I keep hearing about some kind of "trash crash" cymbal which was made with a bent up crash cymbal and a trash can lid or something. He apparently never was able to recreate the sound.
"Red" is probably the best King Crimson album. Anything with Fripp, Wetton, Bruford and Cross is fabulous. Robert Fripp - Guitars John Wetton - Bass Bill Bruford - Drums/Percussion David Cross - Mellotron and Violins Mel Collins - Saxophones The Starless and Bible Black album has a stunningly powerful track called "Fracture". Also, try the album "Islands" and the title track, Islands, which is absolutely beautiful. 1971, with Fripp, Mell Collins, Ian Wallace on Drums, Box Burrell on Bass and vocals, and Peter Sinfield with Lyrics.
The "chaotic" sound in the climax of this song it is so ahead of its time. Some Death/Black/Post Metal bands reproduce this type of sound only decades later
I put it in a "History" of Math Metal Playist with other Proggers as a "Pre-cursor" to Technical Metal history many years ago :). ua-cam.com/play/PL2DU3TBNutEdtiYql5HxhzIxzuFIPcXS9.html (details in the description of the playlist)
Thank you for doing Starless. First part is the saddest, but also the most beautiful piece of music I ever heard. And yes, Fripp/Wetton/Bruford were INSANE heavy, especially live.
i read an interview with kurt cobain a long, long time ago. when he was asked about his influences, he cited king crimson - red as the album that made him want to be a musician.
"Finally", The Great King Crimson of the Bruford/Wetton Era ! 👍🎶🎼✌ Countless bands "took & borrowed" from KC they are the Classic Prog Masters and This Era 1972-74' was their Best Classic Prog Crimson ! 😃
King Crimson opened for Tool for a brief tour. They consider Crimson one of their major influences. Maynard told the audience that having KC open for them was like Madonna opening for Britney Spears.
Quite simply the best track King Crimson ever released. From the initial sad chords on the mellotron to the controlled chaos of the middle section to the pure jazzy free jam, it's something that only KC can give you. As a bass player myself, I'm always baffled by how intensely John struck those strings with his fingers, it sounds as if he were using a pick instead (and playing hard with it)! There's literally A LOT of material to dig into, especially considering this is a band that was always on the vanguard and always willing to experiment. Their "fresh when it's written" (as Robert says) approach made them a band that were always ahead of their time. Since the Beat project, featuring Adrian Belew and Tony Levin (along with Steve Vai and Dany Carey), is about to start touring, you guys can jump straight into their 80's material. _Elephant Talk_ and _Three of a Perfect Pair_ are two of my initial suggestions for that era of the band.
You’re right that Tony Levin plays bass with KC - but not here. He joined in 1981, I believe. This album features John Wetton on bass, as well as vocals.
@@ashebanow when he joined Uriah Heep I joked to a friend who loved the band that Wetton would take over. On the first album he played bass and background vocals. On the second, he played bass guitar, Mellotron, electric piano, backing and lead vocals. Then he was gone.
He formed UK after this album when Robert Fripp decided to go into retirement. He recruited Allan Holdsworth to replace Fripp they made one album then he went onto form Asia.
Indeed! From where they return to the original theme, all the way to the final note literally sends shivers down my spine and brings tears to my eyes. It is just. So. Perfect.
I had the great fortune to see King Crimson on their final tour, and this was the encore for the show I attended. I say with no shame that as the opening notes began to swell I cried. This was the final song played on that tour, possibly the final song to ever be played live by an incarnation of Crimson.
@@DavideBaroni Yes, Nakano Sun Plaza. Fabulous acoustics in that hall. I caught Elvis Costello there when he was touring with the Brodsky Quartet for "The Juliette Letters."
Have seen several concerts of King Crimson, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris, Nijmegen, and an old and the best on in Maastricht, in a very small theatre, no sitting places, only standing. Complete darkness and Bill Bruford starting drumming, it is still alive in my memory. I have had the luck that King Crimson was there from my 16th lifeyear, until recently, this is sooooo my music. :)
Imagine my/our suprise .... from Chicago to Genesis, Yes, Zappa, Zeppelin and then this? Damn we had it so good. I was 17 and the music was phenomenal.
We were soooo spoiled in those days. Popular music was comprised of a hundred different genres, and it seemed like everything was possible. I guess it makes sense that it would die when you get rid of artists, musicians, singers, lyricists, and replace them with the dregs they put in their place.
Red was their 7th studio album. The sax was performed by guest musician Mel Collins, who also performed on a few of their earlier albums. Starless was an excellent choice, well liked by most of their fans.
My son's name is Dylan Thomas ........." Yes, on purpose. He once asked me "Why would you name me after a Welsh poet who drank himself to death?" He was about 10.
First time I heard this I was looking out over a beautiful moonlit North Yorkshire moors landscape on a cold winters night. And yes it was Starless! It blew my mind. I still remember this feeling 50 years later. Great reaction and commentary guys.
As usual, I am compelled to share my Fripp and King Crimson brushes with greatness, as I've been so lucky like the Forrest Gump of Prog to be at amazing moments. In the summer of '81, my friend saw a small classified ad that Fripp was going to perform his unique combination of guitar and reel-to-reel tape looping called "Frippertronics" live at Washington Square Church in New York's Greenwich Village in July. We found ouselves among a handful sitting on the floor like elementary school kids in front of Fripp on a stool with a reel-to-reel on a stand. Besides producing amazing original music before our eyes and ears (which you can find on UA-cam or the album of those performances released in 2022), he said he'd just re-formed King Crimson (again) for the first time since the breakup right after Red in 1974! One of the other points he made which stuck with me as a musician is how he placed more value on the silences a band that was performing at its peak would magically insert in a passage than he did on what was played. A couple of months later (September 1981) the spectacular "Discipline" album was released featuring the Fripp/Buford/Belew/Levin lineup. Then we saw they were going to be playing the Savoy, NYC in November. That same friend and I got tickets for the first show on the first night 11/6/81 (they did 3 nights with 2 shows per night). The venue was SMALL (it had a Max Cap of just 841) and just couldn't hope to contain the energy eminating from an audience who held these true artists in such high regard, had waited so long to have King Crimson exist again AT ALL much less hear them live, and here they had the old/classic catalogue and brand new fantastic music from which to choose. I've never seen artists and audience play off each other to that degree with such enthusiastic abandon and unbridled joy before or since. Not long ago, Fripp was asked what his favorite shows were in the entire 50 year history of King Crimson, and he named just four---Among them were that first show we saw at the Savoy which in Fripp's own words was "astonishing"... "where the impossible became possible". It was all beyond description and to this day perhaps the best I've ever seen in MY 50 year concertgoing history, but there was one moment where the band is in a raging improv section at a frenetic pace and volume, and suddenly every band member chooses the same moment and takes a beat independently together to create a stunning silence...and Robert Fripp smiled.
