg Lake produced the album with Eddy Offord as engineer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Lake</span> English musician (1947–2016)

Gregory Stuart Lake was an English musician, singer, and songwriter. He gained prominence as a founding member of the progressive rock bands King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP).

<i>Trilogy</i> (Emerson, Lake & Palmer album) 1972 studio album by Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Trilogy is the third studio album by English progressive rock supergroup Emerson, Lake & Palmer, released in June 1972, by Island Records. The group had spent most of 1971 touring, and paused in September so they could record a new album at Advision Studios with Eddy Offord resuming his role as engineer. It would be his last with the group, as he later elected to work full-time with Yes. The album features "Hoedown", an arrangement of Aaron Copland's ballet composition which became a live favourite.

<i>Emerson, Lake & Palmer</i> (album) 1970 studio album by Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Emerson, Lake & Palmer is the debut studio album by English progressive rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer. It was released in the United Kingdom by Island Records in November 1970, and in the United States by Cotillion Records in January 1971. After the group formed in the spring of 1970, they entered rehearsals and prepared material for an album which became a mix of original songs and rock arrangements of classical music. The album was recorded at Advision Studios in July 1970, when the band had yet to perform live. Lead vocalist and bassist/guitarist Greg Lake produced it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joey Castillo</span> American drummer (born 1966)

Joseph William Castillo is an American musician. He is best known for being the drummer of the hard rock band Queens of the Stone Age from 2002 to 2012. He is currently a member of Circle Jerks, The Bronx, DOOM Regulator, Zakk Sabbath and Sugartooth, with former bands including Danzig, Wasted Youth, California Breed, Zilch, and Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3 (1980s band)</span> Progressive rock band

The group 3 were a short-lived progressive rock band formed by former Emerson, Lake & Palmer members Keith Emerson and Carl Palmer and American multi-instrumentalist Robert Berry in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emerson, Lake & Powell</span> English progressive rock band

Emerson, Lake & Powell, sometimes abbreviated as ELP, were an English progressive rock band, considered by many as a variant lineup of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, that released one official studio album in 1986. The album's debut single was "Touch and Go," which peaked at number 60 on the Billboard charts on 19 July 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qango (band)</span> British band

Qango were a short-lived progressive rock band, a spin-off from Asia. In 1999, an attempt was made at a partial reunion of the progressive rock supergroup Asia involving John Wetton, Carl Palmer (drums) and Geoff Downes (keys), with Dave Kilminster to be on guitar. However, Downes withdrew from plans, choosing to stick with John Payne in their Asia line-up. Wetton and Palmer instead formed Qango with Kilminster and John Young on keys. The band's live set was based on songs by Asia and Palmer's former band Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick Keeler</span> American drummer

James Patrick Keeler is an American rock music drummer from Cincinnati, who is best known for playing in The Greenhornes, The Raconteurs, and The Afghan Whigs. He plays with both traditional and matched grips.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abe Laboriel Jr.</span> American drummer

Abraham Laboriel Jr. is an American session musician best known as the drummer and backing vocalist of Paul McCartney's touring band since 2001. He is the son of Mexican bass guitarist Abraham Laboriel, nephew of Mexican rock musician Johnny Laboriel, and brother of record producer, songwriter and film composer Mateo Laboriel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chad Szeliga</span> American drummer

Chad Szeliga is an American drummer from Elyria, Ohio. Formerly the drummer of rock band Breaking Benjamin, he joined Black Label Society in 2013, replacing Mike Froedge. In 2017, Szeliga replaced Jimmy DeGrasso in Black Star Riders, leaving the band in 2021. Szeliga cites Vinnie Colaiuta, John Bonham, Steve Gadd, Dennis Chambers, Tony Williams, Manu Katche, Stewart Copeland and Neil Peart as his main influences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aaron Harris</span> American musician and composer (born 1977)

