q. Who is Keith Emerson?

a. Keith Emerson is this generation's most prolific and expressive composer / performer. Few have the true gift to convey a complete rainbow of emotions via their music - fewer still are capable of performing in such an original way that their style and personnae has become an icon. Keith Emerson is all of this. Keith Emerson was the first to interpret classical music, filter it through his unique style, and then deliver it on a flaming plate to a generation not familiar with Copeland, Ginastera, Martling, or even Bach. Keith Emerson has many imitators, but there is only one original - and his compositions and performances have not been diluted by the years.

q. Why Close to Home when there already is an authorized Keith Emerson website?

a. Close to Home has specific goals that are different than the goals of the authorized Emerson site. Close to Home's charter is to promote the talents of Keith Emerson via the internet utilizing animation, sound, and the latest internet technologies. Close to Home aggressively pursues this goal by frequently refreshing graphics, adding obscure sound files, and inviting the participation of the people that 'surf' over to Close to Home. Close to Home is not an authorized site, therefore it takes the liberty of interpreting Keith Emerson from a fan's point of view, and not necessarily from that of the artist. Close to Home is designed by a fan, and offered to other fans, musicians, and lovers of music and the performing arts.

q. Close to Home used to be authorized. What happened?

a. Keith decided that he would like to exercise more control over his internet site, and opted to go a different direction. Keith Emerson has developed his image over the last thirty years, and the idea that others on the internet can take that image, and offer it, editorialize on it, and distort it at their whim is a frightening thought.

q. Why doesn't Close to Home have more stuff on Emerson, Lake and Palmer?

a. There already is an authorized ELP site on the internet that frankly kicks ass. Additionally, John Arnold heads up the ELP Digest and has a very complete internet site on ELP. Close to Home recognizes the ground that ELP has broken in modern music, but we are here exclusively to promote Keith Emerson, his solo works, and his viability as a composer in his own right.

q. Does Keith Emerson know about Close to Home?

a. Everyone knows about Close to Home. Keith is still kept in the loop on what goes on here, and we are adopting a new approach by trying not to piss Keith off.

q. Where do you get the sound files and photography that appear on Close to Home.

a. Much of it comes from the personal collection of Richard Stellar, the designer of Close to Home. The rest comes from those of you who share personal photos, anecdotes, and foreign publications. In most cases the photographer or artist is credited, along with his/her e-mail address.

q. How many people visit Close to Home each day?

a. Close to Home is one of the most popular internet sites on the Annex server located in Los Angeles, California. Second only to SpinningPlates.com, Close to Home is viewed by more than 300 people a day on average, and gets more than 800 hits per day from as far away as Estonia. We subscribe to IISA stats, an internet statistician device, and can see the activity of Close to Home at any time. Although we do not publish a hit counter on the site page, Close to Home has received well over 100,000 hits within the last year.

q. Why does Close to Home get so many hits?

a. After we designed Close to Home, our work had only begun. Interstellar9 markets sites through web-search engines, usenet groups, and special interest digests. We have found that with the exception of Yahoo (where Close to Home is listed right under the Emerson authorized site and the Emerson Midi Site as the only three Emerson sites on the internet, as of 7/21/98) Close to Home is listed way ahead of the authorized site. We also cross market Close to Home among our other sites. Keith Emerson's fame is the main reason why the site gets so many hits. We merely support the site with strategic marketing.