King Crimson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
King Crimson
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
King Crimson in Nijmegen on 22 June 2019. Top L–R: Mel Collins, Tony Levin, Jakko Jakszyk, Robert Fripp. Bottom L–R: Pat Mastelotto, Jeremy Stacey, and Gavin Harrison.
|
|
| Background information | |
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres |
|
| Years active |
|
| Labels |
|
| Members |
|
| Past members |
|
King Crimson is an English progressive rock band that started in London in 1968. The original members were Robert Fripp, Michael Giles, Greg Lake, Ian McDonald, and Peter Sinfield. Robert Fripp, the guitarist and leader, was the only member who stayed with the band through all its different phases.
The band's music mixes many styles, like classical, jazz, folk, heavy metal, and electronic. King Crimson greatly influenced the progressive rock movement in the early 1970s, inspiring bands like Yes and Genesis. They continue to inspire artists today and have a large group of dedicated fans.
Their first album, In the Court of the Crimson King (1969), was their most popular and influential. The next two albums, In the Wake of Poseidon and Lizard (both 1970), were made during a time when the band's members changed often. Later, a more stable group with Fripp, Sinfield, Mel Collins, Boz Burrell, and Ian Wallace recorded Islands in 1971.
In 1972, Fripp formed a new lineup with Bill Bruford (from Yes), John Wetton, David Cross, and Jamie Muir. This group created more complex music. They released Larks' Tongues in Aspic (1973), Starless and Bible Black (1974), and Red (1974). King Crimson stopped playing together at the end of 1974.
After seven years, King Crimson reformed in 1981 with Fripp, Bruford, and new American members Adrian Belew and Tony Levin. This version of the band was influenced by African music and post-punk. They released three albums: Discipline (1981), Beat (1982), and Three of a Perfect Pair (1984).
After another break, the band reformed in 1994, adding Pat Mastelotto and Trey Gunn. Fripp called this six-member group "The Double Trio." They released the album Thrak (1995). Fripp, Belew, Mastelotto, and Gunn reunited in 2000 as "The Double Duo," releasing The Construkction of Light (2000) and The Power to Believe (2003).
After another break, the band reunited for a 2008 tour, celebrating 40 years since they started. Gavin Harrison joined, and Levin returned. King Crimson came together again in 2013 as a seven-member (and later eight-member) group with three drummers and new singer Jakko Jakszyk. This version of King Crimson toured from 2014 to 2021. Although the band's touring stopped in 2021, a new studio album with material from this period is being recorded by the final lineup and is expected to be released.
The Band's Journey
How King Crimson Started (1967–1968)
Before King Crimson, there was a band called Giles, Giles and Fripp. It started in 1967 with brothers Michael Giles (drums) and Peter Giles (bass/singer), who were professional musicians. They looked for a "singing organist," and Robert Fripp, a guitarist, joined them.
This trio made some unique songs and an album called The Cheerful Insanity of Giles, Giles and Fripp. They tried to become famous but didn't quite make it.
To make their sound bigger, they added Ian McDonald on keyboards and woodwinds. McDonald also brought in lyricist Peter Sinfield, who wrote songs with him. Fripp was inspired by other bands to add classical melodies and improvisation to his music.
Peter Giles left the band because he was unhappy with their lack of success. Fripp then suggested his friend Greg Lake join as bassist and singer.
The First King Crimson (1968–1970)
The first King Crimson band formed on November 30, 1968, with Fripp, Michael Giles, Lake, McDonald, and Sinfield. Peter Sinfield came up with the name "King Crimson." He said it meant any ruler during whose time there were "societal rumblings" or "dark forces." Fripp said it was another name for "Beelzebub," meaning "the man with an aim."
At first, McDonald was the main composer, with help from Fripp and Lake. Sinfield wrote all the lyrics and designed the band's stage lights. He was credited for "words and illumination." McDonald suggested they use a Mellotron keyboard, which became a key part of their early sound. The band wanted their music to be complex and unique, often playing in unusual time signatures.
King Crimson's first live show was in London on April 9, 1969. Their big break came on July 5, 1969, when they played at the Rolling Stones' free concert in Hyde Park, London, in front of about 500,000 people.
Their first album, In the Court of the Crimson King, came out in October 1969. Fripp called it "an instant smash." The Who guitarist Pete Townshend called it "an uncanny masterpiece." The album had Sinfield's dark lyrics and a unique sound. Its first song, "21st Century Schizoid Man," was described as "proto-metal" and criticized the Vietnam War. King Crimson's music was different from other rock bands, blending classical, psychedelic rock, folk, jazz, and military music.
