Emerson Lake & Palmer Newcastle City Hall 1971
Support from Michael Chapman & Spontaneous Combustion
Emerson, Lake & Palmer were pretty hot stuff in 1971. They were very popular, and just on the verge of mega success. My mate had their first eponymous album and Pictures at an Exhibition, which had been recorded at Newcastle City Hall earlier that year. We used to go round to his house and we would play both albums again and again. The music on th first album was a curious blend of the pomp classical-rock of Keith Emerson, coupled with the beautiful melodies of Greg Lake, and Carl Palmer’s drum solo Tank. I would always ask to hear Take a Pebble and Lucky Man. I’d seen Keith Emerson in concert in the Nice at Sunderland Empire, and I knew how good a showman he was, so when ELP returned to the City Hall later in 1971, I bought a ticket. 
I remember being totally blown away by ELP that night; I had a seat close to the front, which always helps. Going to concerts was still a relatively new experience for me, and I would watch every minute of each gig that I attended, studying the musicians and their onstage antics, and ELP had so many strengths to wonder at. Emerson live was a spectacle to behold in himself. Surrounded by two Hammond organs, a Moog, a grand piano, and a Lesley cabinet; Keith was the ultimate early 70s performer. He would play two organs at once, pull them about and on top of himself, stab the organ with a massive dagger, use the dagger to hold down notes, and reach into the piano and play the strings with his hand. He would also famously run up the steps at the back of the City Hall stage and play the massive pipe organ, and is recorded doing so on the Pictures album. ELP’s concert set at that time featured most of the tracks from the first album; I also think Hoedown was included, perhaps as the opener. The Nice live favourite Rondo remained in the set from Emerson’s previous band, and Nutrocker was the fun encore. Pictures also featured, with the aforementioned trip up to the City Hall organ. 
The programme I have included here is worthy of special mention. It probably doesn’t look much from the scan, bit its actually one of the best produced programmes I have in my collection. Its a small booklet with a white card cover and the band’s name embossed across the top. Inside each picture page is separated from the next by a clear plastic page which contain the text surrounding the photos. It is really a lovely item, which my description can’t possibly do justice to. Looking through it the other day, I discovered that I’d kept a flyer for support act Michael Chapman, which I have also included here. Spontaneous Combustion were first on the bill at this gig. I’ve blogged separately about both of these acts elsewhere. Michael popped up all the time in those days, as support act on a number of tours of major bands, and was a good opening act with some great songs. Spontaneous Combustion were a largely instrumental prog/psych trio, who were produced by Greg Lake. They played a great version of Sabre Dance, as I recall.
3 Nov
Vintagerock's Weblog. 
Posted by Mitch on January 8, 2014 at 11:37 am
I was at this concert and also have the programme. It must be one of the best made concert programmes I have ever seen!
However Peter, I don’t believe that Spontaneous Combustion appeared at this show – only Michael Chapman.
ELP’s set list was:
Hoe Down, Tarkus, Take A Pebble, Lucky Man, Knife Edge, Bitches Crystal, Jeremy Bender, Rondo.
Encores: America, Nut Rocker.
Posted by vintagerock on January 8, 2014 at 12:50 pm
Thanks Mitch. Yes its a great little programme. I think you could well be right about Spontaneous Combustion. I read somewhere that they were on the bill, but to be honest I can’t recall seeing them there either. I thought it was my memory letting me down, but I agree with you. I did see Spontaneous Combustion at Sunderland Rink on a Harvest package tour.
Posted by Julie Edmenson on August 19, 2015 at 5:27 pm
Just found these blogs completely by accident and am transported back to ELP’s 1972 Newcastle gig and earlier still to The Nice at Sunderland! Fantastic times, music which just blew me away and an unforgettable feeling of privilege at having ‘been there, done that and (literally) bought the t-shirt’ as music history was made!
