Greg Lake Quotes

Powerful Greg Lake for Daily Growth

About Greg Lake

Gregory Stuart "Greg" Lake OBE (10 November 1947 – 7 December 2016) was an English musician, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist best known as the founder, lead vocalist, guitarist, and bassist of the progressive rock band King Crimson and the rock group Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP). Lake was born in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England. His early musical influences included Muddy Waters, Elvis Presley, and Chuck Berry. He started his career as a guitarist, joining the bands Ivy League and The Sh shadowfax in the late 1960s. In 1968, he co-founded King Crimson with Robert Fripp, Michael Giles, Ian McDonald, and Peter Sinfield. Their debut album, "In the Court of the Crimson King," is considered a classic of progressive rock. Lake left King Crimson in 1970 to form ELP with Keith Emerson (keyboards) and Carl Palmer (drums). The supergroup's fusion of classical music, rock, and jazz found massive success, producing hits like "Lucky Man," "Bitches Brew," and "From the Beginning." In 1975, Lake embarked on a solo career, releasing the critically acclaimed albums "First Echoes" and "I.S./S." He also contributed to other projects, including Artwoods and Cozy Powell's band, Rainbow. Lake returned to King Crimson in 1984 for their "Three of a Perfect Pair" tour and again in the late 1990s for a reunion album, "In the Court of the Crimson King: Live 2000." In his later years, he continued to perform and release music, collaborating with artists such as Pete Townshend, Rick Wakeman, and Cozy Powell. Greg Lake was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010 as a member of ELP. His unique voice, innovative musicianship, and contributions to progressive rock left an indelible mark on the genre.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Every man's dream is a dream about a woman."

This quote suggests that every person, regardless of gender or individual differences, has inherent desires for companionship, emotional connection, and love, often symbolized in dreams or aspirations through the image of a significant other, or a woman in this case. It's not about objectifying women but rather highlighting the human need for intimacy and partnership that is frequently represented in our dreams and aspirations.


"Music is the space between the notes."

This quote by Greg Lake emphasizes that the true beauty and emotion in music often lie not just in the played notes, but also in the pauses or "space" between them. It suggests that the silence, rest, or anticipation contributes significantly to the overall rhythm, melody, and emotional impact of a piece of music, making it an essential element to create harmony, tension, and ultimately, a profound listening experience.


"There are no mistakes in rock and roll, just happy accidents."

Greg Lake's quote suggests that in the realm of rock music, there is room for imperfection and spontaneity to coexist harmoniously. Instead of viewing mishaps or deviations from traditional structure as errors, they are perceived as fortunate occurrences, contributing to the unique spirit and charm of rock and roll. This perspective encourages musicians to experiment fearlessly, embrace their creativity, and foster a sense of individuality in music.


"The beauty of music is that it has no frontiers."

The quote by Greg Lake, "The beauty of music is that it has no frontiers," emphasizes that music transcends cultural, geographical, or linguistic boundaries. Music has an universal appeal and can connect people regardless of their differences, fostering unity and empathy among diverse communities worldwide. Its power lies in its ability to evoke emotions, spark creativity, and create a shared experience between individuals from all walks of life. Essentially, music serves as a powerful tool for bringing people together and bridging gaps between cultures.


"I always thought that if you can't play the blues, you shouldn't play at all."

This quote by Greg Lake suggests that mastering the blues genre is essential for a musician to truly demonstrate their skill and potential. The blues, being a foundational style in Western music, encompasses various complex emotions and techniques, such as improvisation and expression of deep feelings. Therefore, a musician who cannot play the blues effectively may not have fully grasped these fundamental aspects of music-making, implying that they might lack the necessary depth and skill to excel in their craft overall.


What I learned then was there is a certain power in a three piece band. The more people you put on that stage, the more diluted it becomes.

- Greg Lake

More, More People, Learned, Diluted

Progressive music probably wouldn't even really exist if not for the people of the United States having picked up on it and nurtured it in the way they did. It really is an American form of music in the sense that it was nurtured here. So it belongs here. It has become part of the fabric of American musical culture.

- Greg Lake

Here, United, Part, Progressive

When we made that album with Gary Moore, I was still kind of searching for the right direction for myself. Although the music is quite good the direction was like a box of fireworks that caught light all at the same time.

- Greg Lake

Box, Caught, Searching, Fireworks

You often hear people say 'Luck is self made.' I think it is, to a certain extent; if you work hard on something, you are more likely to be lucky than if you don't. That having been said, I do believe during in my career I have been at the right place at the right time with the right people.

