Carl Palmer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carl Palmer
Palmer performing in 2014
Background information
Birth name	Carl Frederick Kendall Palmer
Born	(1950-03-20) 20 March 1950 (age 75) Handsworth, Birmingham, England
Died	Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day
Genres	Progressive rock
Occupation(s)	Drummer
Years active	1964–present
Labels	Island Manticore Atlantic Eagle Rock Geffen

Carl Frederick Kendall Palmer (born March 20, 1950) is a famous English drummer. He helped start two very successful "supergroups": Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP) and Asia. He also played drums for other bands like The Crazy World of Arthur Brown and Atomic Rooster. Since 2001, Carl has toured with his own bands, including Carl Palmer's ELP Legacy, playing music from his career.

Carl Palmer was honored in the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1989. In 2017, he received the Prog God Award at the Progressive Music Awards, showing how important he is in progressive rock music.

Carl Palmer's Musical Journey

Starting with Early Bands

Carl Palmer started learning to play the drums when he was very young. He even took lessons from James Blades, a well-known classical percussionist in Britain. These lessons helped him become a master drummer with great technique.

His first band was called the King Bees, later changing their name to the Craig. In 1966, they released their first record. Around this time, Carl also played drums for other musicians. Later in 1966, he joined a band called Chris Farlowe and the Thunderbirds.

Joining The Crazy World of Arthur Brown

In 1969, Carl was asked to join The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. The band's original drummer left suddenly during a tour in the United States. Carl quickly stepped in and became a full-time member of the band.

Forming Atomic Rooster

Carl Palmer and the keyboard player from The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Vincent Crane, decided to start their own band in 1969. They formed a trio called Atomic Rooster with a singer and bassist named Nick Graham. Carl said they started the new band because Arthur Brown had gone missing. Atomic Rooster released their first album in 1970. Carl left the band later that year after being invited to join a new group.

The Success of Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Palmer on stage with ELP in 1978

In 1970, Carl Palmer met two other talented English musicians: Greg Lake and Keith Emerson. Keith was from the band The Nice, and Greg was from King Crimson. They all wanted to explore new musical ideas. After trying out different drummers, they felt a strong connection with Carl.

By the summer of 1970, they had formed a band. They decided to use their last names in alphabetical order: Emerson, Lake & Palmer, often called ELP. This band became the most successful part of Carl's career. They stayed together until 1979. ELP was even nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist, making them the first progressive rock band to achieve this. Their music mixed different styles like art rock, jazz, electronica, pop rock, and classical music.

ELP got back together in 1992 and released new albums like Black Moon. They toured again and released DVDs. In 1998, the trio split up once more. They had a special one-time performance in 2010 to celebrate 40 years since they formed. Sadly, Keith Emerson and Greg Lake passed away in 2016, leaving Carl as the only surviving member of ELP.

Joining Asia

After ELP first broke up in 1980, Carl Palmer formed a band called PM for one album. Then, in 1981, he joined John Wetton and Steve Howe to create another supergroup. Geoff Downes later joined them, and they formed Asia.

Asia was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist. This made Carl Palmer only the second artist ever to be nominated for this award twice! Carl left Asia in 1991 to rejoin ELP. However, the four original members of Asia, including Carl, reunited in 2006.

Since 2006, Carl has continued to play with the original Asia lineup. They celebrated their 25th anniversary and released four new studio albums: Phoenix (2008), Omega (2010), XXX (30) (2012), and Gravitas (2014).

Other Musical Adventures

Palmer performing in 2012

Carl Palmer has played drums on songs for other artists, like "Mount Teidi" by Mike Oldfield in 1982. He also performs drum clinics, which are special events where he teaches and shows off his drumming skills. For many years, a highlight of his drum solos was taking off his T-shirt while playing!

In 2001, Carl started his own band, which is now known as Carl Palmer's ELP Legacy. They play instrumental versions of ELP songs. After Keith Emerson and Greg Lake passed away, the band started the "Emerson, Lake & Palmer Lives On! World Tour" in 2017.

Carl Palmer performs at William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ, as part of Carl Palmer's ELP Legacy Tour celebrating ELP's 50th Anniversary (November 2021)

In 2019, Carl Palmer performed with both Asia and ELP Legacy during The Royal Affair Tour. In 2021, he returned to performing after the COVID pandemic to celebrate ELP's 50th anniversary with his ELP Legacy Tour.

Carl Palmer's Drumming Style

Carl Palmers drumming style was shaped by many different types of music. Some of his early influences were jazz drummers like Joe Morello and Buddy Rich. You can hear their techniques in his playing, which started with a strong jazz influence.

He is known for his amazing technical skills and for including drum solos in many of his performances. Later, when he played with Asia, his drumming became a bit simpler, but he started using double bass drums more often. He was the eleventh drummer to be inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame.

Carl Palmer's Life

Carl Palmer married his first wife, Maureen Fraser, in 1985. They have one daughter, Carissa, who is now a lawyer. Since 2004, his partner has been Katie. Carl lives in both Cyprus and the UK. He became vegan in 2010.

Carl Palmer's Drum Gear

Carl Palmer uses special drum kits and equipment.

Drums

• He owns a Ludwig Vistalite drum kit with cool blue see-through shells.
• Ludwig also released his special "Signature Venus snare drum" in 2011. It's made of green brass.
• Stainless Steel Drum Kit: In 1973, Carl had a custom drum kit made from one-half-inch thick stainless steel! It was very heavy, weighing about 2.5 tons with other instruments. Some stages had to be made stronger for it. A jeweler even engraved animals on the drums.

Cymbals

Carl Palmer has used Paiste cymbals since 1971. He uses a variety of them, including:

• 5" 2002 Cup Chime
• 13" Signature Heavy Hi-Hat
• 6" 2002 Cup Chime
• 18" Signature Power Crash
• 20" Signature Heavy Bell Ride
• 20" Signature Power Crash
• 13" 2002 Sound Edge Hi-Hat
• 6" 2002 Bell Chime
• 22" 2002 China

Drumheads and Sticks

Carl uses Remo drumheads. For drumsticks, he used to have his own signature sticks made by Pro-Mark. In 2022, he switched to Vater Percussion, who now make his new signature drumsticks.

Other Instruments

Carl Palmer also uses other percussion instruments often found in an symphony orchestra. These include timpani (large kettle drums), tubular bells, and a tam-tam (a large gong). He has also used temple blocks, triangle, church bell, vibraslap, and ratchet.

Carl Palmer's Music Albums

With Emerson, Lake & Palmer

With Asia

Other Albums

See also

In Spanish: Carl Palmer para niños