GETTY Keith Emerson's death came as no surprise to from ELP bandmate Greg Lake

Emerson, 71, whose body was discovered at his home in Santa Monica, California, had suffered a gunshot wound suggesting that he had taken his own life. Lake, a former member of King Crimson, and Emerson, former keyboard player from The Nice, sold millions of records during the 1970s after forming ELP with drummer Carl Palmer. Speaking from his home in London, Lake said Keith Emerson had suffered from depression since the late 70s when the band was beginning to fall apart.

“I have to be honest and say that his death didn’t come as a shock to me,” he said.

I have to be honest and say that his death didn’t come as a shock to me Greg Lake

“The situation with Keith didn’t happen suddenly, it had been developing from as far back as the Works Vol 1 album (1977). At that point, I began to see things happening with Keith which didn’t look or feel right.” Lake did his best to help his friend – “when you’re close you always hope tomorrow will be better” – but eventually he became “impossible” to work with. “I think its a very difficult thing to actually describe what depression is,” he said.

GETTY Lake said about Keith that 'He loved music – that was his main purpose in life'

“We all know what it looks like, people’s moods become very black. But it’s more complicated than that. It changes someone’s personality. “Also, Keith got into substance abuse, which made it worse and the whole thing just spiralled. “He lived, in the end, this very lonely existence of someone who was deeply troubled, He loved music – that was his main purpose in life. “But the music he made after ELP never bore fruit in the same way as it did in the early days.”

GETTY Lake said Keith Emerson had suffered from depression since the late 70s

Lake is proud of the work he and Keith did in Emerson, Lake & Palmer, particularly the trio of 1970s albums (Tarkus, Trilogy and Brain Salad Surgery) which catapulted them to multi-million selling international success. “I was always searching for those early days, I was always looking for that spark of effervescence that we had during the making of all those great records.” The pair last worked together two years ago when they played a festival in London. But by that point Emerson was also beginning to suffer from an affliction which made it hard for him to play the keyboards. “Part of Keith’s problem was that, especially in later years, he’d begun to develop a degenerative disease that affected his hands. He lost control of some of his fingers.” Lake is reluctant to link this illness too firmly to his death.

GETTY Jim met Keith at Tramp nightclub in London in 1982

“I’m sure it was a component. But I have to say to you that a lot of people are given bad news like that and you don’t take your life because of it. I’m not a doctor but I saw someone who became increasingly confused, desperate and depressed. It happens to people. He urged other sufferers to seek help of the kind provided by The Samaritans. “All I would say is that if anyone does have feelings like that, of being so desperate that they think it’s better off not to wake up tomorrow, then please, go and talk to somebody - the doctor, your friend, anybody.

GETTY Emerson was beginning to suffer from an affliction which made it hard for him to play the keyboards

“Talk to them and tell them what state you’re in. If Keith had taken that path he might still be here today,” he said. The comedian Jim Davidson, a life-long fan, said that he had discovered Emerson when the rock star was playing with The Nice. “Keith was the first real showman I had seen in rock music,” Davidson said. “He would throw the Hammond across the stage, play it upside down and even stick daggers in it. “This guy was a rebel, and I wanted to be just like him...without the piano lessons!