List of King Crimson members explained

King Crimson were an English progressive rock band from London. Formed in November 1968 (officially January 1969), the group originally included bassist and vocalist Greg Lake, guitarist and later keyboardist Robert Fripp, keyboardist and woodwind musician Ian McDonald, lyricist Peter Sinfield, and drummer Michael Giles. After a number of personnel changes, the group disbanded in 1974 but have since reformed on a number of occasions. As of the latest lineup change in 2020, King Crimson consisted of Fripp (the sole constant member of the band), saxophonist and flautist Mel Collins (who first joined in 1970), bassist Tony Levin (who first joined in 1981), drummers Pat Mastelotto (who first joined in 1994) and Gavin Harrison (since 2007), guitarist and vocalist Jakko Jakszyk (since 2013), and drummer and keyboardist Jeremy Stacey (since 2016).

History

1969–1974

After some initial rehearsals starting in late November 1968, King Crimson were officially formed on 13 January 1969 with a lineup of Greg Lake on bass and vocals, Robert Fripp on guitar, Ian McDonald on woodwind and keyboards, Peter Sinfield as a lyricist and occasional synthesizer player, and Michael Giles on drums.[1] After the recording of the band's debut album In the Court of the Crimson King, McDonald and Giles left King Crimson in January 1970 after playing their last show on 16 December 1969.[2]

Fripp, Lake and Sinfield recorded the band's second album In the Wake of Poseidon with a temporary lineup featuring Giles, his brother Peter Giles and Mel Collins. Lake then departed to form Emerson, Lake & Palmer,[3] while Fripp and Sinfield rebuilt the group after the album's release, finalising the new lineup by August with Collins, Gordon Haskell and Andy McCulloch in place of McDonald, Lake and Giles, respectively.[1] After recording Lizard, both Haskell and McCulloch departed.[4]

Ian Wallace replaced McCulloch in December 1970,[1] and Raymond "Boz" Burrell took over from Haskell the following February. The group released Islands and returned to regular touring over the next year, Burrell, Collins and Wallace all left to join Alexis Korner's new group Snape in April 1972.[5] Sinfield had left the group in January 1972.

After the release of the live album Earthbound, Fripp rebuilt King Crimson again in July 1972 with the additions of former Family bassist and vocalist John Wetton, violinist and keyboardist David Cross, former Yes drummer Bill Bruford, and percussionist Jamie Muir.[1] [6] After the first of two live shows scheduled upon completion of the group's new album Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Muir abruptly left King Crimson to pursue Buddhism.[7] The remaining four-piece issued Starless and Bible Black in March 1974.[8]

By the time the group began recording the follow-up Red in July 1974, King Crimson were a trio following Cross's departure at the end of the previous tour.[9] Later, on 25 September, Fripp announced that King Crimson had officially disbanded,[1] claiming that the group were "completely over for ever and ever".[10]

1981–2008

After several years of side projects, Fripp formed a group called Discipline in April 1981 with former King Crimson drummer Bruford, as well as vocalist and guitarist Adrian Belew, and bassist and Chapman stick player Tony Levin. By the time the band's debut album Discipline was released in October, they had adopted the King Crimson name.[11] This lineup remained stable for three years, releasing follow-up albums Beat and Three of a Perfect Pair, before disbanding again upon the conclusion of a promotional touring cycle in July 1984.[12]

After a ten-year break, King Crimson reformed again in 1994, with Fripp, Belew, Levin and Bruford joined by second bassist/Chapman stick player Trey Gunn and second drummer Pat Mastelotto.[1] This lineup, dubbed the "Double Trio", began rehearsing in April 1994 and released its only studio effort THRAK the following year.[13] After touring extensively, the group returned to the studio in May 1997 for the recording of their twelfth studio album, but faced difficulties making progress with the sessions.[14] Instead of disbanding again, Fripp decided to initiate a process of "fraKctalisation", splitting the six band members into four "ProjeKcts" of various lineups.[15] Each ProjeKct performed several live shows and wrote together, serving as "research and development" units for the full King Crimson incarnation.[14]

