 The Nice evolved from Gary Farr and the T @-@ Bones , which keyboardist Keith Emerson and bassist Keith " Lee " Jackson were both members of before the band dissolved in early 1967 . Emerson then briefly played with the VIPs , who toured the Star @-@ Club in Hamburg , and his playing style became influenced by the organist Don Shinn , including standing up to play the instrument and rocking it on stage . Meanwhile , P. P. Arnold , a performer who reached a higher level of popularity in the UK than her native US , was unhappy with her backing band , The Blue Jays , and wanted a replacement . Her driver suggested Emerson would be able to put together such a group . Emerson agreed , but only on the condition the band could perform on their own as a warm @-@ up act . Since it effectively meant getting two bands for the price of one , manager Andrew Loog Oldham readily agreed . Emerson recruited Jackson , drummer Ian Hague former Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds as well as a Mark Leeman Five member , and finally ex @-@ the Attack guitarist David O 'List , the latter by recommendation from journalist Chris Welch . The name came from Arnold saying , " Here comes the Naz " , which the group misheard as " the Nice " . 