The value of silence is too often forgotten. For example, most people can hum the pulsing bass line from Eurythmics's "Sweet Dreams," but for me the brilliance in that song is the brief moment of silence just before the string line comes in.
Have alook at some of Gentle Giant's live shows where they switch from strings to wooodwind to keyboards with ease. incredible musicianship with incredible perfomannces.
"Starless" was the 1970s Crimson's swan song, the last studio track until the band was reconstituted in 1981. The phrase "Starless and Bible black" is from the opening of Dylan Thomas's Under Milk Wood, a play for voices. All three of this lineup's "studio" albums (the second was almost all recorded live but they didn't tell anyone at the time) are masterpieces; IMO the first, Larks' Tongues in Aspic, is the most interesting and ground breaking of the three. It created sound worlds unlike anything heard before or since. But this lineup is known for their live performances. They took more chances live than any other mainstream prog band, creating remarkably cohesive improvised tracks from scratch each night.
Cheers Nick! Wetton (R I P ) achieved that crunching/crushing sound through the use of a fuzz tone, Fripp called him the "bass beast of terror." True that. Cheers!
Yeah King Crimson at Last and already with 213 comments before I even get a full listen. Great track, great album, great reaction. Love John Weston’s playing and singing. Can’t wait to hear more fingers crossed. 👍👍
16:16 Yes indeed, John Wetton was in Asia and did lead vocals with bass here with his last tenure in KC in Red since the album of King Crimson's Lark's Tongues in Aspic that was also Bill Bruford's first album with them after leaving Yes until ending to KC's THRAK (1995). Wetton's crunchy thunderous bass during the climax here is always the bomb and a fitting end to his tenure at Crimson and may he rest in peace!
I recently heard a version where AI was used for Greg Lake's voice as the vocal on 'Prince Rupert Awakes' and it was just beautiful. It was on a different video platform than YT.
Beat: A new touring band comprised of: Adrian Belew Danny Carey Tony Levin Steve Vai are touring in the states this Autumn playing King Crimson songs From 3 albums: Discipline (1981) Beat (1982) Three Of A Perfect Pair (1983) Tickets go on sale tomorrow. We are going to San Jose Ca 9/12.
Playing in Denver, Colorado Nov 06 with Steve Vai Standing in for Robert Fripp and Danny Carey standing in for Bill Bruford. King Crimson albums can be grouped into sets, and the three albums from the mid '80s (Robert Fripp, Bill Bruford, Tony Levin and Adrian Belew) are literally "Three of a Perfect Pair" (Discipline, Beat and Three of a Perfect Pair). I am disappointed that the closest they are coming to me (Vancouver, BC) is like San Jose, not even Seattle.
This was epic!! Have not heard this album! Not sure why I have not! Loved everything here. What a trio of musicians! I will be listening to this album very soon! So glad you decided to do it!
This is my favorite of what I have heard. "RED" or "One More Red Nightmare" next. They broke up after this for about 7 years before reforming with Fripp Bruford, Levin, and Belew. They sounded very different. The more recent tours had three drummers at the front of the stage. After Red, they broke up but released the live album USA from their previous tour with Fripp, Bruford, Wetton, and Cross on violin. At every show, they play an improvised jam and name it after the host city. USA includes Asbury Park. I was 4 or 5 years old and blissfully unaware of the existence of King Crimson playing this song 3 miles away from my house in the adjacent town. I believe they were the first band (opening act excluded) to play the venue in Asbury.
One of the reasons they sounded very different besides having different personnel for Discipline era, was Fripp started sing 'New Standard Tuning', which is a bit odd sounding.
@bmac1205 I had a long reply, but my phone freaked out and I lost it. Also, the progression of music shown with the 8 Rush albums released in the same 1974-1981 period. The music landscape itself had drastically changed.
Wow, Nick John Wetton was one of Classic Progs "Greatest" Bassist along with Chris Squire, His Live work on KC Box Sets from 1973-74' are Amaning and Geddy Lee & Les Claypool "Loved" Wetton's playing in King Crimson & UK ! 👍🎶🎸🎼✌
Thank you so much for doing this video! "Starless" is my favourite song of all time, if I had to pick just one. I'm so glad that you appreciate it like I do.
Oh my! This is going to be fun. A journey through King Crimson really has to begin with the first album though, especially if you haven't heard it for ages and can't remember too much. The title track, '21st. Century Schizoid Man' and 'Epitaph' are wonders of 20th. Century music! In The Court of the Crimson King was the beginning of all of our Prog lives back in '69, the record that changed everything. And what an album cover!! I see lots of people are getting in quick guys, just in case!!!
The ultimate King Crimson track. It encapsulates the best elements of Schizoid, Epitaph and goes beyond. Also, kudos for the headphone use. Might have scared that sweet doggo through mains lol
One of my favorite KC tunes., I remember listening as a teenager, lighting up and laying in my bed with headphones on, letting it all sink in. That crescendo got my head spinning! Great reaction!
This is in my opinion the best Crimson line up. This is the albums and timeline whith this line up. Larks Tounges in Aspic. 1973 Starless and bible black.1974 Red 1974 You are right about Tool. Danny Carry are joining Adrian Belew,Tony Levin and Steve Vai on a Crimson Project Called Beat. They are going to Tour USA.
This track is based upon the song "Starless And Bible Black", by The Stan Tracey Quartet. John Wetton the bassist for Crimson loved the song and this was the result of his derivation. You can clearly hear the main theme from the original version persisting in this. You should take the time to listen to the original Stan Tracey version. It's extremely beautiful.
This is incorrect. The title is from a Dylan Thomas poem, which Wetton was also familiar with and the music has absolutely nothing to do with the Stan Tracey track. There is no resemblance in melody at all, just a similar mood.
@@timcardona9962 You are correct, it is from a Thomas poem. But Wetton had heard the Stan Tracey song as can be clearly heard from the similarities. Have you never heard the Tracey, "Starless And Bible Black".
I just listened to it before I replied to you. It does not sound anything like KC; not the chords, not the melody. Nothing. Just an inspiration in mood. Your comment is implying a resemblance in harmonic when there is none
Live Crimson from this Era is where it's at guys, anything from the "USA" album the long 30th one, Box Sets .... "The Great Deceiver" , "Starless" and "The Road to Red" All shine just the Best Crimson !! 👍🎶🎼✌ Oh because I'm an old Progger that seen all these bands many times and my older Brother worked in a big Music store in Boston in the 70s and Loved KC also.... This was John Wetton's gear during his time with KC in 1972'-1974', he played two different Fender Precision Basses one was Natural Maple body and the other White and his Amps were 3 Hiwatt 100 heads w/ Two 4x12 Hiwatt Cabs and one Large 18" Bass reflex cab by Cerwin Vega my Brother believes, and started with a unnamed ? Italian Bass Fuzz/Wah pedal then changed to a much better Morley Fuzz/Wah Bass pedal and your right Nick, Wetton Cranked up his distortion/Fuzz on his pedal and Amps all the time and John & Bruford would play so loud at times at different shows from 73'-74' Live and Fripp said often it drove him Nuts !! 😆 I saw this era of Crimson in 73' and 74' in Boston and the 73' show was "Really" loud !! And you can hear the volume on "Asbury Park" on USA CD is one of them !! 👍🎸🥁🎶
It is such a shame that King Crimson cancels any UA-cam reactions to their music. I don't expect this to remain up for long, but thanks for trying. I love this period of KC...listening to their first 7 albums is a great journey...but the 3 80s albums are my favorites.