After touring England, the band went to the US. Even though they were successful, there were creative disagreements. Giles and McDonald found the touring difficult and didn't like the band's musical direction. Fripp was the main force, pushing the band into darker and more intense music. McDonald and Giles preferred a lighter style and left the band in January 1970. The original lineup played their last show on December 14, 1969.
Changes and New Sounds (1970–1972)
In 1970, King Crimson went through many changes. Fripp and Sinfield worked on the second album, In the Wake of Poseidon. Greg Lake stayed to sing on most of the album before leaving to form Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Fripp's old friend Gordon Haskell sang on one song. Other musicians like Mel Collins (saxophone) and Keith Tippett (jazz piano) also played on the album.
In the Wake of Poseidon was released in May 1970 and did well on the music charts. Some people thought it sounded too much like their first album. To tour, Fripp and Sinfield brought in Mel Collins, Gordon Haskell (on vocals and bass), and Andy McCulloch (drums).
Fripp and Sinfield wrote the third album, Lizard, mostly by themselves. It had stronger jazz and classical influences. Jon Anderson from Yes sang a part on the title track. Lizard came out in December 1970. Haskell and McCulloch found the music hard to play, and Haskell left during tour rehearsals. McCulloch also left soon after.
After searching for new members, Ian Wallace joined on drums. Fripp decided to teach Boz Burrell to play bass, even though he hadn't played it before. With Burrell on bass and vocals, and Collins on saxophones, the new King Crimson started touring in May 1971.
In 1971, this group recorded Islands. Sinfield's lyrics were inspired by Homer's Odyssey and a trip to Ibiza. The album included "Sailor's Tale" and "Ladies of the Road." Islands was released in December 1971. After a US tour, Fripp told Sinfield he couldn't work with him anymore, and Sinfield left. In January 1972, the rest of the band broke up due to musical differences.
To finish their tour contracts, King Crimson reformed for a short time in 1972. Live recordings from this tour were released as Earthbound. Fripp felt the band was becoming more of a "jam band" and wanted a different musical direction.
A New Sound and a Break (1972–1975)
The next King Crimson lineup was very different. Fripp brought in percussionist Jamie Muir, drummer Bill Bruford (from Yes), bassist and vocalist John Wetton, and violinist/keyboardist David Cross.
Fripp and Wetton worked together on most of the new songs. Richard Palmer-James wrote the lyrics, sending them from Germany. The band started touring again in October 1972, gaining attention for their improvisation and Muir's unique stage presence.
In early 1973, King Crimson recorded Larks' Tongues in Aspic. The album's title track showed their new sound, mixing modern classical music, free improvisation, and heavy metal. Muir used unusual instruments like a bullroarer and gongs, and his stage movements were unpredictable. The album was released in March 1973.
Muir left the band in 1973 to join a Buddhist monastery. The remaining members recorded Starless and Bible Black in early 1974. Most of this album was recorded live during their 1973 tour.
The band started to have disagreements again. Cross's violin was often drowned out by the loud rhythm section, and he became frustrated. He left the group after their 1974 tour.
In July 1974, Fripp, Bruford, and Wetton recorded Red. Fripp was feeling tired of the music industry. Bruford and Wetton mostly directed the recording sessions. Former members Ian McDonald and Mel Collins also played on the album. Red was released in October 1974.
Even though the band's future looked good, Fripp decided he didn't want to tour. He announced that King Crimson had "ceased to exist" on September 25, 1974. The live album USA was released in May 1975, featuring recordings from their 1974 tour. King Crimson was completely inactive between 1975 and 1981.
The 1980s Return (1981–1984)
In late 1980, Robert Fripp decided to form a new rock group, but he didn't plan for it to be King Crimson. He brought in Bill Bruford as drummer and then asked American singer and guitarist Adrian Belew to join. Belew also became the band's lyricist. Bruford suggested his bassist Jeff Berlin, but Fripp chose Tony Levin instead. Fripp named the new group Discipline. They played their first show in Bath, England, on April 30, 1981. By October 1981, they decided to change their name to King Crimson.
In 1981, King Crimson recorded Discipline. This album had a very different sound, influenced by post-punk, new wave, funk, and world music. Fripp aimed for a "rock gamelan" sound, with guitars playing interlocking rhythms. Belew created many unique guitar sounds, and Levin used the Chapman Stick, a special instrument played with two hands. Bruford experimented with electronic drums. The songs were shorter and more pop-like, thanks to Belew's songwriting. Discipline was released in September 1981.
