King Crimson has been called everything from sellouts to the very definition of what progressive music is. The band was formed in January 1969 out of the ashes of the eccentric `Giles, Giles And Fripp.' Guitarist extraordinaire Robert Fripp (born May 16, 1946 in Dorset, England), drummer Mike Giles and Ian McDonald (keys & reeds), were joined by former bass/vocalist Gods member Greg Lake, (vocals/bass), to complete the first official line-up. Lyricist, Pete Sinfield supplied the words to Fripp's compositions.
The band's debut album,- `In The Court Of The Crimson King,' drew ecstatic praise from critics, a glowing, well-publicized testimonial from The Who's Pete Townshend and many influenced many bands (Genesis/Steve Hackett).
The use of the mellotron keyboard showed the group combining powerful chords with delicate melodies. Fripp's complex chord progressions, and the band's intense introduction to `21st Century Schizoid Man, revealed a rare imagination.
Unfortunately, the following year, the band repeated themselves with an almost debut album clone- `In The Wake Of Poseidon.' The significantly less-popular album was hurt by internal strife which saw McDonald and Giles depart to work as a duo and Greg Lake leave to co-found Emerson, Lake And Palmer; leaving Fripp to finish the album with ex- Cupid's Inspiration- Gordon Haskell (bass/vocals) and Mel Collins on woodwinds. Drummer Andy McCullough completed this particular line-up, but both he and Haskell left when the sessions terminated. Boz Burrell (vocals/bass) and Ian Wallace (drums) replaced McCullough and Haskell and the band embarked on a brutal touring schedule.
After one more studio album- (`Islands'), King Crimson ended their career in April 1972, for now. Collins and Wallace then pursued studio-based careers, being very much in-demand musicians for hire. Burrell later found fame playing bass with `Bad Company.'
Not to be denied, Fripp began fashioning a new, more radical line-up with ex-Family bass/vocalist John Wetton and luring drummer extraordinaire- Bill Bruford away from Yes. Fripp also added percussionist Jamie Muir and violinist David Cross and with Sinfield gone, Richard Palmer-James was recruited as new lyricist. `Larks' Tongues In Aspic,' was the only project with this line-up. During the next two years, Fripp whittled down the group to its bare bones (Fripp, Wetton and Bruford), creating a powerful and more structured exemplary album- `Red.'
In October of `74, the leader of the group- Robert Fripp stated- "King Crimson is completely over for ever and ever." He embarked on a solo career which included many collaborations (Eno, Gabriel, etc.) Bruford worked with bands such as Genesis, Gong, U.K. and National Health. The live album `USA,' was the last release of the decade. Wetton went on to record and tour with Roxy Music, Uriah Heep, UK and Asia.
Seven years later, the eclectic Fripp reformed King Crimson with Bruford, adding bassist/stick maestro Tony Levin and American vocalist/guitarist Adrian Belew.
The albums which followed, `Discipline' (the best of the lot IMHO), `Beat,' and `Three Of A Perfect Pair,' mixed commercialism with harder progressive Crimson instrumentals. They refrained from any older Crimson material, seemingly denied what made them famous in the first place. Still, the band's approach was fresh, and several concerts documented their talents during their tour of Asia.
To keep himself busy during King Crimson idle times, established a pet-project- `The League Of Gentlemen.' He subsequently performed and gave tutorials under "The League Of Crafty Guitarists" banner, but reconvened King Crimson in 1994 to record `Vroom,' and `Thrak.' A second stick player was added- Trey Gunn and Pat Mastelotto (acoustic/electric percussion) was added with Bruford to add complexity to the rhythm section.
The band recorded the ongoing `ProjeKcts,' series, and oversaw a series of collectors' releases on his own Discipline Global Mobile label. With Bruford and Levin busy on other projects, Fripp simplified the band with a line-up of himself, Belew, Gunn and Mastelotto- `The ConstruKction Of Light,' was released in 2000 to mixed reactions. Rumors of another break-up were common. The group continues to release fanclub recording for their loyal followers.
As 2002 approaches, King Crimson finished a summer tour with `Tool;' the band is currently writing and recording demos of their upcoming studio album, This is taking place at Adrian Belew's home/studio in Nashville.
King Crimson began their "Level Five" tour in November and featured former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones as an opening act.
They are crrently working on an EP to be released prior to the next studio release which they plan to record June 2002.
Adrian Belew and KMax's record "Stereotype Be" is nominated for best "Modern Rock/Alternative Album of the Year for the Dove Awards.
The current version of King Crimson is a "double-duo" formation consisting of:
Robert Fripp: Guitar, Soundscapes
Adrian Belew: Guitar, Voice
Trey Gunn: Bass Touch Guitar, Baritone Guitar
Pat Mastelotto: Electronic Percussion/Drums
Discography Chronological U.S. Album Releases
10/10/1969IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING
05/09/1970IN THE WAKE OF POSEIDON
12/11/1970LIZARD
12/03/1971ISLANDS
03/31/1973LARKS' TONGUES IN ASPIC
02/21/1974STARLESS AND BIBLE BLACK
10/05/1974RED
04/26/1975USA
10/03/1981DISCIPLINE
06/19/1982BEAT
1983THE YOUNG PERSONS' GUIDE TO KING CRIMSON
03/29/1984THREE OF A PERFECT PAIR
1986THE COMPACT KING CRIMSON
10/08/1991THE ESSENTIAL KING CRIMSON :FRAME BY FRAME (4CD Boxed Set)
10/18/1991THE ABBREVIATED KING CRIMSON : HEARTBEAT
11/17/1992THE GREAT DECEIVER :LIVE 1973-1974 (4CD Boxed Set)
10/26/1993THE CONCISE KING CRIMSON : SLEEPLESS
11/18/1994VROOOM
04/25/1995THRAK
08/22/1995B'BOOM OFFICIAL BOOTLEG - LIVE IN ARGENTINA 1994
06/25/1996THRAKATTAK
05/07/1997EPITAPH
01/13/1998THE NIGHTWATCH - LIVE 1973
04/07/1998PROJEkCT TWO - SPACE GROOVE
06/23/1998ABSENT LOVERS
05/25/1999CIRKUS: THE YOUNG PERSONS' GUIDE TO KING CRIMSON LIVE
10/26/1999THE PROJEKCTS (4CD Boxed Set)
10/26/1999A BEGINNERS' GUIDE TO PROJEKCTS: THE DECEPTION OF THE THRUSH
05/23/2000THE CONSTRUKCTION OF LIGHT
11/07/2000HEAVY CONSTRUKCTION
11/13/ 2001 VROOOM VROOOM
EPITAPH, VOLUMES 3 AND 4
3/2003 THE POWER TO BELIEVE
3/2003 HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU HAVE TO BE HAPPY WITH (EP- one track from The Power to Believe and extras))