Bill Bruford.....don't forget Genesis. Bill and Phil were friends and he helped them move Phil out front to sing. Bill played for a short time also with Collins in Brand X (jazz fusion). It's all about the music.
"Red" saw the group out in a blaze of glory; a tautly energetic finale and realization of their last directions, driven by Fripp's distorted guitar and Wetton's similarly aggressive bass. Bruford punctuates magnificently. Supplemented by the Mellotron, "Red" gives new meaning to the concept of a trio. - The Rolling Stone Record Guide 1979
Hi Nick & Lex! If you love this song from King Crimson in the 70s, then just watch this live version recorded in Japan in 2016 with some new band members and 3 drummers. This is just amazing
I bought their first album back in my early teens mainly due to the album cover art. I was heavily into Yes, Emerson Lake and Palmer, and Jethro Tull at the time but knew nothing about King Crimson. To say I was blown away would be an understatement. Greg Lake's vocals combined with intense, experimental music from Fripp was a revelation. I've been a fan ever since!
Justin of JUSTJP, played a Live Track of Starless, off of King Crimson's 2017's Meltdown: Live in Mexico City. Meltdown consists of three Audio Discs of that Concert. Meltdown also has one Blu-Ray Disc of them playing. Three Drummers and five Players behind them. Meltdown: Live in Mexico City, is a Must-Have.
50 years later, this still blows listeners away. It was a kick watching the two of you groove on it. This era of Crimson (Crim v2.0: Fripp, Bruford, Wetton, Cross, and Mel Collins (saxophone) produced some of their best work- “Lark’s Tongues in Aspic”, “Starless and Bible Black”, and “Red”. Check out “Fracture”, “Lament”, “The Night Watch”. This is mind blowing material- writing and performance. I got this album from a friend in 1975. He had bought it for 49 cents in a cut away bin! This is the second iteration of Crimson. The next (Crim v3.0) would be the Belew/Levin era with Bruford and Fripp releasing “Discipline”, “Beat”, and “Three of a Perfect Pair”. After you get through Crim v2.0, move on to Crim v3.0. This material is the kernel of one of the greatest bands in progressive music using rock instrumentation. John Wetton was an absolute monster. His tone and attack were so dark and ominous. His voice is intensely expressive, and the lyrics in “Starless” are chilling. I saw him with the Terry Bozzio version of UK sans Bruford and Holdsworth (alas!), but Wetton’s bass rig was thunderous with a Marshall stack. This tune, “Starless”, is probably my single favorite Crimson track. The Mellotron here is iconic, and Robert’s half step single note progression over Wetton’s 12 bar Cm progression using riffs based on 7ths and minor 3rds sets up a tension that explodes when they break into double time and then eventually return to the opening melody and chord progression.
Adrian Belew is beginning a tour quite soon with Steve Vai and Tony Levin called BEAT and they're playing all King Crimson music from the 1980s. Hopefully they'll be coming to Denver or nearby.
Hope this stays up for you because of we all know who, but what a great song to pick. After Lake's departure during the second album. There are two oddball albums "Lizard" & "Islands". These are among my favorite though Fripp hates both as well do the both singers of that time. It was tumultuous and the lineup changed all over the place. Lizard is experimental jazz fusion and can be odd at times. Islands is jazz rock fusion with some classical chamber music thrown in and a Victorian lyrical esthetic. Try prelude: Song of the Gulls with The title track Islands together as one listen. Then came the Whetton lineup for three albums. This is considered by most the deep cut classic lineup by most. We're changes losses in players during this but the Fripp, Bruford, and Whetton nucleus stayed throughout. Songs: Easy Money, Great Deceiver, Fallen Angel, or One More Red Nightmare. Then 80's they reformed with Adrian Belew, Tony Levin, Bill and Robert for three albums. That broke then reformed with Trey Gunn and Pat Mastlotto as a two bass two guitar and two drum sextet until Tony and Bill left. Listen to Frame By Frame, Elephant Talk, or One Time.
What a great place to dip your toes back into KC, guys! Don't delay looking into the tour that Adrian Belew has put together with Vai, Levin and Denny Carey playing the 3 KC albums from the 80s. If you can afford tickets (I can't), you'll kick yourself for not going to hear that music live. Great tunes like The Sheltering Sky, Sleepless and Sartori In Tangier and so many others! Also, revisit Starless from one of the most recent tours with Jakko J. on vocals, Levin on bass and THREE drummers with full kits. Incredible. Can't wait for more Crimson!
Hi Bob!!! Long time no see!!! We are going to be on the lookout for this project coming to Denver!! Thanks for stopping by and hope to see you around more!! 💕 Lex
think I heard you mention Tony Levin: it would be another, nearly, seven years before Tony Levin became a member of King Crimson. The musicians on this song are: King Crimson Robert Fripp - electric guitar, Mellotron, Hohner Pianet John Wetton - bass guitar vocals Bill Bruford - drums, percussion Additional personnel Mel Collins - soprano saxophone Ian McDonald - alto saxophone
I'm happy you finally heard this song but I am sad for you that you haven't heard it until now..I saw King Crimson at Penn State a month before Red was recorded and they played Starless that night. I have been listening to this song ( and of course all Crimson) for 50 years and this song still brings tears to my eyes because of it's stunning beauty and awesome power. It is a true Masterpiece. Lex is right you should listen to it again and often.
…and then, at 12:08 when finally Robert Fripp find the tone Bill Bruford is all over the place while Wetton still keeping the ground. One of the most satisfying moment in music.
Good catch on Crimson's influence on Tool. I'm going to see Beat with Danny Carey and some of the old Crim guys playing 80's Crimson stuff, and they have covered some King Crimson deep cuts live (I recall hearing their cover of "B'Boom") This was going to be KC's swan song. They didn't know half of them would return in the 80's.
Great reaction from both of you; I’m glad to finally to finally hear some King Crimson on your channel. I had to watch this as Starless is one my favorite King Crimson tracks, first heard sitting on the floor in a college dormitory room in the mid-70s. Red is a great album, and the line up of Fripp, Wetton, Bruford, and Cross with other musicians such as Ian McDonald, Mel Collins, and Jamie Muir on their trio of albums Larks Tongues in Aspic, Starless and Bible Black, and Red is probably my favorite tho there were also great combination of musicians on their first two albums with Greg Lake, and their early 80s line up with Bruford, Adrian Belew and Tony Levin. I was lucky to see Robert Fripp do a solo (a free show!) Frippertronics set at Peaches Record Store in Atlanta in ‘79 and then to see a KC concert from the Discipline tour at Atlanta’s Agora Ballroom- a venue of only 500 people; what a fantastic show! Just to recommend a piece that hasn’t been mentioned much in the comments I recommend listening to The Night Watch - a meditation on the painting by Rembrandt- another great vocal by John Wetton R.I.P. In those days - 1970s and 80s - concerts were inexpensive; I never paid over 12 dollars for a concert; remember not going to an Amnesty International concert featuring a number of great musicians - to my eternal regret now - as it cost 30 bucks!
