Pictures of an Exhibitionist

by Keith Emerson

Keyboard legend Keith Emerson is one of the most important figures to emerge from the thriving rock scene of the sixties and seventies. Fusing rock ‘n’ roll with classical, jazz, and world music, he has set a standard by which others are judged. With Greg Lake and Carl Palmer, he formed the hugely successful Emerson, Lake and Palmer, who, between 1970 and 1977, released six platinum albums. Now in this insightful and irreverent memoir, Emerson tells uproarious tales of life on the road, tales of the high lifestyle that goes with being a rock star, and of course, tales of the outrageous, barrier-shattering music he produced.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Katok · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was intense! I am again biased, but maybe as most of the readers of an autobiography of the great musician. Especially now - when there are not many available copies and those on ebay and amazon are quite pricey, so only the hardcore fans buy them. I'm glad I got one.
I did expect stories of sex, drugs and rock'n'roll - and there are, a lot. Maybe, more of the former than the latter... What I did not expect is that these stories would be presented in such a marvellous style. Keith Emerson mentioned that it was the first thing he had written after school writings; there must be a ghost writer involved, but even so, it is so unmistakably Emo. The expressive and excessive prog god. Full sentences with proper grammar are for ordinary people. Here we have abrupt changes, slipping in and out of the direct speech, wordplay, the silliest possible puns, misplaced modifiers, and shortcuts through the narrative right to the exclamation point. And of course, there are plenty of constructed memories and straightforward mythology.
I did expect I would shed some tears reading this after his tragic death - and shed I did, bounteously... What I did not expect is that I would be laughing, gasping as blushing so much. I don't think I managed to read any page placid faced.
I wanted this book never to end, and it complied, making me stop ever so often for wiping tears of sadness or laughter, for re-reading some parts in disbelief, or for an involuntary facepalm at some other parts.
All rock'n'roll autobiographies that I have read, are prone to sliding into fact-checking at some point, after the artist had reached success and the creative drive gave way to business routine. Recorded this song, with these and these musicians, this album went platinum, then this album... Emo had to include a long list of titles and names too. But overall the book is a wonderfully presented story of one very talented and not too happy man.

[Counsel182 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I tried reading this book before but I never was that much into the Nice (a bit before my time) and was a bit distracted by the "rambunctious" behavior of ELP. It was frankly discouraging how frank Keith was...with his recent suicide I felt compelled to try and pick up the book again. God, a bit painful....I would have loved the opportunity to take him upside the head and say, "WTF...you are like Mozart why are you not doing what makes you happy?"

I was a huge fan of the band (back in the day) but God...am I "stupid" for thinking these guys were so horrible to women that I plainly have a lower opinion of them and their music because of it? Keith also portrays Greg as a royal arse hole...it was a wonder they were able to even speak again after the book was written.

I'm not so sure Keith should have written this book. I'm not so sure no matter how well intentioned it should be made into a film...do a film version of Tarkus instead for god's sake.

Keith closes the book with some stuff that is very telling...especially in light of his suicide....wish he were here.

[Joe Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing, but juvenile, compendium of tales on the road: bouts with the clap, infidelity towards the wife, narcissism, and a sprinkling of amusing anecdotes. Not really a whole lot of information on the inner-workings of ELP and their interactions with their fellow musicians. A lot of information on The Nice, though. I could have done with a lot less focus on Lee Jackson's sexual exploits. Emerson was obviously, a troubled but supremely talented guy who eventually committed suicide despite experiencing all of the trappings of being an international rock star. RIP and pass the mudshark!

[J.T. Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only is keith a brilliant player, he write well too.
The words flowed from the page and I read it in one day.
It also made me laugh a great deal. Probably about time I read it again.

[Vallin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why ELP is the greatest band in history!

[John De Marchi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a hard time finding this book. It is no longer in publication. I got the book from eBay. Great book. Keith Emerson penned an interesting autobiography about himself. He talks about the days when he was with The Nice especially the burning of the American flag. He moved on to form one of the most successful Progressive Rock Band Emerson, Lake and Palmer. He talks about his conflicts with Greg Lake sometimes. He talks about all their discography and he also talks about his solo projects in the 1980's. I also read Greg Lake's autobiography 'Lucky Man' and he talks about their manager in the US Dee Anthony and he mentions how he was part of the mob. Keith didn't dwell to deep about Dee Anthony. Keith tells it as it is, he talks about how he was involved with Hell Angel'. He also gets into their wild parties like cocaine use. Greg Lake never talks about that. Keith had a lot more to talk because he ended the book just after the Works tour and the making of the Love Beach album which was a disaster. He could of continued when the band toured in the 1990's and he never talks about their Black Moon and Hot Seat album. There is a big void during that timeline. Hopefully, Carl Palmer will publish his autobiography someday.

[Adam Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

At times entertaining but mostly this 'tell-all' by the keyboard great is disappointing.
I found out nothing about the other members of ELP or the inner workings of the band's music. The band's reunion in the 90s is reduced to a few paragraphs on the last page.
This is not a book that will help the critics understand ELP- just hate them more for their crassness and bad taste.
Emerson seems to be desperately trying to appeal to naysayers who deemed the band 'uncool' by boasting about copious drug-taking, slimy sexual conquests with endless groupies, and showing off all his great reviews. Exhibitionist indeed.

[Mike Farmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating book by my largest music hero.
That said, it was a bit disappointing about his infidelity, and completely disappointing to read about his homophobia.
That said, at least I appreciate his candor, and he had some wild times that were fun to read about.
Also disappointing was how the last 15 or so years covered in the book were reduced to a few short paragraphs.
Yet my augographed copy will remain my prized possession.

[Andy · Rating 2 out of 5]

If anyone can lay claim to being the father of prog(ressive) rock, it's Keith Emerson. Formerly the leader of art-psych band The Nice and more notorious for the obscenely excessive Emerson, Lake & Palmer, his memoirs are poorly written, mucho typos like "Syd Barratt", kinda conceited, and frankly pretty dull. My recommendation: listen to the records if you're so inclined, but there's no big tale to tell here.

[Thomas Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yet another conversational autobiography, which I found to be irritating in that I wanted specifics. His recounting of the ELP period was far less that what I would have wanted. But his stories of the "The Nice" were exhaustive. Yet another rock autobiography disappointment.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humorous and charming