Emerson, Lake & Palmer
British prog supergroup whose bassist Greg Lake signed PFM to Manticore Records in 1972 after catching their performance while ELP toured Italy, facilitating Italian prog's international breakthrough. Lake recognized technical facility matching British prog standards but with a distinctly Italian melodic sensibility, a warmth and accessibility that British bands sometimes lacked. Their label Manticore provided the platform for PFM's American chart success, though Lake's insistence on English lyrics—and Peter Sinfield's reimagined words for 'Photos of Ghosts'—demonstrated the cultural compromises required for international expansion. ELP's technical virtuosity and classical adaptations influenced Italian bands, but the relationship went both ways: the Italian scene showed British prog that progressive rock could be emotionally direct without sacrificing complexity.