...an absolute epic... I know a few more of their songs, but don't feel like an KC expert, so I leave the recommendation section to others... just some pieces of the widespread musical family tree of the days: of course there are also links between King Crimson and Genesis... examples: - Robert Fripp and Peter Gabriel dipped in and out of each others solo albums; - Bill Bruford drummed on Genesis' 'A Trick of the Tail' live tour in 1976; - John Wetton joined Steve Hackett and his band to play the Genesis song "Afterglow" during the March 2013 tour; ...its so nice to see, how they loved and supported each other...💖
There are some recordings of Tool explicitly covering King Crimson tunes (I know "B'Boom" was in their setlist for a while), and Danny Carey is playing in a quartet with two previous KC members (Adrian Belew and Tony Levin) and Steve Vai reliving their 80's stuff. They are definitely heavily inspired and acknowledge it. They basically just add in some industrial sounds and move away from the more jazzy timbres of Crimson. At their heaviest, they were decades ahead of their time. It's also worth remembering that the band breaks up for almost a decade after this, with no idea whether or not King Crimson would ever release anything again. This was intended to be the last word from the band.
Great choice. An epic track that manages to incorporate all of the band's many virtues into one great track. I have always found the ballad portion of the song especially touching and introspective.
This song haunts me, and i return to it after many years. Btw, it was used beautifully in the 2018 Panos Cosmatos film Mandy. The movie feels like an extrapolation of the emotions evoked in this song. Worth a watch.
John Wetton on the bass... my FAVORITE King Crimson member, next to Fripp. What a vocalist!.... 'Fallen Angel', my favorite track, should get a solo outing.
I seen them twice in the last few years my very first show after the covid shut down was KC and the following year I went again they had 3 drummers/kits in the front of the stage and it was spectacular
amazing you chose this - this is my personal peak King Crimson track :) Mellotron strings. That sax. Fripps sustained guitars. Wetton's vocal 11/10 :) The big build up is orgasmic.
You're off to a really great start, this song is a pinnacle achievement. I have seen KC several times live now, and each time it's been a slightly different experience, but when they play this song, the crowd goes nuts! My first KC experience was Court and In the Wake of Poseidon, then kinda jumped to Discipline, Beat and Three of a Perfect Pair (80's version of KC). So if you're on a quest for the 'best of' I'd recommend checking those albums out. But really, they have been innovators & true greats throughout their 50+ years of existence, so just about anywhere you decide to continue, you will be impressed!
I am probably an outlier here, but if you are felling adventurous, check out Lizard! One of my personal favs... Even has an appearance by Jon Anderson!
![STEVE HACKETT - Firth of Fifth [Live at Royal Festival Hall 2018] FIRST TIME COUPLE REACTION](/img/n.gif)
~~ Bill Bruford's drumming throughout the whole record is just sublime ..
I keep hearing about some kind of "trash crash" cymbal which was made with a bent up crash cymbal and a trash can lid or something. He apparently never was able to recreate the sound.
"Red" is probably the best King Crimson album. Anything with Fripp, Wetton, Bruford and Cross is fabulous.
Robert Fripp - Guitars
John Wetton - Bass
Bill Bruford - Drums/Percussion
David Cross - Mellotron and Violins
Mel Collins - Saxophones
The Starless and Bible Black album has a stunningly powerful track called "Fracture".
Also, try the album "Islands" and the title track, Islands, which is absolutely beautiful.
1971, with Fripp, Mell Collins, Ian Wallace on Drums, Box Burrell on Bass and vocals, and Peter Sinfield with Lyrics.
Red is an accessible Crimson masterpiece IMHO ❤
Jack-D-Ripper : Frisk ??
@@mrmusic248 And "Box" ??
Cross only plays violin on Providence on this album
Ian McDonald is also on this album playing Alto Sax. Mel Collins plays Soprano Sax on this album.
Starless is an amazing track - beautiful, haunting and powerful
good choice of words
John Wetton Bass and vocals RIP
Was God ! John Wetton 1949/2017
The "chaotic" sound in the climax of this song it is so ahead of its time. Some Death/Black/Post Metal bands reproduce this type of sound only decades later
I put it in a "History" of Math Metal Playist with other Proggers as a "Pre-cursor" to Technical Metal history many years ago :).
ua-cam.com/play/PL2DU3TBNutEdtiYql5HxhzIxzuFIPcXS9.html
(details in the description of the playlist)
Thank you for doing Starless. First part is the saddest, but also the most beautiful piece of music I ever heard. And yes, Fripp/Wetton/Bruford were INSANE heavy, especially live.
i read an interview with kurt cobain a long, long time ago. when he was asked about his influences, he cited king crimson - red as the album that made him want to be a musician.
Their debut album was considered the first progressive rock release. Every tune a masterpiece from an amazing lineup.
The Moody Blues pre-dated them by two years, 1967, with Days of Future Past
@@lloydbraun6026 Not even close to King Crimson.
Um... The Nice came before them. Pink Floyd came before The Nice.
@@TheRKaepink floyd wasn't prog until 1970
"Finally", The Great King Crimson of the Bruford/Wetton Era ! 👍🎶🎼✌
Countless bands "took & borrowed" from KC they are the Classic Prog Masters and This Era 1972-74' was their Best Classic Prog Crimson ! 😃
King Crimson opened for Tool for a brief tour. They consider Crimson one of their major influences. Maynard told the audience that having KC open for them was like Madonna opening for Britney Spears.
Quite simply the best track King Crimson ever released. From the initial sad chords on the mellotron to the controlled chaos of the middle section to the pure jazzy free jam, it's something that only KC can give you. As a bass player myself, I'm always baffled by how intensely John struck those strings with his fingers, it sounds as if he were using a pick instead (and playing hard with it)!
There's literally A LOT of material to dig into, especially considering this is a band that was always on the vanguard and always willing to experiment. Their "fresh when it's written" (as Robert says) approach made them a band that were always ahead of their time.
Since the Beat project, featuring Adrian Belew and Tony Levin (along with Steve Vai and Dany Carey), is about to start touring, you guys can jump straight into their 80's material. _Elephant Talk_ and _Three of a Perfect Pair_ are two of my initial suggestions for that era of the band.
This album changed the way I listen to music. It was like nothing I'd ever heard before.
You’re right that Tony Levin plays bass with KC - but not here. He joined in 1981, I believe. This album features John Wetton on bass, as well as vocals.
