King Crimson

Formed: Bournemouth, England ... summer 1967 by ROBERT FRIPP, plus brothers MIKE and PETE GILES, who formed the soft-rock trio BRAIN, then GILES, GILES & FRIPP. After signing to 'Deram' early in '68 and adding couple, IAN McDONALD and JUDY DYBLE, they issued flop album, THE CHEERFUL INSANITY OF . . .', in September of that year. With IAN now replacing PETE, the trio soon became KING CRIMSON, adding new vocalist GREG LAKE, who debuted at The Speakeasy in London on the 9th of April 1969. Three months later, they supported The ROLLING STONES at Hyde Park's free concert, a performance which attracted the attention of the 'Island' label. Subsequently signed up, they unleashed 'IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING' in October '69, a masterful debut album which made UK Top 5 and US Top 30. At this stage, the group were basically a prog-rock neo-classical outfit, their initial MOODY BLUES' mellotron-sound soon swapped for experimental, occasionally self-indulgent guitar-mastery of FRIPP. KING CRIMSON found themselves in turmoil when a couple of group members departed, leaving FRIPP and lyricist/road manager, PETE SINFIELD, to work things out. Eventually, with augmentation from session men and ex-members, they recorded the 1970 follow-up album, 'IN THE WAKE OF POSEIDON'. An aggregation of KING CRIMSON members had earlier performed the weird 'CAT FOOD' single on 'Top Of The Pops'; this release signalled a move towards avant-jazz territory, a sound they'd develop over the course of early 70's albums, 'LIZARD', 'ISLANDS' and 'LARKS' TONGUES IN ASPIC'. Throughout this turbulent period, FRIPP and Co. went through even more upheavals, although they still scored with astounding album successes ('STARLESS AND BIBLE BLACK' and 'RED' - both 1974) until they disbanded for the first time late in '74. FRIPP had already been a prolific session man for the likes of VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR and (BRIAN) ENO, and together with the latter was co-credited on two experimental budget Ip's, 'NO PUSSYFOOTIN' (1973) and 'EVENING STAR' (1975). He then moved to New York in 1977 and worked with PETER GABRIEL on his first three albums, at the same time lending his expertise to BOWIE's 'Heroes'. In 1979, FRIPP released his debut solo album, 'EXPOSURE', which featured many of his close friends handling vocals (GABRIEL, HAMILL, etc). The following year, his instrumental set, 'GOD SAVE THE QUEEN / UNDER HEAVY MANNERS' developed his patented brand of electro-experimentation, dubbed "Frippertronics", the record trailed by a short-lived project and, The LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN. In 1981, he reformed KING CRIMSON with BILL BRUFORD, ADRIAN BELEW and TONY LEVIN, recording a clutch of slightly more accessible albums, before FRIPP was again left contemplating a revived solo career. During the period, 1982-84, the guitarist collaborated on two albums, 'I ADVANCE MASKED' and 'BEWITCHED', with ANDY SUMMERS (POLICE guitarist). Like many of their contemporaries, KING CRIMSON reformed in 1994, issuing a series of studio and live sets. • Trivia: In the mid-80's, FRIPP married singer/actress, TOYAH WILLCOX, even collaborating on an album, 'THE LADY OR THE TIGER', in 1987.

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