Keith Emerson ‘s death might be a suspected suicide

Keith Emerson, the co-founder of British prog-rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer, has died aged 71. Long-term bandmate Carl Palmer confirmed the news saying Emerson had died at his home in Santa Monica, California. Police told BBC News the death was being investigated as a suicide. The broadcaster said officers had confirmed earlier US media reports that Emerson had died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

A statement on the band’s Facebook page read: “We regret to announce that Keith Emerson died last night at his home in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, aged 71. We ask that the family’s privacy and grief be respected.” The keyboard player’s body was discovered at his home on Thursday by, it was reported, his girlfriend. He had been scheduled to travel to Japan on tour next week. Acoordi ng to additional information by TMZ, The Emerson, Lake & Palmer co-founder had recently been suffering from a serious medical problem — a degenerative nerve issue in his right hand … according to our sources. We’re told he could only play the keyboard with 8 fingers at this point and knew it was only going to get worse.

As a result, he was struggling with depression.

Sources: Independent / TMZ
Image credit: Creative Common