And then he went off to join Asia (plus Roxy music, Uriah Heep, and UK
@@ashebanow when he joined Uriah Heep I joked to a friend who loved the band that Wetton would take over. On the first album he played bass and background vocals. On the second, he played bass guitar, Mellotron, electric piano, backing and lead vocals. Then he was gone.
He formed UK after this album when Robert Fripp decided to go into retirement. He recruited Allan Holdsworth to replace Fripp they made one album then he went onto form Asia.
This song is always an experience that blows me away... After 50 years. And the closing section is killer with the sax of Mel Collins on fire
Indeed! From where they return to the original theme, all the way to the final note literally sends shivers down my spine and brings tears to my eyes. It is just. So. Perfect.
I had the great fortune to see King Crimson on their final tour, and this was the encore for the show I attended. I say with no shame that as the opening notes began to swell I cried. This was the final song played on that tour, possibly the final song to ever be played live by an incarnation of Crimson.
It actually HAS been. There's a video of that last performance, and it STILL makes me cry. ❤
If I remember correctly, it was in Tokyo. 🙂
@@DavideBaroni Yes, Nakano Sun Plaza. Fabulous acoustics in that hall. I caught Elvis Costello there when he was touring with the Brodsky Quartet for "The Juliette Letters."
Have seen several concerts of King Crimson, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris, Nijmegen, and an old and the best on in Maastricht, in a very small theatre, no sitting places, only standing. Complete darkness and Bill Bruford starting drumming, it is still alive in my memory.
I have had the luck that King Crimson was there from my 16th lifeyear, until recently, this is sooooo my music. :)
Imagine my/our suprise .... from Chicago to Genesis, Yes, Zappa, Zeppelin and then this? Damn we had it so good. I was 17 and the music was phenomenal.
...we thought these masterpieces were normal; that's just what music sounded like. Later, such a rude awakening :(
We were soooo spoiled in those days. Popular music was comprised of a hundred different genres, and it seemed like everything was possible. I guess it makes sense that it would die when you get rid of artists, musicians, singers, lyricists, and replace them with the dregs they put in their place.
I've always said the 70's was a magical time to be 20 something and concerts of Genesis, Yes, King Crimson....etc.
I got to see them all
Being forced to pretend rap was music (or else get labeled as racist) was the real downfall of good music
Zeppelin, Frampton, purple, tull, Floyd, Elp,Beck, manfred, Eagles,kiss, VH,Aerosmith, Nugent, style,journey, Roxy, Bowie, Elton, Helpline,etc
Bruford actually wrote that evil sounding riff on the piano. This album is proto heavy metal for sure.
John Wetton said he introduced the piece to the band and they didn’t like it.
WTF? You cut at the absolute peak of the tune??? FIRED!
I said the same thing....
Red was their 7th studio album. The sax was performed by guest musician Mel Collins, who also performed on a few of their earlier albums. Starless was an excellent choice, well liked by most of their fans.
"Starless and Bible black" is a line from Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, remembering a night in his childhood.
Not quite, it is from the prologue of Under Milk Wood. A glorious piece of writing.
My son's name is Dylan Thomas ........." Yes, on purpose. He once asked me "Why would you name me after a Welsh poet who drank himself to death?" He was about 10.
First time I heard this I was looking out over a beautiful moonlit North Yorkshire moors landscape on a cold winters night. And yes it was Starless! It blew my mind. I still remember this feeling 50 years later. Great reaction and commentary guys.
Such a beautiful piece of music isn't it. With a chaotic but perfect middle section as well. Essential classic prog !!!
Great reaction Nicknlex !! 😍
As usual, I am compelled to share my Fripp and King Crimson brushes with greatness, as I've been so lucky like the Forrest Gump of Prog to be at amazing moments. In the summer of '81, my friend saw a small classified ad that Fripp was going to perform his unique combination of guitar and reel-to-reel tape looping called "Frippertronics" live at Washington Square Church in New York's Greenwich Village in July. We found ouselves among a handful sitting on the floor like elementary school kids in front of Fripp on a stool with a reel-to-reel on a stand. Besides producing amazing original music before our eyes and ears (which you can find on UA-cam or the album of those performances released in 2022), he said he'd just re-formed King Crimson (again) for the first time since the breakup right after Red in 1974! One of the other points he made which stuck with me as a musician is how he placed more value on the silences a band that was performing at its peak would magically insert in a passage than he did on what was played. A couple of months later (September 1981) the spectacular "Discipline" album was released featuring the Fripp/Buford/Belew/Levin lineup. Then we saw they were going to be playing the Savoy, NYC in November. That same friend and I got tickets for the first show on the first night 11/6/81 (they did 3 nights with 2 shows per night). The venue was SMALL (it had a Max Cap of just 841) and just couldn't hope to contain the energy eminating from an audience who held these true artists in such high regard, had waited so long to have King Crimson exist again AT ALL much less hear them live, and here they had the old/classic catalogue and brand new fantastic music from which to choose. I've never seen artists and audience play off each other to that degree with such enthusiastic abandon and unbridled joy before or since. Not long ago, Fripp was asked what his favorite shows were in the entire 50 year history of King Crimson, and he named just four---Among them were that first show we saw at the Savoy which in Fripp's own words was "astonishing"... "where the impossible became possible". It was all beyond description and to this day perhaps the best I've ever seen in MY 50 year concertgoing history, but there was one moment where the band is in a raging improv section at a frenetic pace and volume, and suddenly every band member chooses the same moment and takes a beat independently together to create a stunning silence...and Robert Fripp smiled.
The value of silence is too often forgotten. For example, most people can hum the pulsing bass line from Eurythmics's "Sweet Dreams," but for me the brilliance in that song is the brief moment of silence just before the string line comes in.
Wow! I hope this stays up!! Starless is one of my favorite songs from my favorite King Crimson album RED!
Bill Bruford alone plays and fills the space better than the three current drumers, deffinitely
John Wetton one of the best Singing bass players ever.❤
So underrated!!
Mark King.
you guys are gonna have fun with this rabbit hole.
The bassist and singer on this album is John Wetton. Tony Levin joined the band in 1981 on the album "Discipline" which is also a GREAT album.
A blistering incarnation. Just perfect 😎🎶
Good to see Fripp has finally come to his senses and doesn't take down KC reactions 5 minutes after they've been posted.
The man's too busy being Toyah's boy-toy. 😉
Aw, c'mon - they're so cute together! It's a pleasure to see him lighten up in his old age, she's been a wonderful influence...@@yes_head
Have alook at some of Gentle Giant's live shows where they switch from strings to wooodwind to keyboards with ease. incredible musicianship with incredible perfomannces.
Love gg, always listen to them, so much fun!
