New releases, music videos and album news — indie, rap, rock and pop. Always covering Ren, Chris Webby, Sam Tompkins, bbno$, CHINCHILLA, Muse, Yungblud and more.
Why did Keith Emerson stab a Hammond organ to death?
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.
In short
- Knives held Hammond keys down to sustain notes.
- Lemmy gave Emerson German military daggers.
- The act became part of The Nice’s live performances.
Explained simply
Keith Emerson was a British keyboard player who became known in the late 1960s and 1970s for dramatic performances with his band The Nice and later Emerson, Lake & Palmer. His main instrument was the Hammond organ, an electric keyboard whose sustained notes could fill a large venue.
Emerson used knives to wedge down organ keys, keeping notes sounding while he moved around the stage. The stunt developed after he saw organist Don Shinn use a screwdriver while repairing a Hammond, and became part of performances of “America” from West Side Story. The daggers also gave the performance a visual link to the musical’s story of conflict between rival gangs.