King Crimson has been described as “a way of doing things”. It is a band that has existed in many different incarnations, beginning in 1969, with the line-up of Fripp, McDonald, Lake, Giles and Sinfield, which recorded the seminal album “In The Court of the Crimson King”, often cited as the genesis of progressive rock
“The impact of this group in England, from its first performance on April 9th. 1969 at the Speakeasy in London, is difficult to convey 25 years afterwards unless one were part of it: something like the explosive impact of punk seven years later. A considerable influence on the musicians and groups of its generation, it is also the only Crimson which could have been a massive commercial success. Inevitably, it drew as much hostility as support.
There was something completely other which touched this group and which we called our "good fairy". After reflecting on how we went from abject failure to global commercial and musical success in nine months, I concluded after several years of reflection that sometimes music leans over and takes us into its confidence. This was one of those times.”
This initial incarnation lasted less than a year, setting a trend for regular dissolutions and changes of line-ups over the next 50 years. “I have noticed that when Crimson is about to get successful in a big way it breaks up, regularly.” as Fripp noted.
Although they recorded thirteen studio albums, many regarded as classics, King Crimson is generally regarded as essentially a live band, best seen in live performances which could re-orientate the lives of both band members and the audience. “Records and live performance are two worlds. One is a love letter, the other a hot date. Crimson were always the band for a hot date and from time to time they could write a love letter too. But for me they were better in the clinches. Like, in London in the Spring of 1969, Amsterdam in November 1973, The Savoy, New York over three nights in November 1981. Sometimes it's like angels descending from the clouds on chariots of fire, blowing trumpets of gold in your ear.”
In Fripp’s opinion there have been four definitive line-ups. 1969, 1974, particularly at their final show in NY Central Park July and on the album Red, 1981, and the final 2014-2021 incarnation.
“The 1972/4 Crimson was rocking rock which looked to rock rather than jazz for its spirit, drawing mainly on a European vocabulary both for writing and improvising. In no way a fusion band, the group increasingly needed improvisation to stay alive. This didn't show much in the studio albums, but live it stepped sideways and jumped.
Live, the 1981 Crimson were more song based than the earlier lineups but Tony, Ade, Billy & Bob could also rock out and shred wallpaper at three miles.”
Of the final incarnation” “It is remarkable. The best band I’ve been in, musically, personally, professionally.”
Fans all have their opinion over their favourite line-up and album. The intention behind DGMLive is to release all the live recordings of King Crimson alongside their studio albums and the recording sessions which led to them. A remarkable catalogue of a remarkable band.