"Starless" was the 1970s Crimson's swan song, the last studio track until the band was reconstituted in 1981. The phrase "Starless and Bible black" is from the opening of Dylan Thomas's Under Milk Wood, a play for voices. All three of this lineup's "studio" albums (the second was almost all recorded live but they didn't tell anyone at the time) are masterpieces; IMO the first, Larks' Tongues in Aspic, is the most interesting and ground breaking of the three. It created sound worlds unlike anything heard before or since. But this lineup is known for their live performances. They took more chances live than any other mainstream prog band, creating remarkably cohesive improvised tracks from scratch each night.
Cheers Nick! Wetton (R I P ) achieved that crunching/crushing sound through the use of a fuzz tone, Fripp called him the "bass beast of terror." True that. Cheers!
Yeah King Crimson at Last and already with 213 comments before I even get a full listen. Great track, great album, great reaction. Love John Weston’s playing and singing. Can’t wait to hear more fingers crossed. 👍👍
The contrast between the two parts 50 years after is so insane ! Glad to see young people like you enjoying this so good music !
"Starless" is a jewel in the crown of King Crimson. My favourite track from the Wetton-Bruford Era
16:16 Yes indeed, John Wetton was in Asia and did lead vocals with bass here with his last tenure in KC in Red since the album of King Crimson's Lark's Tongues in Aspic that was also Bill Bruford's first album with them after leaving Yes until ending to KC's THRAK (1995). Wetton's crunchy thunderous bass during the climax here is always the bomb and a fitting end to his tenure at Crimson and may he rest in peace!
Must do the 20+ minute song "Lizard" with Jon Anderson (from Yes, of course) on guest vocals. A very "under the radar" song that deserves attention.
"Lizard" is magnificent!
whole album is underrated, and gordon haskell (vocals/bass) did some great solo material.
Alexia will melt when she hears Jon singing!!!!
Jon doesn’t do the whole 20 minutes, just the first four. The rest is with Gordon Haskell.
I recently heard a version where AI was used for Greg Lake's voice as the vocal on 'Prince Rupert Awakes' and it was just beautiful. It was on a different video platform than YT.
Beat: A new touring band comprised of:
Adrian Belew
Danny Carey
Tony Levin
Steve Vai
are touring in the states this Autumn playing King Crimson songs From 3 albums:
Discipline (1981)
Beat (1982)
Three Of A Perfect Pair (1983)
Tickets go on sale tomorrow. We are going to San Jose Ca 9/12.
Rick Beato interview with them posted yesterday.
@@Angelicus-p5p I watched
got my tickets here in Austin for September 20!
Playing in Denver, Colorado Nov 06 with Steve Vai Standing in for Robert Fripp and Danny Carey standing in for Bill Bruford.
King Crimson albums can be grouped into sets, and the three albums from the mid '80s (Robert Fripp, Bill Bruford, Tony Levin and Adrian Belew) are literally "Three of a Perfect Pair" (Discipline, Beat and Three of a Perfect Pair).
I am disappointed that the closest they are coming to me (Vancouver, BC) is like San Jose, not even Seattle.
I'm getting a Ticket for San Jose also. 😊
This was epic!! Have not heard this album! Not sure why I have not! Loved everything here. What a trio of musicians! I will be listening to this album very soon! So glad you decided to do it!
I’m sorry about Robert. Thank you for taking the chance!!! More people need take chances on these reaction videos .
I gather Robert can be a bit of a prick.
I'm glad you have had the chance to do this. Starless is one of the great pieces of music in general. More people need to hear it.
This is my favorite of what I have heard. "RED" or "One More Red Nightmare" next.
They broke up after this for about 7 years before reforming with Fripp Bruford, Levin, and Belew. They sounded very different.
The more recent tours had three drummers at the front of the stage.
After Red, they broke up but released the live album USA from their previous tour with Fripp, Bruford, Wetton, and Cross on violin. At every show, they play an improvised jam and name it after the host city. USA includes Asbury Park. I was 4 or 5 years old and blissfully unaware of the existence of King Crimson playing this song 3 miles away from my house in the adjacent town. I believe they were the first band (opening act excluded) to play the venue in Asbury.
One of the reasons they sounded very different besides having different personnel for Discipline era, was Fripp started sing 'New Standard Tuning', which is a bit odd sounding.
@bmac1205 I had a long reply, but my phone freaked out and I lost it.
Also, the progression of music shown with the 8 Rush albums released in the same 1974-1981 period. The music landscape itself had drastically changed.
They had me with the first notes of that mellotron. And then, at that guitar crescendo that morphed into a SAX!!!😮
Wow, Nick John Wetton was one of Classic Progs "Greatest" Bassist along with Chris Squire, His Live work on KC Box Sets from 1973-74' are Amaning and Geddy Lee & Les Claypool "Loved" Wetton's playing in King Crimson & UK ! 👍🎶🎸🎼✌
Keep going On This Album! "One More Red Nightmare" is Bruford's Finest moment!!!
Thank you so much for doing this video! "Starless" is my favourite song of all time, if I had to pick just one. I'm so glad that you appreciate it like I do.
I think there prettiest song is Epitaph with Greg Lake on vocals. If you like Starless you'll love the whole "RED" album.
Weird to hear Epitaph being called pretty when it's about impending nuclear armageddon and the world being run by fools!
@@PaulMDove2Yea i would say islands is their prettiest.
very visionary tune
@@PaulMDove2 it is pretty, it is the beauty and terror of life
Oh my! This is going to be fun. A journey through King Crimson really has to begin with the first album though, especially if you haven't heard it for ages and can't remember too much. The title track, '21st. Century Schizoid Man' and 'Epitaph' are wonders of 20th. Century music! In The Court of the Crimson King was the beginning of all of our Prog lives back in '69, the record that changed everything. And what an album cover!! I see lots of people are getting in quick guys, just in case!!!
The ultimate King Crimson track. It encapsulates the best elements of Schizoid, Epitaph and goes beyond. Also, kudos for the headphone use. Might have scared that sweet doggo through mains lol
One of my favorite KC tunes., I remember listening as a teenager, lighting up and laying in my bed with headphones on, letting it all sink in. That crescendo got my head spinning! Great reaction!
John Wetton, what a bass playe, and that voice! Btw, like some of your albums in the background, Geddy Lee is a hero!!!!
Starless is pure bliss!!!!!
Wetton also played for Family and Uriah Heep
Asia
I saw him with Heep(opening band was REO Speedwagon), and with Asia. Saw Crimso twice.
This is in my opinion the best Crimson line up.
This is the albums and timeline
whith this line up.
Larks Tounges in Aspic. 1973
Starless and bible black.1974
Red 1974
You are right about Tool.
Danny Carry are joining Adrian Belew,Tony Levin and Steve Vai on a Crimson Project Called Beat.
They are going to Tour USA.
This track is based upon the song "Starless And Bible Black", by The Stan Tracey Quartet. John Wetton the bassist for Crimson loved the song and this was the result of his derivation. You can clearly hear the main theme from the original version persisting in this. You should take the time to listen to the original Stan Tracey version. It's extremely beautiful.
Really! Never knew this!
