# Why did Keith Emerson stab a Hammond organ to death?

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/why-did-keith-emerson-stab-a-hammond-organ-to-death/
- Published: 2026-11-04T15:00:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-05T09:04:44+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/why-did-keith-emerson-stab-hammond-organ-to-death/
- Topics: Music

## Key points

- Knives held Hammond keys down to sustain notes.
- Lemmy gave Emerson German military daggers.
- The act became part of The Nice’s live performances.

## Summary

Keith Emerson became known for stabbing his Hammond organ with knives during live performances, turning a keyboard performance into a physical stage spectacle. The knives also had a musical purpose: wedged between the keys, they held notes so the organ could keep sounding while Emerson moved away from it.

The idea came after Emerson saw organist Don Shinn use a screwdriver while repairing a Hammond, and Emerson began experimenting with screwdrivers before switching to kitchen knives. The Nice’s roadie Lemmy Kilmister later gave him a pair of German military daggers, which featured in performances including ‘America’ from *West Side Story*. Emerson said the daggers also evoked the violence between the musical’s rival gangs; when he began throwing them, one reportedly hit his drummer.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.