There are some years you just want to forget and bury in a dark corner of memory. 2016 is definitely one of them. The news today that Greg Lake has died hit me harder than any other of the musicians we have lost this year.
I first heard 'Lucky Man' when I was 13 years old at Dalkeith High School. As a confused, emotional, romantic, sensitive teenager his voice gave meaning to my adolescence and made some sort of sense of it all. He inspired me to sing and I would spend hours in front of the mirror trying to imitate him as ELP shredded the speakers of my tortured ITT stereo. It was through Greg Lake that I found King Crimson and beyond and the doors opened to the universe of progressive rock where I would find a home. He was at the time the biggest influence I had and without him I would never have found my voice.
His lyrics I'd copy into love letters to girlfriends who were needless to say impressed thinking they were my own and he ( together with Pete Sinfield) would inspire me to take up my own pen to paper.
But it was the emotion in his voice, that deep romantic sweet angst and the honesty in his delivery that captured me and led me into the world I now inhabit. He gave me the confidence to express myself and voice my own feelings through music and words.
I was lucky enough to meet him a couple of times but the first was as a wordstruck young singer at a launch party for some unknown album when we were recording 'Script for a Jester's Tear' at the Marquee studios. Greg happened to be there and I mentioned to him that we had put ourselves up for supporting him on his solo tour in 81 but couldn't find the funds. He had no idea who I was and was very polite but interested. The next time I saw him years later he remembered and winked and smiled at me.
Every year for as long as I can remember the first song I play on the day in our house in the morning is 'I believe in Father Christmas'. I'll play it again this year as always but this time I will have an even bigger tear in my eye.
RIP Greg Lake , thanks for playing a huge part in making me what I am today. Your memory will always have a spotlight in my life.