Never knew that either. First I ever heard of this and I've been a fan since '71 ITWOP came out. Definitely have to look into it.
This is incorrect. The title is from a Dylan Thomas poem, which Wetton was also familiar with and the music has absolutely nothing to do with the Stan Tracey track. There is no resemblance in melody at all, just a similar mood.
@@timcardona9962 You are correct, it is from a Thomas poem. But Wetton had heard the Stan Tracey song as can be clearly heard from the similarities. Have you never heard the Tracey, "Starless And Bible Black".
I just listened to it before I replied to you. It does not sound anything like KC; not the chords, not the melody. Nothing. Just an inspiration in mood. Your comment is implying a resemblance in harmonic when there is none
Live Crimson from this Era is where it's at guys, anything from the "USA" album the long 30th one, Box Sets .... "The Great Deceiver" , "Starless" and "The Road to Red" All shine just the Best Crimson !! 👍🎶🎼✌
Oh because I'm an old Progger that seen all these bands many times and my older Brother worked in a big Music store in Boston in the 70s and Loved KC also.... This was John Wetton's gear during his time with KC in 1972'-1974', he played two different Fender Precision Basses one was Natural Maple body and the other White and his Amps were 3 Hiwatt 100 heads w/ Two 4x12 Hiwatt Cabs and one Large 18" Bass reflex cab by Cerwin Vega my Brother believes, and started with a unnamed ? Italian Bass Fuzz/Wah pedal then changed to a much better Morley Fuzz/Wah Bass pedal and your right Nick, Wetton Cranked up his distortion/Fuzz on his pedal and Amps all the time and John & Bruford would play so loud at times at different shows from 73'-74' Live and Fripp said often it drove him Nuts !! 😆 I saw this era of Crimson in 73' and 74' in Boston and the 73' show was "Really" loud !! And you can hear the volume on "Asbury Park" on USA CD is one of them !! 👍🎸🥁🎶
It is such a shame that King Crimson cancels any UA-cam reactions to their music. I don't expect this to remain up for long, but thanks for trying. I love this period of KC...listening to their first 7 albums is a great journey...but the 3 80s albums are my favorites.
The whole "Red" album that this is from is a masterpiece. It really distilled the first generation King Crimson into a perfect conclusion.
As luck would have it I am wearing my King Crimson Lark’s Tongues In Aspic t shirt.
Bill Bruford.....don't forget Genesis. Bill and Phil were friends and he helped them move Phil out front to sing. Bill played for a short time also with Collins in Brand X (jazz fusion).
It's all about the music.
The evolution inside this song is amazing; it starts off as a pensive, aching ballad and slowly morphs into something terrifying.
"Red" saw the group out in a blaze of glory; a tautly energetic finale and realization of their last directions, driven by Fripp's distorted guitar and Wetton's similarly aggressive bass. Bruford punctuates magnificently. Supplemented by the Mellotron, "Red" gives new meaning to the concept of a trio. - The Rolling Stone Record Guide 1979
Hi Nick & Lex! If you love this song from King Crimson in the 70s, then just watch this live version recorded in Japan in 2016 with some new band members and 3 drummers. This is just amazing
Only a few bands ever totally created their own distinct sound. King Crimson is one of them.
AWESOME!! It's about time these guys got some love!!
Yay! Watch it while it’s still up!!
Other channels KC reactions have been up for 3-4 years so we hope for the best🤞
@@NicknLex there’s another tour with King Krimson, belew, carey, levin… this summer/fall
I just broke down CRYING watching you guys have this experience. I hope to share this music with my own grandkids in a few years.
Opening chords with the mellotron, announces classic 70's prog ... with gusto! Love it.
I bought their first album back in my early teens mainly due to the album cover art. I was heavily into Yes, Emerson Lake and Palmer, and Jethro Tull at the time but knew nothing about King Crimson. To say I was blown away would be an understatement. Greg Lake's vocals combined with intense, experimental music from Fripp was a revelation. I've been a fan ever since!
John Wetton on Bass and Vocals, (RIP). He in Bruford are one of the best Rhythm sections ever!!!!! It's like they are one.
One of the first bands I saw live in 1971. Love every incarnation of this band.
Justin of JUSTJP, played a Live Track of Starless, off of King Crimson's 2017's Meltdown: Live in Mexico City. Meltdown consists of three Audio Discs of that Concert. Meltdown also has one Blu-Ray Disc of them playing. Three Drummers and five Players behind them. Meltdown: Live in Mexico City, is a Must-Have.
50 years later, this still blows listeners away. It was a kick watching the two of you groove on it.
This era of Crimson (Crim v2.0: Fripp, Bruford, Wetton, Cross, and Mel Collins (saxophone) produced some of their best work- “Lark’s Tongues in Aspic”, “Starless and Bible Black”, and “Red”. Check out “Fracture”, “Lament”, “The Night Watch”. This is mind blowing material- writing and performance. I got this album from a friend in 1975. He had bought it for 49 cents in a cut away bin!
This is the second iteration of Crimson. The next (Crim v3.0) would be the Belew/Levin era with Bruford and Fripp releasing “Discipline”, “Beat”, and “Three of a Perfect Pair”.
After you get through Crim v2.0, move on to Crim v3.0. This material is the kernel of one of the greatest bands in progressive music using rock instrumentation.
John Wetton was an absolute monster. His tone and attack were so dark and ominous. His voice is intensely expressive, and the lyrics in “Starless” are chilling. I saw him with the Terry Bozzio version of UK sans Bruford and Holdsworth (alas!), but Wetton’s bass rig was thunderous with a Marshall stack.
This tune, “Starless”, is probably my single favorite Crimson track. The Mellotron here is iconic, and Robert’s half step single note progression over Wetton’s 12 bar Cm progression using riffs based on 7ths and minor 3rds sets up a tension that explodes when they break into double time and then eventually return to the opening melody and chord progression.
Bravo...my favorite track from probably my favorite King Crimson album.
Always imagine first time listeners think the whole song will be chill, but, then get blown away.
Adrian Belew is beginning a tour quite soon with Steve Vai and Tony Levin called BEAT and they're playing all King Crimson music from the 1980s. Hopefully they'll be coming to Denver or nearby.
With Danny Carey on drums!🤘
Got tix - pretty stoked!
great interview with Rick Beato with all the guys must watch😀
@@andrewwallace4481 will do. Thanks.
Hope this stays up for you because of we all know who, but what a great song to pick.
After Lake's departure during the second album. There are two oddball albums "Lizard" & "Islands". These are among my favorite though Fripp hates both as well do the both singers of that time. It was tumultuous and the lineup changed all over the place. Lizard is experimental jazz fusion and can be odd at times. Islands is jazz rock fusion with some classical chamber music thrown in and a Victorian lyrical esthetic.
Try prelude: Song of the Gulls with The title track Islands together as one listen.
Then came the Whetton lineup for three albums. This is considered by most the deep cut classic lineup by most. We're changes losses in players during this but the Fripp, Bruford, and Whetton nucleus stayed throughout.
