Another icon was lost recently when Emerson, Lake & Palmer keyboardist Keith Emerson passed away at the age of 71 on March 10th. It was reported later that Emerson killed himself because he feared he was no longer good enough as a musician.

The 71-year-old founder and keyboard player of Emerson, Lake & Palmer was 'tormented with worry' about upcoming concerts in Japan because nerve damage to a hand had affected his playing, said girlfriend Mari Kawaguchi.

Speaking from his home in London, bandmate Greg Lake said Emerson had suffered from depression since the late '70s when the band was beginning to fall apart. 

“I have to be honest and say that his death didn’t come as a shock to me. The situation with Keith didn’t happen suddenly, it had been developing from as far back as the Works Vol 1 album (1977). At that point, I began to see things happening with Keith which didn’t look or feel right.” 

“I think its a very difficult thing to actually describe what depression is.  We all know what it looks like, people’s moods become very black. But it’s more complicated than that. It changes someone’s personality. Also, Keith got into substance abuse, which made it worse and the whole thing just spiralled. He lived, in the end, this very lonely existence of someone who was deeply troubled. He loved music – that was his main purpose in life, but the music he made after ELP never bore fruit in the same way as it did in the early days.” 

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Kawaguchi found Emerson's body when she returned to the apartment the couple shared in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, early on Friday morning. He had shot himself with a gun he kept for protection.

Kawaguchi: "His right hand and arm had given him problems for years. He had an operation a few years ago to take out a bad muscle but the pain and nerve issues in his right hand were getting worse. He had concerts coming up in Japan and even though they hired a back-up keyboard player to support him, Keith was worried."

"He was tormented with worry that he wouldn't be good enough. He was planning to retire after Japan. He didn't want to let down his fans. He was a perfectionist and the thought he wouldn't play perfectly made him depressed, nervous and anxious."

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Lake has offered up the following statement with regards to Emerson's passing:

"To all ELP friends and fans all over the world, I would like to express my deep sadness upon hearing this tragic news. As you know Keith and I spent many of the best years of our lives together and to witness his life coming to an end in the way that it has is painful, both to myself and to all who knew him.

As sad and tragic as Keith’s death is, I would not want this to be the lasting memory people take away with them. What I will always remember about Keith Emerson was his remarkable talent as a musician and composer and his gift and passion to entertain. Music was his life and despite some of the difficulties he encountered I am sure that the music he created will live on forever.

My deepest condolences go to Keith’s family.

May he now be at peace."