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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZNICE, TheBritish progressive rock trio of '68-71. Keith Emerson, keyboards; Lee Jackson, bass (b 8 Jan. '43, Newcastle); Brian Davidson, drums (b 25 May '42, Leicester). They served in various R&B bands, came together backing P. P. Arnold, originally with David O'List on guitar. Emerson's flamboyant keyboard attracted attention and they left Arnold; compilation Autumn to Spring later compiled their earliest tracks from '67-8; debut LP The Thoughts Of Emerlist Davjack '68 displayed Emerson's interest in 'fusion' of rock and classical, including a manic 'Rondo' (rocked-up Mozart). O'List quit, later went to Roxy Music. Ars Longa Vita Brevis '68 had an entire side taken up with the title track; reverse included 'Intermezzo' from Sibelius's Karelia Suite. A version of Leonard Bernstein's 'America' (from West Side Story) brought them a minor single hit in the USA '68 as well as Bernstein's ire; they were banned from London's Royal Albert Hall for burning an American flag on stage. Nice '69 was a stopgap as they toured heavily; half was recorded live at New York's Fillmore and included Bob Dylan's 'She Belongs To Me'. Five Bridges '70 was another lavish concept: Jackson wrote a suite about the bridges in his home town, recorded with full orchestra. By the time of live Elegy '71 they had split; Ameomi Rodivivi '76 was a later package. Emerson found greater fame and flamboyance in Emerson, Lake and Palmer; Davidson became a session drummer, with brief spell in Gong, worked in Refugee with Jackson, who made five LPs with his Jackson Heights but never caught on. |