Carl Palmer says new tribute tour gives him the chance to “bring ELP back in the most honest way”

Copyright 2022 Kendall Palmer USA LLC

Drummer Carl Palmer, sole surviving member of legendary English prog-rock trio Emerson, Lake & Palmer, is preparing to launch a unique tour that will feature him performing live alongside archival footage of late bandmates Keith Emerson and Greg Lake.

The Welcome Back My Friends: The Return of Emerson Lake & Palmer Tour is a 10-date trek that kicks off November 18 in Philadelphia and is plotted out through a December 3 show in Akron, Ohio.

Palmer tells ABC Audio the concerts will consist of 13 songs, six of which will feature high-quality footage of Emerson and Lake filmed during a pair of October 1992 ELP shows at London’s famed Royal Albert Hall projected on large screens.

“It gives me a chance to bring ELP back in the most honest way, where Keith is at his very best, Greg is at his very best,” Palmer notes. “Both of them look great.”

Carl says of the Royal Albert Hall footage, “Wow, I was really impressed. I was impressed with the audio, ’cause the audio is absolutely superb, fantastic. Because it was all recorded individually, [it] meant I could go back and … remix it if I wanted to.”

He continues, “So, it took nine to 10 weeks of editing, and I managed to edit myself out of all the frames. I didn’t want to see me, because I’m gonna be playing on the stage, and Greg and Keith are gonna be left and right on these huge screens.”

Palmer will be joined at the shows by his current band, ELP Legacy — guitarist Paul Bielatowicz [bee-ELL-uh-TOE-vitch] and bassist/Chapman Stick player Simon Fitzpatrick — who will “reinforce some parts” on some songs with the Emerson and Lake footage, and play on all the other tunes.

Visit CarlPalmer.com for the full list of dates.

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