In June 1982, King Crimson released Beat. This was the first time the same lineup recorded two albums in a row. Beat was inspired by the Beat Generation writers. It included songs like "Neal and Jack and Me" and "Heartbeat." Recording Beat was stressful for Belew, who had many roles in the band.
King Crimson's next album, Three of a Perfect Pair, was recorded in 1983 and released in March 1984. The album had a "left side" with more pop songs and a "right side" with experimental music and improvisations. The stress during writing showed in the music. Three of a Perfect Pair did well on the charts.
After their 1984 tour, Fripp ended King Crimson for the second time.
The "Double Trio" and "Double Duo" (1994–2003)
In 1991, Adrian Belew wanted to bring King Crimson back. Fripp started his own record label, Discipline Global Mobile (DGM), which gave the band more creative freedom.
In 1993, Fripp started putting together a larger version of the band. He brought back Belew and Levin from the 1980s group. He added Trey Gunn on Chapman Stick and Pat Mastelotto on drums. Bill Bruford also returned, making it a "Double Trio" with two drummers.
The group released the EP Vrooom in October 1994. This showed a new King Crimson sound, mixing the interlocking guitars of the 1980s with the heavier feel of the 1970s. Many songs were written by Belew and had a pop influence.
In late 1994, King Crimson recorded their eleventh studio album, Thrak. It included updated versions of songs from Vrooom and new tracks. Thrak was described as having "jazz-scented rock structures" and a strong rhythm section. It also fit in with the alternative rock sound of the mid-1990s.
King Crimson toured in 1995 and 1996. Live recordings from this period were released on albums like Thrakattak and Vrooom Vrooom.
In 1997, Fripp was unhappy with the new music the band was creating. Bill Bruford decided to leave King Crimson for good. Instead of breaking up, the six members decided to work in smaller groups called ProjeKcts. This allowed them to try new ideas. From 1997 to 1999, the ProjeKcts played live and released recordings that featured a lot of free improvisation, mixing jazz, industrial, and techno sounds.
In October 1999, King Crimson reunited. Tony Levin took a break, so Fripp, Belew, Gunn, and Mastelotto formed the "Double Duo." They recorded The Construkction of Light in Belew's studio. This album had a metallic, industrial sound with electronic textures. It also included the fourth part of "Larks' Tongues in Aspic."
.jpg)
King Crimson toured to support their albums, sometimes playing with the band Tool. They released live albums like Heavy ConstruKction.
In 2001 and 2002, they released EPs with new songs and live recordings. The "Double Duo" released King Crimson's thirteenth album, The Power to Believe, in March 2003. Fripp called it the "culmination of three years of Crimsonising." The album included reworked songs from their EPs.
In November 2003, Trey Gunn left the group, and Tony Levin returned. The band took another break.
Anniversaries and New Beginnings (2008–2021)
In 2007, a new King Crimson lineup was announced: Fripp, Belew, Levin, Mastelotto, and a new second drummer, Gavin Harrison. They toured in 2008 to celebrate the band's 40th anniversary. They played older songs but no new material. The band went on another break after this tour.
In 2011, a band called Jakszyk, Fripp and Collins released an album called A Scarcity of Miracles. It featured guitarist and singer Jakko Jakszyk, Fripp, and former Crimson saxophonist Mel Collins, with Tony Levin and Gavin Harrison.
In September 2013, Fripp announced King Crimson's return with a "very different" lineup: seven members, including three drummers. This new group included Fripp, Levin, Harrison, Mastelotto, Jakszyk, Collins, and Bill Rieflin. Adrian Belew was not asked to join, and Jakszyk became the singer and second guitarist. This version of the band was nicknamed "the Seven-Headed Beast."
This new King Crimson focused on playing "reconfigured" versions of past songs in live concerts. They included songs from the 1960s and 1970s, as well as some instrumentals from the Belew era. They also played some material from the Scarcity of Miracles project.
After rehearsing, King Crimson toured North America in 2014. Live recordings from these shows were released as Live at the Orpheum. They debuted new instrumental music.
Tours across Europe, Canada, and Japan followed in 2015. New songs written by Fripp and Jakszyk were played for the first time. A live recording from the Canadian tour was released as Live In Toronto, which included new songs like "Radical Action (To Unseat the Hold of Monkey Mind)" and "Meltdown."
In 2016, Bill Rieflin took a break from music, and drummer Jeremy Stacey joined the band. A live album, Radical Action to Unseat the Hold of Monkey Mind, was released in September 2016, featuring performances from 2015.
On December 7, 2016, founding member Greg Lake passed away. Another former member, John Wetton, passed away on January 31, 2017.
