Keith Emerson and the Mellotron

Jim Garten wrote: Interesting quotes earlier regarding the threat to classical musicians' jobs; the Mellotron was originally conceived as a studio instrument (which is probably why they were notoriously unreliable when exposed to the rigours of a rock tour - a bit like classical musicians ) & when the BBC in England started using them occasionally in the 1960's, there was an uproar from the Musicians Union, claiming they were trying to replace 'proper' musicians (which is ironic, given the amount of backing tracks, overdubs & miming now employed ) Great pic Zafreth - Emerson doesn't look impressed, does he? zafreth wrote: Greg: He, he, he - sounds like a flute... Keith: Mutter, mutter, mutter, wouldn't last 5 minutes with a couple of knives in the keyboard - where's me 'ammond?

jajajaja

Interesting quotes earlier regarding the threat to classical musicians' jobs; the Mellotron was originally conceived as a studio instrument (which is probably why they were notoriously unreliable when exposed to the rigours of a rock tour - a bit like classical musicians ) & when the BBC in England started using them occasionally in the 1960's, there was an uproar from the Musicians Union, claiming they were trying to replace 'proper' musicians (which is ironic, given the amount of backing tracks, overdubs & miming now employed )

Great pic Zafreth - Emerson doesn't look impressed, does he?

zafreth wrote:

Greg: He, he, he - sounds like a flute...

Keith: Mutter, mutter, mutter, wouldn't last 5 minutes with a couple of knives in the keyboard - where's me 'ammond?

When I usually think of Keith, I think of a man who can play rockin' keyboard solos on whatever object is handy (need be, he will use a series of empty booze bottles). I absolutely never realized this until now, no mellotron! (well maybe there are tidbits at certain parts, but I can't remember any!)

Long live his weapons of choice: Moog / Hammond!

 So dosn't Rick Wakeman use one a lot though? Expetially like on tails to create all the atmospherics? is that what im hearing...if so that makes sense why Kieth would't use one, I mean, it often seems more for the background atmospherics, not so much for a lead.

rileydog22 wrote: Emerson refused to use one because he felt that it cost classical musicians their jobs.

Bizarre, Keef. So every rock band that had a 'Tron was denying a classical musician a spot in the band??

Weston wrote: Keith wrote an autobiography?  Cool.  I gotta look for that.  I truely enjoyed Zappa's biography and I I wish Ian Anderson would write one.   As for the Trilogy string part (assuming we're talking about the very brief violin sound during the swelling soft section with piano)  I always wondered what that was.  I knew it wasn't mellotron and thought it might actually be real violin processed somehow to make it spacier.  I'd say his Moog sounded more violin-like than many synths today.

Yeah, his autobiography got some rather guarded and mixed reviews but I really enjoyed it and it's certainly worth having a look at. Strangely enough, I think he also mentions either in that book or an interview that he thinks now the violin impersonation really 'sucks'
However, I agree with you Weston, for 1972 it's probably tho most realistic attempt anyone had managed thus far using a synth ?

In his autobiography 'Pictures of an Exhibitionist' Keith states that there is a Mellotron used on 'Abaddon's Bolero' from Trilogy but is relegated to a barely audible track on the final mix. He has also stated that ELP did attempt this tune live on a couple of occasions using a taped backing plus 'click track' but were so chastened by the shambolic results that they never dared another attempt. (Although one version which they introduce under a different title, is definitely included on the 'Manticore Bootlegs' collection and although nothing special, it sounds OK)
Further to that, Emerson also claims that he taught Lake some simple parts for the latter to play on the 'tron for a planned live version ?

But old men forget don't they ?

BTW Fuxi: From another old man's memory (mine) I think Keith states that the violin impersonation on the 'Trilogy' intro is that of his erstwhile Moog Modular system. Interestingly, the Musicians Union in the UK tried to have the Moog banned (presumably because they were hoodwinked by the instrument's advertising campaign at the time which proclaimed the beast to be able to 'replace a whole orchestra etc)

All joking aside, and as Emerson has observed to his cost over the years:
there is surely nothing colder and more devoid of feeling than that of an orchestral session player with one eye on the manuscript and the other on the studio clock ?

Weston wrote: rileydog22 wrote: Emerson refused to use one because he felt that it cost classical musicians their jobs.   How could he have been so wrong?  The mellotron doesn't sound like an orchestra.  It sounds like a mellotron.  That's what's so cool about it.   On the other hand, you can't play them very fast or virtuoso (at least I don't think you can), so maybe it wouldn't have fit Emerson's style anyway.

Mellotron indeed has it's own distinctive character, but  I don't think that's what they reckoned in early 70s; it was just a keyboard the mimes an orchestra. (and pretty accurate at that, in the pre-sampler era).

There are some "disadvantages" in melly's keyboard action (limited sustain, unability to perform fast 16th notes, all due to tape rewinding), so I'm not surprised at all virtuoso Emerson refused to play one.

There are some rumours that Mellotron was used here and there on overdubbed sections of Trilogy, but that's rubbish. (urban prog legend)


Perhaps it would be interesting to hear (some) ELP material arranged with Mellotron, I certainly like it more than cheesy Yamaha GX of late seventies..


Edited by clarke2001 - June 10 2008 at 01:49

rileydog22 wrote: He has stated that he refuses to use the 'tron for that reason.  The second part is mine, though it is true.

I'm a fan but never thought about him not using a Mellotron.  I guess he just liked to play with his organ more