| One of the
earliest performers in the style that would be later known as Progrock
(Progressive Rock), the Nice were largely a vehicle for Keith Emerson's
showmanship and musicianship. The former could consist of jamming
daggers between the keys of his organ to sustain notes. The latter
would include interpretations of Brubeck, Back, Bernstein, Sibelius,
and other western classical composers. |
| |
| 1967 |
| Back-up group for P. P. Arnold, performing separate warm-up set. |
| October: Andrew [Loog]
Oldham becomes manager and they record on his Immediate Records |
| November. "Thoughts
of Emerlist Davjack" / "Angel of Death" (Immediate IM 059) |
| December. The Thoughts
of Emerlist Davjack (Immediate IMLP/IMSP 016; UKLP) |
| Side One |
Side Two |
| "Flower King of Flies" (Emerson & Jackson) |
"War And Peace" (Emerson, O'List, Davison, & Jackson) |
| "The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack" (Emerson & O'List) |
"Tantalising Maggie" (Emerson & Jackson) |
| "Bonnie K" (Jackson & O'List) |
"Dawn" (Davison, Emerson & Jackson) |
| "Rondo" (Brubeck, Emerson, O'List, Davidson, & Jackson) |
"The Cry of Eugene" (Emerson, Jackson, & O'List) |
|
| |
  |
| |
| 1968 |
| 28 June. "America"
/ "Diamond Hard Apples of the Moon" (Immediate IM 068) |
| —. After burning an American
flag during their debut Royal Albert Hall performance, the hall's administration
banned them from future appearances. Leonard Bernstein successfully halted
the release of the recording in the US. But not all was well in the UK.
The Nice had to ask Immediate to withdraw a poster showing them with boys
each of whom has the head of an assassinated American leader. The promotion
poster featuring images of Martin Luther King, Bobby Kennedy, and John
F. Kennedy. |
| 27 July. The Nice perform with Traffic and the Pretty Things in Hyde Park. |
| 11 August. They perform at the National Jazz and Blues Festival |
| November. Ars Longa Vita Brevis (Immediate IMSP 020) |
| "Brandenburger" / "Happy Freuds" (Immediate IM 072) |
  |
| |
| 1969 |
