Karn Evil 9 1st Impression, Pt. 2

The Zoo Crew, those groovy hippie DJs at THE ZOO radio station, are spinning the epic track "Karn Evil 9: 1st Impression, Part 2" by Emerson, Lake & Palmer from their 1973 album Brain Salad Surgery, and the Zoo Freaks are surely vibing to its wild energy. This song, part of the larger 29-minute "Karn Evil 9" suite, is a progressive rock masterpiece that kicks off with the iconic line, “Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends.” The title “Karn Evil 9” came from a playful twist by lyricist Peter Sinfield, who, upon hearing Keith Emerson’s organ riffs, suggested the carnival-like vibe over Emerson’s original sci-fi concept of a planet called Ganton 9. Sinfield’s lyrical contribution, alongside Greg Lake’s, paints a dystopian carnival where humanity’s remnants, like a blade of grass, are displayed in a museum, a theme that resonates with the song’s futuristic tug-of-war between man and machine.

One fascinating piece of trivia is that “Karn Evil 9: 1st Impression, Part 2” became a classic rock staple despite being just a slice of the full suite, largely because it was the opening track on Side B of the vinyl, making it more accessible for radio play. In an interview with MusicRadar, Keith Emerson noted that its placement on the album likely boosted its popularity. The song’s carnival barker energy, with lines like “Come inside, the show’s about to start,” was written with live performances in mind, as Greg Lake explained in a Songfacts interview, where he described how the band crafted the album in a London cinema to ensure it could be performed live. The track’s cultural impact is evident in its use as the theme for the BBC’s Jim Davidson’s Generation Game in the late 1990s, though the “seven virgins and a mule” lyric was skipped for TV audiences. It also popped up in a 2007 Dr Pepper commercial and as the intro for the Hard Rock Park website, showing its lasting pop culture relevance.

Another tidbit comes from fan discussions on platforms like Reddit’s ClassicRock community, where fans marvel at the song’s split on original vinyl releases due to its 13-minute length, with the CD version later restoring it as one track. The song’s live performances, like at the 1974 California Jam, featured Carl Palmer’s monster drum solo, a highlight captured in fan posts on Progarchives. Some fans on Reddit’s LetsTalkMusic speculate the title “Brain Salad Surgery” was a euphemism for fellatio, a nod to the album’s provocative edge, though the band leaned into the surreal with H.R. Giger’s iconic biomechanical artwork. A post from @ProgRockWorld on X highlights how the album was recorded in a disused cinema to perfect its live potential, cementing “Karn Evil 9” as a prog classic.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer, or ELP, formed in 1970 as a progressive rock supergroup, blending classical, jazz, and rock into a sound that defined the genre. Keith Emerson, a keyboard virtuoso from The Nice, met Greg Lake, a vocalist and bassist from King Crimson, during a joint gig in San Francisco. Their chemistry was instant, and they recruited drummer Carl Palmer, formerly of Atomic Rooster, to complete the trio. Emerson’s flair for theatrical keyboard work, Lake’s emotive vocals and songwriting, and Palmer’s explosive drumming created a unique formula. They debuted at the Isle of Wight Festival in 1970, stunning audiences with their ambitious arrangements, including adaptations of classical pieces like Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. Their self-titled debut album in 1970, featuring tracks like “Lucky Man,” set the stage for their rise, with Brain Salad Surgery later becoming their creative peak, reaching number 2 in the UK and number 11 in the US.

Though ELP disbanded in 1979, they reunited sporadically through the 1990s and 2010s, with their final performance in 2010. Sadly, Keith Emerson and Greg Lake passed away in 2016, leaving Carl Palmer as the sole surviving member, who continues to honor the band’s legacy through projects like the Carl Palmer Band. Fans can connect with ELP’s legacy on their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Devoted Zoo Freaks can also join fan communities like the ELP Fans Facebook group or explore fan sites such as Progarchives’ ELP page for deep dives into the band’s discography and discussions. The Zoo Crew’s spin of “Karn Evil 9” is a perfect nod to ELP’s enduring, mind-bending legacy.