- Greg Lake

Lucky, Been, Extent, Hear People

As I said to Ringo, I was in a successful Rock N Roll band. He was in a band that changed the world. That's the difference.

- Greg Lake

Rock, Roll, Rock N Roll, Ringo

I just got a call one day from Ringo asking me if I wanted to go out on the tour. It was as simple as that. He was putting together this band and he heard of me in the context of doing this and he gave me a call. I jumped at the chance.

- Greg Lake

Doing, Asking, Putting, Ringo

When you play music with someone who has a heart rather than playing with someone who is just doing it for money or is cynical it makes all the difference.

- Greg Lake

Play, Doing, Rather, Cynical

Making a comeback is one of the most difficult things to do with dignity.

- Greg Lake

Making, Most, Things, Comeback

I picked up the guitar at 12 yrs old - basically, my mother and father bought it for me for Christmas. I played one at my friend's house; when I say played it, I just played around with it at my friend's house. It just struck me as something I really wanted.

- Greg Lake

Father, Mother And Father, Struck

I would like to involve myself in some black music. I would like to do some blues and some gospel music. I want to try stuff from other genres and try to widen my musical base.

- Greg Lake

Some, Other, Musical, Gospel Music

I'll have periods when I write and periods when I don't. But you don't want it to become a discipline, really. If it becomes a discipline, it becomes a chore, and that's no good. To make art you need to be inspired.

- Greg Lake

Art, Need, I Write, Chore

I love touring in the United States. It's dramatically different wherever you go. North to south, you're going from snow to palm trees.

- Greg Lake

Love, United, United States, Dramatically

When I was writing my autobiography, these songs came up from time to time which were important to me, and I realized that what they really represented was, they'd come from this age of shared music.

- Greg Lake

Music, Autobiography, Shared, From Time To Time

Philosophically, what I have learned is to thy own self be true. That is the biggest lesson of all. Relax; music is fun. To many people take it to seriously because of the money involved.

- Greg Lake

Relax, Thy, Learned, I Have Learned

Songs are like children. They are all special to me - you can't just pick a favorite. Of course, 'Lucky Man' was a special tune with a wonderful story behind it. They have all done different things.

- Greg Lake

Lucky, Behind, Like, Different Things

When you are in a band for a number of years you loose your identity in a way. You become a part of that band and then all of a sudden you are not part of that band. You are still the band without the other two members.

- Greg Lake

Other, Part, Still, Loose

I feel with ELP that I wasn't making the most of my life and I wasn't making the most of my creativity. I was marking time. I don't want to do that. Life is to short.

- Greg Lake

My Life, Want, Making, Marking

The early ELP albums were pioneering in a way.

- Greg Lake

Early, Albums, Were, Pioneering

It's true when they say songwriting is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. In truth, what happens is... songs comes through you.

- Greg Lake

Songwriting, Say, Through, They Say

I don't think art is a goal orientated business. I don't do things for the challenges, I only do them because I love them, I'm not really a goal orientated, achiever type of person.

- Greg Lake

Love, Art, Think, Achiever

There is no standing still because time is moving forward.

- Greg Lake

Forward, Standing, Still, Moving

Certain things you learn through exposure. It's really the elements which make up any artist. You really learn by example. You learn by influence. And some people have a huge impact on you, and that's how you become the artist you are.

- Greg Lake

Artist, Through, Some, Make Up

The less people that are on the stage, there's more drama. You start living the music with each individual. When you see a band with ten people on stage, just a huge ensemble, you don't know who's doing what.

- Greg Lake

Doing, Drama, Ensemble, Ten

'Lucky Man' I wrote when I was twelve years old. I wrote it when I first was given a guitar by my mother. I only knew four chords, but I used them all to write that song. And it just stayed with me, stayed in my head. I didn't even write it on a piece of paper. I remembered it.

- Greg Lake

Lucky, Used, Chords, Paper

Things like 'Lucky Man' were never written to even be a record, let alone a hit record.

- Greg Lake

Alone, Lucky, Never, Hit Record

Most of my career has been about standing on a stage performing music to an audience, and once the show is over, they go home and I go on to the next show.

- Greg Lake

Career, Next, Over, Go Home

Music is an emotional experience, and that is what imprints itself on the soul. And I think for me, any great art is art which communicates human emotion.

- Greg Lake

Art, Think, Which, Emotion

Unless you go forward then you are going back.

- Greg Lake

Go, Going, Unless, Forward

I think good music comes from the heart. That's my belief.

- Greg Lake

Music, Think, I Think, Belief

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