Keith Emerson Pulls Out of Own Band and EL&P Reunion Tours

Keith Emerson has canceled both the summer tour for the Keith Emerson Band and a possible late-year reunion tour for Emerson, Lake and Palmer due to on-going right hand injuries. He posted on his official website:

Dear Friends,

It is with much regret that I have to announce that due to past right hand injuries the resulting nerve damage and dystonic factor has made it unable for me to play the keyboards to the high standard I have always set myself and have to cancel my forthcoming Keith Emerson Band featuring Marc Bonilla USA and European tours.

I am also going to have to cancel the proposed Emerson, Lake and Palmer tour which we were going to do at the end of this year.

I will of course continue with my physical/chiropractic/acupuncture therapy etc. in the hope that this will eventually get me back on form.

This is absolutely devastating to me as music will always be my main key to communicating with a world-wide audience. I know how much my fans and fellow band members were looking forward to these shows and it saddens me greatly to have to come to this decision and make this announcement.

Thank you for your understanding.

Keith Emerson

For some reason, as if it were part of the company policy, Emerson then found it necessary to post a letter from his doctor "excusing" him from touring:

Katherine Butler London Hand Therapy 30 Cumberland Mansions Seymour Place W1H 5TF To whom it may concern: Re: Mr Keith Emerson DOB: 2.11.1944 Mr Keith Emerson has been a patient of mine for many years now, and he initially was referred to me by the hand surgeon Mr Ian Winspur. We have trialled many treatments for his complex condition of focal hand dystonia. Some of these treatments have included: soft tissue massage, stretches, slow down exercise therapy, sensory reeducation, scapula-humeral exercises, splintage and sensory tricks. Unfortunately these treatments appear to have been of limited use to Mr Emerson, as he is reportedly still finding it very difficult to play his instrument in gigs and recording sessions. I am writing to inform you that he is unable to complete his tour and that this is due to medical reasons. With many thanks and sincerely, Katherine Butler Clinical Specialist in Hand Therapy

Really. We are not making this up. Keith is excused from gym class.