King Crimson (Official Thread)

LG

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Re: Any King Crimson Fans in the House?

It was not with KC AK, he was supporting one of his friends bands, and the concert I referred to he was behind a curtain to the side of the stage, when asked later the frontman simply said Robert didn't want the spotlight, and was helping his band out. I don't know enough about him personally whether he is sterile or not, I just enjoy his talent and ability to go for years and not repeat himself. Of course seeing KC is bascially RF and friends doesn't hurt the cause.
 

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Re: Any King Crimson Fans in the House?

It was not with KC AK, he was supporting one of his friends bands, and the concert I referred to he was behind a curtain to the side of the stage, when asked later the frontman simply said Robert didn't want the spotlight, and was helping his band out. I don't know enough about him personally whether he is sterile or not, I just enjoy his talent and ability to go for years and not repeat himself. Of course seeing KC is bascially RF and friends doesn't hurt the cause.
oops sorry he was accused on the last tour of hiding and not coming out for applause too. I thought you were talking about that.
 

FretBuzz

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Re: Any King Crimson Fans in the House?

I'm a big Crimson fan. My favorite stuff of theirs is the '72-'75 period ( Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Starless and Bible Black, Red, & USA) - that particular line-up is one one of my 10 all-time favorite rock bands.

I've been lucky enough to see them three times; once in 1981, and two nights in a row in 1995.
 

joe

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Re: Any King Crimson Fans in the House?

King Crimson's contributions to the progressive rock genre can not be overstated. 'In the Court of the Crimson King' from 1969 is arguably the 'first' full fledge prog/rock album and opened the flood gates to a slew of other artists as well as putting the genre on the musical map.

I'm not going into the music and the different versions of the band through out the '70's as there has already been many discussions posted in this thread to date.

After the release of 'Red' in 1974, Robert Fripp was disenfranchised with the music industry and stated that King Crimson "was over for ever and ever". After a brief hiatus, Fripp worked with Brian Eno, David Bowie, The Talking Heads, amongst others.

In the late '70's prog/rock was on a descent with punk and new wave now headlining the music scene and the prog. giants changing thier musical direction to more of a pop/rock sound to try and keep up with the times as well as thier own 'survival'. This sound shift took notice in 1978 with Genesis' 'Then There Was Three', Love Beach by ELP, Tormato by Yes, and the s/t debut from UK. By 1980, prog. was all but dead.

In 1981 Fripp brought in a new line up including Bill Bruford, Tony Levin, and Adrian Belew for the release of Discipline. Combining both the new wave sound and fused it with King Crimson's 70's releases, notably the '72-'74 version of the band. The outcome was refreshing and progressed prog to a new direction. Not being a fan of the new wave/synth pop of the early '80's, this experimental work is exceptional. Two more fantastic releases would follow, Beat, and Three of a Perfect Pair with this line-up.

Somehow this version of King Crimson gets lost to the importance of prog of that era, over-shadowed by the success of 90125 from Yes, Abacab and the Phil Collin's mainstream rock influenced Genesis, and Asia's s/t debut from 1982.

The neo-prog. movement of the early/mid '80's led by Marillion and fellow artists were heavily influenced by most notably Genesis and to some degree by Yes. Sadly IMO, artists of this new sub-genre didn't take not of King Crimson's sound from this time period and sounded like recycled symphonic prog/pop of the late '70's thus not really advancing the music, though somewhat keeping it alive, barely.

Actually I don't even remember this movement at the time as it had very little impact here in North America but more over in the UK. Some of these artists like Arena and Magenta I just can't listen to. Marillion has never appealled to me, though that is not without trying. Neo-prog. begs the question if it was a "progress paradox" to the prog. genre. A whole another debate in itself.

Here's a few tracks from the King Crimson incarnation I touched on:
Frame By Frame

Sartori in Tangier

Three of a Perfect Pair
 
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LG

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Re: Any King Crimson Fans in the House?

^^Very well written post Joe. I have most of KC's discography, and consider them one of the most versatile bands in rock music history, but I prefer the early material the best. I also am a Marillion fan, only have 4 of their albums though...all with Fish on vocals.
 

joe

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Re: Any King Crimson Fans in the House?

LG, I also prefer the 70's KC.

Marillion just doesn't work for me. Most of the neo-prog artists don't, with the exception of IQ.

I don't lump in The Flower Kings or Spock's Beard in the neo-prog genre.
 

LG

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Re: Any King Crimson Fans in the House?

Right now I don't have any Flower Kings albums...probably and oversight on my part. Spock's Beard is a very good band, and I have a few of their CD's laying around the place.

I like Marillion, I have the Deluxe remasters they released a few years ago of three of their best albums and the production quality is first class, and it does help that I like the band too. :grinthumb
 

Sweaty

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Re: Any King Crimson Fans in the House?

I also like them, I have 3 of their albums, I haven't listened to them in ages, very good review :)
 

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Re: Any King Crimson Fans in the House?

Robert Fripp has always been anti picture taking and it was nice to finally get a good picture of him tonight.


5233834656_8f1403d1fb.jpg

I had two of my sort of hipster friends with me and had to explain that Robert Fripp should get the credit Brian Eno gets today. Its a shame that Robert although partially his fault for his attitude is mentioned much for his non crimson stuff like the Eno songs (baby's on Fire), Bowie(Heroes) or Talking Heads (I Zimbra) and Fade Away And Radiate (Blondie)
 

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