Greg Lake - The storyteller of progressive rock

Voice, bassist and (almost secretly) producer of the era-defining “In The Court Of The Crimson King” first, then the mastermind and storyteller of Emerson Lake & Palmer. Few people, probably, thinking of the great protagonists of progressive rock, would immediately land on the name Greg Lake. And yet, it was precisely him who produced the first great manifesto of prog. The voice on the unforgettable “21st Century Schizoid Man” was his. And if ELP managed to achieve success beyond even their wildest hopes, reaching well beyond the circle of genre devotees, they owe it above all to those acoustic ballads (“Lucky Man” first, then “From The Beginning”) that bear his signature. More than forty years after his debut with Fripp & co., Lake has embarked on a tour under the banner "An Intimate Night", following in the footsteps of his former bandmate Keith Emerson. An unmissable chance for longtime fans and newcomers alike to savor once more the atmosphere of a historic era, and to converse with a true institution of rock music. On the occasion of one of the Italian dates, we managed to interview him: here's what came out of it.

Why did you decide to go back on tour, after such a long time since your last solo outing?

I decided to go back on tour because I felt the urge to say something, possibly by putting myself on the line again. On top of that, my Italian friend Max Marchini has just written a book about me, and next March my autobiography will be coming out. So, in short, it's a period of deep reflection, of memories and second thoughts: I wanted to bring to the stage an important chunk of my life, if not the most important one - the songs that shaped me and that surely shaped the audience too. That's how the idea for the tour was born, and it's been a huge success in Italy, but it's also gone extremely well in America and Britain.

The "An Intimate Night" project is certainly nothing new for you, seeing as you accompanied your former bandmate Keith Emerson two years ago on a tour with the same format. Do you see it as a new way of thinking about the concert experience, of interacting and approaching the audience?

It really is a whole new dimension for me: it's true that I'm a songwriter, but I was missing something utterly solitary, something to share only with the audience. Here I am on stage, with bass, guitars, keyboard, backing tracks, and you listening to me! I really want to tell the story of how certain songs came about, which tracks left the deepest mark on me as a young man: in short, a reflection on the past, hoping it can be the start of a future journey.

How's the tour going? Are you happy with it?

I'm very happy with it, it's been truly exceptional! Even though I have a lot of experience, I have to admit it isn't easy holding the stage alone, although the songs help me since they're pieces of my own life. The North American audience and my fellow countrymen have shown me thrilling appreciation, while you Italians have confirmed your love with something extra: a great passion. Tomorrow night will be my last Italian date, in Florence, and the five before it were memorable: I'll carry this Italian leg of the tour in my heart forever. I've read that OndaRock is a great webzine, and I want to take this chance to thank all the friends who had the patience to listen to me, who came backstage for photos and autographs: it was wonderful!

I noticed that the tour setlist is full of King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer tracks, while there's almost nothing from your solo work. Why did you opt for this selection?

That's true, I wanted to favor those group moments and relive them on my own, it was a little challenge,

although two songs ("C'est La Vie" and "Lend Your Love Me Tonight") come from "Works Vol. 1", the album on which we split up the sides: those tracks were a hundred percent mine. That wasn't a particularly happy time for rock, a very primitive punk spirit was spreading, and I tried to launch myself with some rock ballads written together with Pete Sinfield: as you can see, I've always loved putting myself out there!

What's it like to play those songs again more than forty years after they were written?

The song is a special, peculiar art form, one that has always defied time. So much so that the setlist even includes a cover of "Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley, which dates from 1956, so it's much older than my own songs! But an artist must always offer their own interpretation, whether very faithful to the original or different and daring. I try to stay in the middle: on one hand I try not to overturn things, on the other I give my own version. From what I see during the shows, this choice goes down really well!

What memories do you have of those experiences?

I always remember them as pleasant experiences, sometimes harder because living together in a band is often complicated, especially when personalities are as strong as those of Emerson, Lake & Palmer. But every song is a piece of history, both personal and universal. Maybe that's the songwriter's magical ability: to capture time and travel through it with his voice, his guitar and the notes that people still love so many years later.

These days there are a lot of bands trying every which way to revive prog, to bring back its atmospheres, and many others who, while tackling different genres, show a strong influence from it... What do you think of prog in 2012?

I'm often credited as the father of prog, even though more than once I've said (and I still believe it) that its true starting point is the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". I was there for two important moments, when King Crimson first broke through and then when Emerson, Lake & Palmer did, when our search for originality and courage was rewarded by audiences and backed by labels. Today, what little remains of the labels only supports reassuring, familiar music, and bands, just to get some space, try to stay faithful to those sounds - it's a shame, because there are extremely skilled musicians out there who could use a bit more boldness. The Italian promoter and press office who have wonderfully supported this tour showed me a lot of great Italian music, many musicians gave me their records (one band even gave me vinyl!), I can see there's a positive buzz, but I'd urge more courage, even if it's hard.

What music do you listen to today? Do you have any favorite groups or artists among the "contemporary" ones?

I listen to a huge amount of music, old and new, also because I wouldn't mind trying my hand as a talent scout and producer. But when I'm looking for something truly important that can move me and guide me, I inevitably end up going back to the past. I immediately think of the Beatles: there's so much magic in their music!

What's your relationship with Italy? Do you enjoy playing here?

Italy has a special flavor for me! In Piacenza we held the press conference in the Sala dei Teatini and the concert at the Teatro Municipale: magnificent! So much art, so much spirituality, even though many people tell me you're struggling because of political and social issues. Despite that, you've been excellent at preserving your history. Ever since the days of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, with the first shows back in 1971, Italian audiences have always been very devoted, and this time too I got a fantastic response!

Photographs by Franz Soprani

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