Posted by vintagerock on August 19, 2015 at 6:38 pm
Thanks Julie Happy days which in some ways seem so long ago, and yet sometimes they seem just like yesterday
Best wishes Peter
Posted by Julie Edmenson on August 19, 2015 at 10:24 pm
So true Peter! I remember what I was wearing, the friends I was with (some of whom are still friends!) and the absolute thrill of my first live gig, The Nice! That feeling has never left me, however many festivals and gigs I go/have been to! All good wishes to you!
Posted by On This Day (December 8)…Tarkus Rolls to Newcastle – Gotta Hear 'em All! on January 13, 2020 at 8:10 pm
[…] No bootleg of either show is known to exist. Recollections of people who had been, however, make it sound like it would have been quite a show! (source) […]
Posted by On This Day (December 8)…Tarkus Rolls to Newcastle - Gotta Hear 'em All! on October 5, 2020 at 2:32 am
[…] No bootleg of either show is known to exist. Recollections of people who had been, however, make it sound like it would have been quite a show! (source) […]
Posted by vintagerock on October 5, 2020 at 10:08 am
It was quite a concert indeed happy days RIP Keith Emerson and Greg Lake Best wishes Peter
Posted by Cherie on February 26, 2021 at 6:23 pm
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. I’m enjoying reading them and other people’s comments sharing their
memories as well. I love how my experiences here ‘across the pond’ on the San Francisco Peninsula were very similar.
My very sheltering parents wouldn’t allow me to attend rock concerts until my musician big brother – my hero! – insisted they let him take me to shows, arranged for several of our parent-trusted guy friends to accompany us as bodyguards, he treated to the tickets and drove us to the shows. My second and third rock concerts were seeing ELP both nights in San Francisco at their sold-out shows 24 and 25 March 1972. My brother introduced us to Greg Lake and Carl Palmer the morning of the first show when they arrived at the venue. Greg invited us to attend ELP’s soundcheck-rehearsal, and he and Carl went out of their way all day to come over and talk to us every time they took a break, and were friendly and funny, generous and kind, while Keith played non-stop all day and appeared to be composing a new piece that turned up later on ‘Brain Salad Surgery’. It was a fantastic experience I love to remember.
The concert of course was equally exciting. We stood at the stage edge in front of Keith, and
wow, what a performer. All of ELP always put on a great show. The only thing that would have made the experience even better would have been if Spontaneous Combustion had been allowed to perform! They were scheduled to open for ELP, but the U.S. government denied the teenaged band work visas. Drat! I missed the opportunity to see that great band play.
Posted by Briony on January 9, 2022 at 8:04 am
I was at this concert, oh so long ago now. I was on a blind date with a mercenary who was on leave from Oman, while I was on a hiatus from living in South Africa, staying with my parents. Great concert, I loved it when Keith played the massive pipe organ at the back of the stage. I believe he was the only “rock star” to have ever been allowed near that hallowed instrument. I also remember them playing “Hoedown” , but I’m sure it wasn’t an opener. At one time I owned all of ELP’s vinyl albums. Great music, Great musicians! I was 22 at the time.
Posted by vintagerock on January 9, 2022 at 4:52 pm
Hi Briony
Yes. It was great when he played that wonderful organ. Happy days Peter
Posted by Veronica on August 19, 2023 at 2:24 pm
Thanks so much for this. I’ve been trying to remember this concert at the city hall for a while. It inspired me to get pictures at an exhibition and got me hooked into classical music. Also followed elp for years as well. There was so much fantastic music in the 70s and the city hall was – and still is a great venue but those 70s days were very special
Posted by vintagerock on August 19, 2023 at 3:55 pm
Yes Veronica the City Hall had some great concerts throughout the 1970s. Happy days Peter
Posted by Steve Spencer on August 10, 2025 at 6:35 pm
I saw the two ELP City Hall concerts and the Nice at Sunderland Empire, where, I’m sure that the support band were Yes … Loved ELP and The Nice. ..