A Brief History of King Crimson

King Crimson is an English progressive rock band formed in London in 1968. The group's debut was on July 25, 1969 and they quickly became one of the most influential and innovative bands in the history of rock music. King Crimson was created by guitarist Robert Fripp, then a member of The League of Gentlemen, along with lyricist and bassist Greg Lake, drummer Michael Giles, and Ian McDonald on woodwinds. The band's first album In the Court of the Crimson King was released in 1969 to critical acclaim.

King Crimson's Line-Up Changes

Since its inception, King Crimson has had many lineup changes and personnel shifts. The band has gone through more than 12 different incarnations over the years. Robert Fripp is the only consistent member throughout the band's history. In 1974, the original lineup split up and Fripp began to explore other musical projects. In 1981, Fripp reformed the band with John Wetton on bass and vocals, Bill Bruford on drums and percussion, and Adrian Belew on guitar and vocals. This lineup was known as the Double Trio or “Crimson ProjeKcts” and released two albums: Three Of A Perfect Pair and Thrak. The latter featured percussionist Trey Gunn and drummer Pat Mastelotto who would become permanent members of King Crimson in 1994.

Reformation and Later Albums

In 2000, King Crimson re-emerged with a new lineup featuring Robert Fripp, Trey Gunn, Pat Mastelotto, Adrian Belew, Bill Rieflin (drums), Tony Levin (bass), Mel Collins (saxophone), Jakko Jakszyk (vocals) and Gavin Harrison (drums). This formation has released five albums between 2003 and 2017. In 2019, King Crimson announced their eight studio album titled “The ConstruKction of Light” which is due for release in May 2020.

Influences and Legacy

Since its inception, King Crimson has been credited as one of the pioneers of progressive rock music. Their unique blend of jazz fusion sounds, classical music influences, folk-rock elements, avant garde noise experiments and extended instrumental improvisations have made them one of the most innovative bands in rock history. They have influenced numerous bands such as Yes, Gentle Giant, Van der Graaf Generator, Dream Theater and many others.