[The Watcher]

I feel like this thread can still be salvaged despite the recent embarrassments that took place - I don't even really care if you don't like them, that's your loss, all I'm trying to do is challenge the popular consensus that their music wasn't good - I mean, anything you read about ELP has more scathing criticism of their excess, but what can you expect from a group of excellent musicians who flawlessly melded classical music in with contemporary rock? Humility? If you could play your instrument that well (be it bass, drums or giant modular synthesizer) you'd fell the need to wear a fucking kimono to the grocery store too.

Now, I think like Opeth and many other excellent and successful progressive rock groups, I find that their fans are possibly the worst part. Have you ever spent any time reading the reviews of their album mastering on amazon.com? I was thinking about upgrading my edition of Pictures A An Exhibition to the double disc set as mine lacks a) the studio version and b) the bonus live disc and so I set out to read the reviews - these weirdos are complaining about the remastering in the most horrifically anal retentive way!! Why!! I'm sure it sounds fine you crazy people!!!

The other thing is when people talk about how Hendrix almost joined, but instead died - that would have been terrible!! I can't even imagine how dull that would have been with four virtuosos wailing away like a bunch of cock-eyed bandits...... three is the perfect number!!