Lucky Man: The Autobiography

So happy with this purchase. Greg Lake was the first voice (and guitar tone) I ever fell in love with (at 12 years old!) - and my love for this wildly gifted musician endures!. Wonderful book by an exceptional man who lived an exceptional life.

I first looked for this book at least five years ago, when Greg Lake mentioned that he was writing it and that it was due to be published in conjunction with a tour and a CD compilation. It never showed up, not then or in the year or two after, and then Lake passed away. It finally showed up a few months ago and got past me, till now. I'm only about 1/2 way through, to the second year or so of the existence of ELP, but it's already been worth it for the insights that he provides as to the workings of the trio. While reading it, I do wish at times that someone could have sat down with Lake while he was working on the book and asked him questions that he could have addressed, to expand on certain subjects, but what is here is illuminating, in terms of how various decisions were made, by him and others, along the course of his career. He seems to deliberately avoid saying much negative about anyone with whom he has worked, and appears to have taken most of his career ups and downs in stride, personally and professionally. For all of the different directions that his music and career took, he seems to have been, essentially, a rather decent, simple man from Dorset at heart (his explanation for why he composed "I Believe In Father Christmas" is something I've always found touching in its simplicity -- this may be why, as ELP's music evolved and became more complex musically and thematically, he and the band turned to Peter Sinfield to provide lyrics for some of those works). He is a little vague on some subjects, such as precisely why King Crimson's attempt at recording with Moody Blues producer Tony Clarke didn't work, saying only that it didn't work, but I can let that go in taking in the larger narrative arc covered. Lake was not the most introspective individual in rock music, based on the evidence presented in this book, but he offers enough here, in terms of stringing together events, to make this a more than worthwhile read.

Book was in great shape, received quickly. The story is engaging and anyone who is a fan of Greg Lake, ELP or King Crimson will really enjoy Greg’s insight into their music, recording, touring and his personal thoughts and reactions to touring and their reception in the USA. A fan of Greg since I first heard him singing for King Crimson in 1969, and as a musician, always wished I was blessed with a voice like his...truly a legend and a Lucky Man. To watch the videos of him, Emerson and Palmer in concert is amazing and you can see the brilliance and expertise of each of them (e.g., Take A Pebble, Tarkus, etc.) as they expertly played off of each other and really loved doing it. Greg's classics like C'est la Vie, Still...You Turn Me On, From the Beginning and Lucky Man will always live on in music history as classics, and there is no better voice in all of Rock history IMHO. Miss the heart and the genius of Greg, Keith Emerson and Carl Palmer together...contemporary musicians could learn a lot from them. RIP Greg and Keith, you are missed like crazy.

Maybe its because Greg Lake was such a nice guy and bucked the trend of musicians by being married to the same woman his entire life. Its a great recount of his life, but it seriously could have been twice as long. Significant aspects only garnered a paragraph or two, such as when he was called in at the last minute to front Asia for their biggest concert ever. There was a lot missing from that, such as how they had to slightly adjust the key for the songs to better hit Greg's vocal range compared to John Wetton's that was not in the book. I was also very interested as to the specific guitars and amps he used, which were never mentioned. Everyone that Greg came in contact with was a "great guy and talented musician". So, if you are looking for dirt in this autobio, you won't get it. The breakups of his bands were limited to a single sentance such as "We didn't agree on everything." I did like that it was not written by a ghost writer. You can tell its Greg telling his story directly. 8/10. Had he gone into his collection of guitars and more tech stuff, it would have been a 9.5/10.

