The Nice
The Nice are a
progressive rock band from the
1960s, known for their unique blend of
rock,
jazz and
classical music.
Keith Emerson, a
keyboardist, formed the group and released their debut,
The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack to immediate acclaim; this is often considered the first
progressive rock album. A long and wildly popular tour followed, spawning controversy when Emerson burned an
American flag onstage during a performance of the band's satirical arrangement of
Leonard Bernstein's
America, which Emerson described as the first ever instrumental
protest song.
The pinnacle of the band's artistic success was probably the Five Bridges suite, commissioned for the Newcastle Arts Festival, which was performed with a full orchestra conducted by Joseph Eger. The title refers to the city's five bridges spanning the River Tyne (two more have since been built).
By 1969, Emerson and the other band members were frustrated with their lack of mainstream success and they soon broke up. Emerson formed a band with Greg Lake (of King Crimson and Carl Palmer (of Atomic Rooster)-- Emerson, Lake & Palmer.
The Nice reformed in 2002 for a series of live concerts.
Albums
- The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack
- Ars Longa, Vita Brevis
- Nice
- Autumn '67 - Spring '68 (compilation of alternate takes and remixes) (AKA The Nice Featuring America)
- Five Bridges
- Elegy
- Many posthumous compilations
CD versions of
Five Bridges and
Elegy also include between them the whole of
Autumn '67 - Spring '68 in the form of bonus tracks