Carl Palmer preserves Emerson, Lake, and Palmer’s legacy

Founding member of both Emerson, Lake, and Palmer and Asia, and drummer extraordinaire, Carl Palmer, is on a North American jaunt with his current trio. Palmer caught up with Creative Loafing via email to discuss his fine art project, joining ELP, his stainless steel drum kit, and teaching the blind to drum.

Can you explain some of your processes for the Rhythm of Light art series?

I was approached by an L.A. company called Scene 4. They had been working with some
drummers like Rick Allen from Def Leppard and Steve Smith. They developed an art
process whereby I could play my drums in a pitch black dark room using drumsticks
with LED lights in them. They photographed me using multiple cameras and with the
apature open for about 30 seconds. The result are these striking images painted with
light. They are printed on an art canvas and we limit them to around 10 each. Before they
are sold, each one is signed by me. I have had two collections, with the first, “Twist of the Wrist” being essentially sold out. The newest is called The “Rhythm Of Light” and
that is doing great.

Was it a difficult decision to leave Atomic Rooster and join ELP? How did you know it was the right move?

I knew ELP would be a great band because Keith Emerson had been a star in the Nice
and Greg Lake had been famous from King Crimson. Both were amazing writers and
musicians and we had a dynamic first jam/rehearsal. Atomic Rooster was just getting
started, but I believed ELP could be a much bigger band. Ironically, just after I left
Atomic Rooster had a #1 record- so then I thought I had blown it. But in the end, it
worked out and ELP ended up being one of the biggest bands in the world in its heyday.

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Is your stainless steel kit sitting in storage somewhere? Does it now belong to Zak
Starkey? Are you concerned with it finding a proper place to be placed on view?

I sold it to Ringo Starr, who bought it for Zak. It is in Ringo’s warehouse at the moment,
but there has been a lot of effort into getting it on display at the Rock ‘n’ Roll
Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland. Hopefully, it can end up there.

What makes you gravitate towards the Ludwig Vistalites over something more traditional like maple shells?

Ludwig was my first kit and I have gone back to them. They made the current chrome set
I am using. For me its about the sound and the sturdiness of the kit. Ludwig makes a
great product, so that is why I am with them. I designed a special snare drum for Ludwig
called The Carl Palmer Venus snare drum. It has a metal shell and is thin in
depth. It is what I use on stage and it has become a big seller for them.

Are you still teaching deaf and blind student seminars? Can you explain the effects that the vibrations of rhythm have on those who cannot hear?

I came up with a program that the Association for the Blind in Britain are still using. We do an event where we give large numbers of blind students these hand drums. We came up with a way for the blind students to have a communal drum experience, which is one of the few things they can do as a large group of blind people working together. I find this work very rewarding.

H. R. Giger was a friend as well as an artist you truly appreciated. If there is one central theme you took from his work, what would you consider it to be?

I admired him as a person and an artist. His work was dark and often cryptic but it
was very compelling. If there was one thing I took from his work that I have tried to
incorporate into mine it was to make images that you are compelled to study. The subtle
touches in his art were what made it so amazing.

How do you keep yourself in such indefatigable shape? Is there a physical regimen you adhere to, a spiritual pursuit, or just a general positive mental attitude that prevails in
your day to day life?

I work at it. I have a history of heart disease in my family so I have to watch what I eat.
On the 2012 ASIA tour I contracted E. coli, which almost killed me. It forced me to
become a vegan, and I have always worked out. I run a lot. I am going to be 65 and to do
what I do on stage you have to be in good shape. Mainly, I do it because I feel better.
I plan on doing this for a long time, so stick around.

Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy comes to Variety Playhouse on Sat., Nov. 8. $25-$27.50. 7 p.m. Variety Playhouse. 1099 Euclid Ave. 404-524-7354. www.variety-playhouse.com.