Engaging read for sure. As well as being immensely talented as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist/bassist, Greg Lake obviously was a very intelligent fellow. You get the feeling that, at his core, he was a very down to earth guy--there is not a lot of ego or self-promotion in the book. It is just a man in his late 60's looking back on his life with some really interesting introspection, stories and humor. The book mostly covers the arc of his music career from a young lad through ELP's final concert in London in 2010. Not much at all on his early family life, though he did make it clear his parents supported his attempt to make it in music as a teenager including his father helping him with his equipment at local gigs. He ended up more successful than either he or his parents could ever imagine. The stories are the best. The NY, NY "mafia" story from 1973 is priceless. It began with a call from someone threatening to kill him during a stretch of gigs in NYC. How it unfolds is just all-NYC authentic gonzo funny. Elvis even makes it in here is a couple places. For anyone who grew up with King Crimson & ELP in the 70's, this is well worth the purchase and read. It'll take you back in time in an enjoyable way. RIP Mr. Lake...you made a lot of people happy with your musical talent and efforts. You were a lucky man, but so were your mates and those who enjoyed your music.

Arrived on time and was what I expected

El libro es muy interesante para quienes hemos disfrutado de la música rock alrededor de los años 70. Greg fue un extraordinario músico y cantante y como narrador es también muy bueno.

The first band I EVER saw live was called Emerson Lake and Palmer. It was Montreal I was about 15 or 16 my sister lived there. I'm now 58 and I can still remember the show and that band performance because it totally blew my mind. Even now 43 years later that concert and that amazing trio have shaped my love of great music and even more for ELP ever since. I really wanted to read this book and I'm so glad I have. If your buying it looking for accounts of blind drunk band members shooting up either heroin or 10 groupies a night you'll be v disappointed because it's not to be found here.There are plenty of cheap thrill rock accounts for those who get their kicks reading about others getting there's and if that's what you want this book is not for you. Personally those reads dont do anything for me but Greg Lake's honesty, and quite reserved recollections of what must have been THE time to be THE best and at the very top for me really does cut the mustard. These guys were then and for me still are, brilliant musicians who revolutionised live performance and who have never been equalled in it much less bettered. If you want an account of life as a top performer by someone who wasn't off their tree and actually remembers it, then read on. Greg recalls seeing Elvis in his prime in a small private show and being blown away. He also recalls ELP seeing Elvis at the end and walking out it was so bad. He also knew and recorded with Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr and other greats including my absolute favourite guitarist Gary Moore making rock with heart and soul and passion. I loved this book. It's been a fascinating read about the album's, the tours, the people. His account of a twister before a concert was terrifying and fascinating reading. Greg is a Scorpio and he does appear very gentle for one so I do wonder how much he's toned down some of the inevitiable combustion working with another one in Keith within this book. That said it is also a mark of real respect not to lambast your fellow band member and it's really refreshing to read that and hear just about the highs of making great albums and not so much of the lows of such great musicians and conflicts which always will happen with headstrong creative and truly brilliant professional musicians at the top of the game. Greg covers Keith's suicide very sensitively and his own terminal cancer diagnosis and it is very moving to read both. His cancer, the latter is covered in a very matter of fact manner which shows he really did believe he had been a lucky man and it's not just a catchy title to shift copies. I'd have loved to have known him personally. His voice, the solo songs and his albums which I also have live on and for me, all just get better with time. RIP Greg and thank you for sharing your life in words and your heart in song. You were and will remain one of the very best and sorely missed. xx

L'autobiografia di Greg Lake, immenso artista e punto di riferimento per molti colleghi. In questo documento Lake ripercorre l'intera carriera con lucidità e passione. Di notevole impatto emotivo la narrazione dell'ultimo periodo della sua vita. R.I.P. Greg.

グレッグ・レイクは大好きなミュージシャンのひとり。ボーカルの甘さ、ベースやギターできけるカッコいいフレーズやトーン、インタビューで聞けるゆったりとして説得力ある話し方。どれも大好きである。日本語版の伝記が楽器屋の書棚にあったけど、英語版を買って読むことにした。英語版ならグレッグ・レイクの母国語だし、何かを説明するときに英語でどう言い回すかが学べるというメリットがある。もちろん、どうしてもわからない英文もあるにちがいないから折をみて日本語版もゲットするつもり。