20 years ago Keith Emerson blew-off his thumb
February 2nd, 2004
20 years ago today, on the 2nd of February 1974, keyboardist Keith Emerson from progressive rock trio Emerson, Lake, and Palmer blew his thumbnails off during a performance of the band at San Francisco’s Winterland.
The accident happened when one of the pyrotechnics set in the Moog modular system ribbon controller that Emerson used in the performance exploded prematurely, causing damage on his right hand’s thumbnail. Emerson got a roadie to tape it down so he could play for the rest of the show.