Aaron Harris is an American musician and composer, best known for his career as the drummer for Los Angeles–based post-metal band Isis. He was with the band from its inception in 1997 to its dissolution in 2010. Since Isis' demise, Harris has become increasingly involved in his career as a composer and producer. His composing work has appeared in projects for A24, Warner Bros., Universal, Disney, Lionsgate, Netflix, NBC, Red Bull and Samsung, among others. As a producer Harris has also worked on records for Palms, Puscifer, Team Sleep, Pelican, Zozobra, Spotlights, Huey, Jakob, The Jezabels and more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fanfare for the Common Man (Emerson, Lake & Palmer song)</span> 1977 single by Emerson, Lake & Palmer

"Fanfare for the Common Man" is an instrumental piece of music adapted and played by the English progressive rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer, from the group's 1977 Works Volume I album. Adapted by Keith Emerson from Aaron Copland's 1942 piece of the same name, it is one of their most popular and enduring pieces.

References

  1. "Biography". Carlpalmer.com. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  2. "Going drum crazy in Brum … Rocker Carl Palmer's memories of Birmingham". Westside Birmingham. 4 March 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  3. "Modern Drummer's Readers Poll Archive, 1979–2014". Modern Drummer . Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  4. "Marillion, Anathema, Steve Hackett among Progressive Music Award winners". teamrock.com. 14 September 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  5. Alan Robinson, Liner notes for Carl Palmer, Anthology: Do ya wanna play, Carl? (Sanctuary Records Group, 2001).
  6. Polly Marshall (2005). The God of Hellfire: The Crazy Life and Times of Arthur Brown. SAF Publishing. ISBN   9780946719778.
  7. "Carl Palmer (ELP), Johnnie Walker's Sounds of the 70s – BBC Radio 2". BBC. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  8. The Harmony Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, ed. Kent & Logan, Salamander Books-Crown Point Publishing, New York, ç1976, p.75
  9. Mastropolo, Frank (13 November 2020). "I'm Still Standing: Carl Palmer — from ELP to ELP Legacy, Art, Documentaries, a Book and More". Rock Cellar Magazine. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  10. "Tour Dates". Carlpalmer.com. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  11. "Carl Palmer Announces His 2019 Prog Rock Camp". Music News Net.
  12. yesadmin (2 April 2019). "YES Announces "The Royal Affair Tour" Launching June 12 In Bethlehem, Pa".
  13. Eder, Bruce (2009). "Allmusic Biography of Carl Palmer". Allmusic. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
  14. "Awards". Carlpalmer.com. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  15. "Emerson, Lake, and Palmer- Anthology pt 3- Greg Lake, Carl Palmer". Inthestudio.net. 25 July 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  16. "Carl Palmer: Hidden in the Art". Classicrockrevisited.com. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  17. "Carl Palmer Official Global Web Site – Ludwig Artist Signature Series – Carl Palmer Snare Drum". Carlpalmer.com. 19 February 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  18. Carl Palmer. Carl Palmer of Emerson, Lake and Palmer and ASIA Talks Stainless Steel Drums. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  19. "Carl Palmer's gear". Brain-salad-surgery.de. Archived from the original on 24 January 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  20. Frangioni, David (March 2022). "Welcome Back My Friends... to another Modern Drummer first!". Modern Drummer . Cedar Grove, Maryland: Modern Drummer Publications Inc. p. 4.
  21. Anonymous (March 2022). "Carl Palmer's 1973 Stainless Steel Kit". Modern Drummer . Cedar Grove, Maryland: Modern Drummer Publications Inc. p. 72.
  22. "Arizona Bay – Essential Drum Kits". Grahamdaviesarizonabay.com. Archived from the original on 25 January 2010. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  23. "The legendary Carl Palmer plays the Korg Wavedrum!". Korg.com. 13 April 2011. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  24. "Vater Welcomes Carl Palmer / ELP Anniversary Model Available". Vater.com. 12 January 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  25. Wissmuller, Christian (12 January 2022). "Carl Palmer Joins as Vater Drumsticks Artist". Musical Merchandise Review. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  26. Germany, Lothar-Michael Köhler, Dortmund. "Carl Palmer's gear". Brain-salad-surgery.de. Archived from the original on 24 January 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  27. "1:PM – Carl Palmer – Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  28. 1 2 "Allmusic ((( Carl Palmer > Discography > Main Albums )))".