On January 3, 2017, Bill Rieflin returned, and since Jeremy Stacey stayed, King Crimson became an octet with four drummers. Rieflin later became the band's first full-time keyboard player, and the lineup was called the "Three Over Five" Formation.
In June 2017, King Crimson released a new live EP called Heroes, featuring a cover of the David Bowie song. The video for their version of "Heroes" won "Video of the Year" at the 2017 Progressive Music Awards.
In October 2017, King Crimson released another live album, Live in Chicago, which included new music. It also brought back songs from the 1970 album Lizard.
In 2018, King Crimson went on a long tour called "Uncertain Times" through the UK and Europe. Another live album, Live in Vienna, was released in April 2018.
On April 6, 2019, it was announced that Bill Rieflin would take another break. The band decided to continue as a "Seven-Headed Beast" without a temporary replacement for Rieflin. Other band members added keyboards to their setups. In June 2019, King Crimson's entire music collection became available to stream online for their 50th anniversary.
On March 24, 2020, Bill Rieflin passed away. Other former members, Keith Tippett and Gordon Haskell, also passed away in 2020.
King Crimson toured North America and Japan in 2021. Live recordings from the American tour were released as Music Is Our Friend: Live in Washington and Albany.
Recent Developments (2022–Present)
After the 2021 tour, King Crimson stopped touring. This was due to the age of some members and the rising costs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On February 9, 2022, founding member Ian McDonald passed away.
In March 2022, a documentary film called In the Court of the Crimson King was shown at a film festival. It covered the band's live shows and history, with interviews from past and current members.
As of 2022, no future King Crimson activity was planned, except for managing their music archives. Robert Fripp called the 2021 lineup "the final incarnation" of the band.
However, in July 2025, Jakko Jakszyk confirmed that the band is working on a new King Crimson studio album. This album will feature the most recent band lineup and include studio versions of new songs they performed live between 2014 and 2021. This news suggests that King Crimson is still active as a studio project, even if they are not touring.
How King Crimson Makes Music
King Crimson's music is known as progressive rock and art rock. Their early songs were influenced by 1960s rock, especially psychedelic rock. But unlike other rock bands, King Crimson used ideas from classical music instead of just blues. Their first album, In the Court of the Crimson King, is often seen as the start of the progressive rock movement.
The band also used a lot of jazz influences, especially in "21st Century Schizoid Man." They also drew from English folk music for songs like "Moonchild." In 1972, Fripp wanted to combine the music of Jimi Hendrix, Igor Stravinsky, and Béla Bartók.
When the band reunited in 1981, they added more styles like funk, post-punk, new wave, and gamelan music. For their 1994 reunion, King Crimson mixed their 1970s and 1980s sounds with new technology and influences from electronica and industrial music.
The 2013 version of the band mostly returned to their 1960s and 1970s influences, but they used modern technology and new arrangements for their larger group of musicians.
How They Write Songs
King Crimson often used similar ways to write their music:
- Building Rhythms: They would start with a rhythm that slowly grew more complex. Examples include "The Devil's Triangle" and "The Talking Drum."
- Complex Instrumental Parts: They often had parts where the whole band played together with very tricky and layered rhythms. "21st Century Schizoid Man" and the "Larks' Tongues in Aspic" series are good examples.
- Difficult Solos: They wrote challenging solo parts for instruments, like the guitar solo in "Fracture."
- Mixing Sounds: They combined beautiful melodies and ballads with unusual, sometimes harsh, sounds.
- Improvisation: They often made up music on the spot during performances and recordings.
- Rising Notes: They used musical structures where notes would gradually go higher, like in "Facts of Life."
Improvisation
King Crimson used improvisation in their live shows and studio recordings from the very beginning. Instead of one person taking a solo while the others play a simple background, King Crimson's improvisation involved all musicians making creative decisions together. Each musician listened to the others and the overall sound, reacting to create music as they played. Fripp often described this process as "magic" when it worked well.
The band released many albums and box sets that were mostly or entirely improvised music, like Thrakattak. Sometimes, improvised pieces would be refined over time and eventually appear on official studio albums.
Influence and What They Left Behind
King Crimson has had a big impact on both early progressive rock and many artists today. Bands like Genesis and Yes were directly influenced by King Crimson's use of the mellotron. Many King Crimson members also played in other famous bands, such as Bill Bruford in Yes, Greg Lake in Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and John Wetton in Asia. Rush drummer Neil Peart said that Michael Giles's drumming style influenced him.
King Crimson's influence reaches many different music styles, especially in the 1990s and 2000s. Kurt Cobain of Nirvana said that the album Red greatly influenced their album In Utero. The band Tool is also heavily influenced by King Crimson.
