Drummer Carl Palmer has revealed to Classic Rock that Emerson, Lake And Palmer planned to tour this month – but problems with Keith Emerson’s hand put the kibosh on reunion plans.

Because Emerson is unable to perform a lengthy stage show, Palmer suggests the keyboard player might like to make a guest appearance with Asia instead!

Excerpts from an interview with Rob Hughes follow:

“ELP were going to be playing together this month and into November, but Keith Emerson had some problem with his hand.

“It froze up in the studio when he was overdubbing his live DVD, so he’s not been able to play. He hasn’t been able to play more than a 35- or 40-minute set. That was the problem.

“The last I heard was that the two of them [Emerson and Greg Lake] were doing some writing together and thinking of making an album together. I’ve got so much on my plate, but am ready to look at any situation providing it’s the right one.

“I also have the idea that maybe we could get guests singers and musicians to play with Asia, people who have connections to the individuals in the band.

“It’d be kind of a family rock tree, putting a show together that way. Justin Hayward would be great, or one of the guys from Supertramp. I mean, Justin Hayward singing Nights In White Satin with Steve Howe backing him on guitar – wouldn’t that be marvellous?

“I thought that might be a situation where Keith Emerson could play, and we’d have Greg Lake as well. So we’d have those two on stage and Asia. We could play things like Fanfare For The Common Man and Lucky Man. It would provide a different slant on the whole thing.

“Of course I don’t know if Emerson would do it, as he has an ego the size of Wembley football stadium. But it would be worth throwing the idea out there.”