Songs: Easy Money, Great Deceiver, Fallen Angel, or One More Red Nightmare.
Then 80's they reformed with Adrian Belew, Tony Levin, Bill and Robert for three albums. That broke then reformed with Trey Gunn and Pat Mastlotto as a two bass two guitar and two drum sextet until Tony and Bill left. Listen to Frame By Frame, Elephant Talk, or One Time.
Every King Crimson album is different, and every one delivers something special.
What a great place to dip your toes back into KC, guys! Don't delay looking into the tour that Adrian Belew has put together with Vai, Levin and Denny Carey playing the 3 KC albums from the 80s. If you can afford tickets (I can't), you'll kick yourself for not going to hear that music live. Great tunes like The Sheltering Sky, Sleepless and Sartori In Tangier and so many others! Also, revisit Starless from one of the most recent tours with Jakko J. on vocals, Levin on bass and THREE drummers with full kits. Incredible. Can't wait for more Crimson!
Hi Bob!!! Long time no see!!! We are going to be on the lookout for this project coming to Denver!! Thanks for stopping by and hope to see you around more!! 💕 Lex
think I heard you mention Tony Levin: it would be another, nearly, seven years before Tony Levin became a member of King Crimson. The musicians on this song are:
King Crimson
Robert Fripp - electric guitar, Mellotron, Hohner Pianet
John Wetton - bass guitar vocals
Bill Bruford - drums, percussion
Additional personnel
Mel Collins - soprano saxophone
Ian McDonald - alto saxophone
I'm happy you finally heard this song but I am sad for you that you haven't heard it until now..I saw King Crimson at Penn State a month before Red was recorded and they played Starless that night. I have been listening to this song ( and of course all Crimson) for 50 years and this song still brings tears to my eyes because of it's stunning beauty and awesome power. It is a true Masterpiece. Lex is right you should listen to it again and often.
I highly recommend you to check out 80s Crimson also. More live videos available. Adrian Belew alone makes them worthwhile to watch.
…and then, at 12:08 when finally Robert Fripp find the tone Bill Bruford is all over the place while Wetton still keeping the ground. One of the most satisfying moment in music.
Good catch on Crimson's influence on Tool. I'm going to see Beat with Danny Carey and some of the old Crim guys playing 80's Crimson stuff, and they have covered some King Crimson deep cuts live (I recall hearing their cover of "B'Boom")
This was going to be KC's swan song. They didn't know half of them would return in the 80's.
Great reaction from both of you; I’m glad to finally to finally hear some King Crimson on your channel. I had to watch this as Starless is one my favorite King Crimson tracks, first heard sitting on the floor in a college dormitory room in the mid-70s. Red is a great album, and the line up of Fripp, Wetton, Bruford, and Cross with other musicians such as Ian McDonald, Mel Collins, and Jamie Muir on their trio of albums Larks Tongues in Aspic, Starless and Bible Black, and Red is probably my favorite tho there were also great combination of musicians on their first two albums with Greg Lake, and their early 80s line up with Bruford, Adrian Belew and Tony Levin. I was lucky to see Robert Fripp do a solo (a free show!) Frippertronics set at Peaches Record Store in Atlanta in ‘79 and then to see a KC concert from the Discipline tour at Atlanta’s Agora Ballroom- a venue of only 500 people; what a fantastic show! Just to recommend a piece that hasn’t been mentioned much in the comments I recommend listening to The Night Watch - a meditation on the painting by Rembrandt- another great vocal by John Wetton R.I.P. In those days - 1970s and 80s - concerts were inexpensive; I never paid over 12 dollars for a concert; remember not going to an Amnesty International concert featuring a number of great musicians - to my eternal regret now - as it cost 30 bucks!
...an absolute epic... I know a few more of their songs, but don't feel like an KC expert, so I leave the recommendation section to others... just some pieces of the widespread musical family tree of the days: of course there are also links between King Crimson and Genesis... examples:
- Robert Fripp and Peter Gabriel dipped in and out of each others solo albums;
- Bill Bruford drummed on Genesis' 'A Trick of the Tail' live tour in 1976;
- John Wetton joined Steve Hackett and his band to play the Genesis song "Afterglow" during the March 2013 tour;
...its so nice to see, how they loved and supported each other...💖
There are some recordings of Tool explicitly covering King Crimson tunes (I know "B'Boom" was in their setlist for a while), and Danny Carey is playing in a quartet with two previous KC members (Adrian Belew and Tony Levin) and Steve Vai reliving their 80's stuff. They are definitely heavily inspired and acknowledge it. They basically just add in some industrial sounds and move away from the more jazzy timbres of Crimson. At their heaviest, they were decades ahead of their time.
It's also worth remembering that the band breaks up for almost a decade after this, with no idea whether or not King Crimson would ever release anything again. This was intended to be the last word from the band.
Great choice. An epic track that manages to incorporate all of the band's many virtues into one great track. I have always found the ballad portion of the song especially touching and introspective.
This song haunts me, and i return to it after many years. Btw, it was used beautifully in the 2018 Panos Cosmatos film Mandy. The movie feels like an extrapolation of the emotions evoked in this song. Worth a watch.
Nice reaction!! This song is played during the initial scene in Mandy, an awesome acid-trip of a movie starring Nic Cage.
This is an awesome jam! Try The Sheltering Sky for a similar vibe . Great stuff!
John Wetton on the bass... my FAVORITE King Crimson member, next to Fripp. What a vocalist!.... 'Fallen Angel', my favorite track, should get a solo outing.
I seen them twice in the last few years my very first show after the covid shut down was KC and the following year I went again they had 3 drummers/kits in the front of the stage and it was spectacular
23:41 "I love trios" - check out the instrumental piece Trio from the previous album Starless and Bible Black.
amazing you chose this - this is my personal peak King Crimson track :)
Mellotron strings. That sax. Fripps sustained guitars. Wetton's vocal 11/10 :)
The big build up is orgasmic.
You're off to a really great start, this song is a pinnacle achievement. I have seen KC several times live now, and each time it's been a slightly different experience, but when they play this song, the crowd goes nuts! My first KC experience was Court and In the Wake of Poseidon, then kinda jumped to Discipline, Beat and Three of a Perfect Pair (80's version of KC). So if you're on a quest for the 'best of' I'd recommend checking those albums out. But really, they have been innovators & true greats throughout their 50+ years of existence, so just about anywhere you decide to continue, you will be impressed!
John Wetton on bass and doing lead vocals. He was so talented.
Rest in peace John.
such a great song, feels to me like the entire thing builds up to the last minute.
Spectacular album and song. To me, Wetton's vocals are so freaking powerful on this it's insane.
I am probably an outlier here, but if you are felling adventurous, check out Lizard! One of my personal favs... Even has an appearance by Jon Anderson!
Ooh, this’ll be good. A whole new rabbit hole. ❤❤ A bit Yes-ish, a little Genesis-y, but also totally distinct 😊