Keith Emerson and the Mellotron
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URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=49316
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Topic: Keith Emerson and the Mellotron
Posted By: marktheshark
Subject: Keith Emerson and the Mellotron
Date Posted: June 09 2008 at 20:49
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Question: Has he ever used one?
The Mellotron was, of course, the staple keyboard in early prog. But I don't ever recall him using one. It pretty much was down to the Hammond, Moog, Clavinet, Piano, occasional church organs,various Oberheims and whatever else that came along in the later years. Enlighten me, please! |
Replies:
Posted By: rileydog22
Date Posted: June 09 2008 at 21:01
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Emerson refused to use one because he felt that it cost classical musicians their jobs. Ironic, considering that classical musicians almost cost ELP their jobs! -------------   |
Posted By: marktheshark
Date Posted: June 09 2008 at 21:19
So true! Did he really say that? |
rileydog22 wrote:Posted By: rileydog22
Date Posted: June 09 2008 at 21:22
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He has stated that he refuses to use the 'tron for that reason. The second part is mine, though it is true.
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Posted By: pierreolivier
Date Posted: June 09 2008 at 22:24
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In fact, Keith Emerson use it on one time, during his time with the Nice. The model used was a Mark II. Check this: http://www.planetmellotron.com/revn2.htm#nice - http://www.planetmellotron.com/revn2.htm#nice
ELP also used an M400 during the Trilogy tour but was played by Greg Lake for some special effects. The Greg Lake website used to had a pic from that tour where you clearly see the white M400 mellotron but it was removed a long time ago. The legeng tell that the mellotron burned after 3-4 concerts and the idea of reusing it was dropped.
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: June 09 2008 at 23:38
I'm a fan but never thought about him not using a Mellotron. I guess he just liked to play with his organ more  ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: Weston
Date Posted: June 09 2008 at 23:50
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.
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Posted By: clarke2001
Date Posted: June 10 2008 at 01:48
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.. ------------- |
Posted By: fuxi
Date Posted: June 10 2008 at 04:18
| What synth does Emerson use in the opening bars of TRILOGY's title track? I know it's not a mellotron, but the effect is similar. The idea that he was trying to protect string players doesn't make much sense, in my opinion... |
Posted By: ExittheLemming
Date Posted: June 10 2008 at 05:37
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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 ? ------------- 
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Posted By: Weston
Date Posted: June 10 2008 at 11:10
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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.
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Posted By: ExittheLemming
Date Posted: June 10 2008 at 11:30
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 ? -------------
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Posted By: el böthy
Date Posted: June 12 2008 at 14:50
Snap! ------------- "You want me to play what, Robert?" 
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Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: June 20 2008 at 11:24
Bizarre, Keef. So every rock band that had a 'Tron was denying a classical musician a spot in the band??  ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: Garion81
Date Posted: June 20 2008 at 13:08
If I remember right they were trying to recreate Abadon's Bollero on the Trilogy tour. That is why Lake used it.
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"What are you going to do when that damn thing rusts?" |
Posted By: MikeDupont
Date Posted: June 20 2008 at 23:48
| 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. |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: July 06 2008 at 19:02
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Rick indeed uses the Tron extensively (and well), especially on the two Retro and Retro 2.
------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: OzzProg
Date Posted: July 06 2008 at 19:25
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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! -------------  |
Posted By: Alberto Muñoz
Date Posted: August 13 2008 at 14:45
As far as im concerned Keith did really use one in The Nice days, but he do not like the sound of the Mellotron. So he never want to do it again. BUT... maybe you want to check this photos:
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Posted By: erik neuteboom
Date Posted: August 13 2008 at 16:43
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Great pictures Zafreth, muchas gracias
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Posted By: Alberto Muñoz
Date Posted: August 13 2008 at 16:52
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you're welcome my friend ------------- |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: August 14 2008 at 03:20
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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? 
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? ------------- 
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: August 16 2008 at 03:04
WOW! Cool pix, dude!!  ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: Alberto Muñoz
Date Posted: August 17 2008 at 19:35
jajajaja ------------- |