Modern progressive, experimental, psychedelic, and indie rock bands like MGMT, the Mars Volta, and Primus have named King Crimson as an influence. Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree remixed King Crimson's older albums, which greatly influenced his own music.
King Crimson is often seen as a pioneer of progressive metal and has influenced bands like Dream Theater, Opeth, and Mastodon. Members of metal bands like Mudvayne and Voivod have also mentioned King Crimson as an influence.
Other artists influenced by King Crimson include video game composer Nobuo Uematsu, hip hop producer RJD2, and film director Hal Hartley.
In popular culture, the main villain in the Japanese manga and anime Golden Wind (part of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure) has a power called King Crimson. Stephen King's book series The Dark Tower also features a main villain named the Crimson King, after the band.
Bands with Former King Crimson Members
Since the early 2000s, several bands with former or current King Crimson members have played and recorded King Crimson music.
The 21st Century Schizoid Band was active from 2002 to 2005. It brought together several former King Crimson members from the band's first four albums, including Ian McDonald and Mel Collins. They played songs from King Crimson's 1960s and 1970s music.
Since 2007, Tony Levin has led the trio Stick Men, which also includes Pat Mastelotto. This band plays and reinterprets King Crimson songs in their live shows.
Between 2011 and 2014, Stick Men and Adrian Belew's Power Trio joined forces to play as The Crimson ProjeKCt, covering music from the 1980s and 1990s.
Adrian Belew has also performed different versions of King Crimson songs during his solo career.
In March 2024, a new group called "Beat" was announced. It features former King Crimson members Adrian Belew and Tony Levin, along with guitarist Steve Vai and drummer Danny Carey. They are touring the United States, playing music from King Crimson's 1980s albums.
Band Members
Current
- Robert Fripp – guitar, keyboards, Mellotron, electronics (1968–1974, 1981–1984, 1994–2008, 2013–2021, 2025–present)
- Mel Collins – saxophones, flute, bass flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, Mellotron, backing vocals (1970–1972, 2013–2021, 2025–present; studio guest 1974)
- Tony Levin – bass guitar, Chapman Stick, upright bass, synthesisers, backing vocals (1981–1984, 1994–1999, 2003–2008, 2013–2021, 2025–present)
- Pat Mastelotto – drums, percussion, programming (1994–2008, 2013–2021, 2025–present)
- Gavin Harrison – drums, percussion (2007–2008, 2013–2021, 2025–present)
- Jakko Jakszyk – lead vocals, guitar, flute, keyboards (2013–2021, 2025–present)
- Jeremy Stacey – drums, keyboards, backing vocals (2016–2021, 2025–present)
Former
- Michael Giles – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1968–1970)
- Greg Lake – bass guitar, lead vocals (1968–1970; died 2016)
- Ian McDonald – saxophone, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, keyboards, Mellotron, vibraphone, backing vocals (1968–1970; studio guest 1974; died 2022)
- Peter Sinfield – lyrics, lighting, synthesizer (1968–1972; died 2024)
- Peter Giles – bass guitar (1970)
- Gordon Haskell – lead vocals, bass guitar (1970; studio guest earlier in 1970; died 2020)
- Andy McCulloch – drums (1970)
- Ian Wallace – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1970–1972; died 2007)
- Boz Burrell – bass guitar, lead vocals (1971–1972; died 2006)
- Bill Bruford – drums, percussion (1972–1974, 1981–1984, 1994–1999)
- John Wetton – bass guitar, lead vocals (1972–1974; died 2017)
- David Cross – violin, viola, keyboards (1972–1974)
- Jamie Muir – percussion (1972–1973; died 2025)
- Adrian Belew – guitar, guitar synthesizer, lead vocals, drums and percussion (1981–1984, 1994–2008)
- Trey Gunn – Warr guitar, Chapman Stick, backing vocals, bass guitar (1994–2003)
- Bill Rieflin – keyboards, synthesizer, Mellotron, drums, percussion (2013–2016, 2017–2019; died 2020)
Albums
- In the Court of the Crimson King (1969)
- In the Wake of Poseidon (1970)
- Lizard (1970)
- Islands (1971)
- Larks' Tongues in Aspic (1973)
- Starless and Bible Black (1974)
- Red (1974)
- Discipline (1981)
- Beat (1982)
- Three of a Perfect Pair (1984)
- Thrak (1995)
- The Construkction of Light (2000)
- The Power to Believe (2003)
See also
In Spanish: King Crimson para niños
