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King Crimson is one of the most innovative and enduring bands of the 20th century. Despite breaking up two separate times, the band continues, because, as Robert Fripp puts it, "King Crimson has a life of its own. It is a creative identity quite apart from the musicians who comprise it." The first incarnation of King Crimson was born in late 1968. By July, 1969, they were playing the famous Hyde Park free concert in London, lead by the Rolling Stones, only their seventh gig. And by October they had already released In the Court of the Crimson King, a groundbreaking album that set the ba ...read more
King Crimson is one of the most innovative and enduring bands of the 20th century. Despite breaking up two separate times, the band continues, because, as Robert Fripp puts it, "King Crimson has a life of its own. It is a creative identity quite apart from the musicians who comprise it." The first incarnation of King Crimson was born in late 1968. By July, 1969, they were playing the famous Hyde Park free concert in London, lead by the Rolling Stones, only their seventh gig. And by October they had already released In the Court of the Crimson King, a groundbreaking album that set the bar for progressive rock for years to come. Their debut incorporated jazz fusion, epic Mellotron, proto-metal, and innovatively nightmarish themes into their lyrics.
Despite a brilliantly original debut album, the band had already begun to dissolve because of creative tensions on their first tour. 1970 through 1972 was the rockiest period for Crimson, around 7 musicians coming and going, but were still able to deliver follow-ups to their debut, from the classical-tinged Islands to the sprawling jazz album Lizard. By 1973, the band was a trio (though got heavy support from session players for their albums) and released the albums Starless and Bible Black and Red. Though both albums had the theatrical darkness of previous Crimson works, they were heavier than most bands of the time. This is partly because of the dense heavy bass work of John Wetton. King Crimson broke up shortly after the release. Robert Fripp's reasons were that he no longer connected with people at concerts, and that the band would eventually become a lifeless entity because the members lacking control of the group.
A rebirth occured in 1981, when Fripp and drummer from the Red era Bill Bruford decided to form a new band. After recruiting bassist Tony Levin, and, for the first time in Crimson history, second guitarist Adrien Belew (who also served as vocalist and main lyricist,) the new car scented King Crimson released a trilogy of albums from 1981 to 1984, Discipline, Beat and Three of a Perfect Pair, respectively. The band's sound had a New Wave feel to it, but not for long. The Crimsons disbanded once again after the albums.
The early 90s were spent with Fripp once again making plans for Crimson, and a new more hard rock influenced Crimson than before released THRAK in 1995. The lineup was a sextet, incorporating veteran members Fripp, Bruford, Levin, and Belew, and new ones, Trey Gunn, and Pat Mastelotto. The rest of the 90s held various Crimson side projects (4 of them, called 'ProjeKcts') and issued live recordings. Two albums have been released in the new millenium, as a quartet without Bruford and Levin. This quartet is the current line-up, and have been on a hiatus since 2003. Adrien Belew and Fripp have reportedly met in a studio in early 2006, but Belew has stated that the band will return in 2007. « hide |
Similar Bands: Yes, Genesis, Van Der Graaf Generator, Pink Floyd
Contributors: The What, doqtor, clairvoyant, pulseczar,
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