The ProjeKcts spawned several studio and live recordings, which were issued in 1999 as part of The ProjeKcts box set.[16] By this time the lineup of King Crimson was a "Double Duo" consisting of Belew, Fripp, Gunn and Mastelotto, following the departures of Bruford and Levin.[1] The band released two new studio albums, The ConstruKction of Light and The Power to Believe, before Gunn announced in November 2003 that he was leaving to explore new musical opportunities.[17] Levin returned to take his place.[1] Rehearsals subsequently began for planned new material, with a string of rehearsal sessions taking place in September 2004,[18] before the group was placed "on hold" once again.[1]

In June 2007, Fripp announced that a new lineup of King Crimson had been finalised for the band's 40th anniversary tour the following year.[19] In addition to the members of the 2004 incarnation, Gavin Harrison of Porcupine Tree was added as a second drummer.[20] The tour took place in August 2008,[21] after which members returned to focus on other projects.[1]

In December 2010, Fripp wrote that the King Crimson "switch" had been set to "off" since October 2008, citing several reasons for this decision.[22] This was followed by Fripp's announcement of his retirement from the music industry in August 2012.[23]

2013 onwards

In September 2013, despite claiming the previous year that he was retiring, Fripp announced another reformation of King Crimson.[24] In addition to Levin, Mastoletto and Harrison, the eighth lineup was confirmed to include returning saxophonist and flautist Mel Collins, new guitarist and vocalist Jakko Jakszyk, and third drummer Bill Rieflin.[25] In March 2016, Jeremy Stacey replaced Rieflin for the year's touring,[26] becoming a full member during the winter leg of the tour.[27] Rieflin switched over to being the band's first full-time keyboardist upon his return in January 2017.[28]

Rieflin was temporarily replaced again for an autumn 2017 tour by Chris Gibson.[29] For the band's 50th anniversary tour in 2019, it was announced that Rieflin would once more be temporarily replaced, this time by Theo Travis.[30] However, after a day of rehearsal, the band opted instead to do the 2019 tour as a seven-piece.[31] Rieflin's parts were divided among other band members, with Jakszyk and Collins adding keyboards to their on-stage rigs, and Levin once again using the synthesizer he used during the 1980s tours.[32] Rieflin died of cancer on March 23, 2020, reducing the line-up to a septet.[33]

On December 8, 2021, the band played the last show of their "Music Is Our Friend" tour, after which Fripp tweeted out that the band had "Moved from sound to silence",[34] Levin published in his blog “Tonight is the final concert of the tour, and quite possibly the final King Crimson concert.". No announcements have been heard from the band since December, though Harrison has said that he in unsure whether the band is over.[35] The band was not musically active in 2022, with Fripp re-stating that the band is unlikely to tour again.[36]

Members

Note: Release contributions do not include albums issued as part of the King Crimson Collector's Club, or other limited releases.

ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributions
Robert Frippall King Crimson releases
Peter Sinfield1968–1972
Michael Giles1968–1970
Greg Lake1968–1970
Ian McDonald1968–1970
Mel Collins
Peter Giles1970In the Wake of Poseidon (1970)
Gordon Haskell1970
Andy McCulloch1970drums
Ian Wallace1970–1972
Raymond "Boz" Burrell1971–1972
Bill Bruford
John Wetton1972–1974 [37]
David Cross1972–1974all King Crimson releases from Larks' Tongues in Aspic (1973) to USA (1975)
Jamie Muir1972–1973Larks' Tongues in Aspic (1973)
Adrian BelewDiscipline (1981) Beat (1982) Three of a Perfect Pair: Live in Japan (1984),Vrooom (1994) Live in Japan (1996), all King Crimson releases from Absent Lovers: Live in Montreal (1998) to Vrooom Vrooom (2001), Happy with What You Have to Be Happy With (2002) Eyes Wide Open (2003)
Tony Levin
Pat MastelottoVrooom (1994) Live in Japan (1996), Live in Mexico City (1999) Vrooom Vrooom (2001), all releases from Happy with What You Have to Be Happy With (2002) onwards
Trey Gunn1994–2003Vrooom (1994) Live in Japan (1996), Live in Mexico City (1999) Vrooom Vrooom (2001), Happy with What You Have to Be Happy With (2002) Eyes Wide Open (2003)
Gavin Harrisonall King Crimson releases from Live at the Orpheum (2015) onwards
Jakko Jakszyk2013–2021all King Crimson releases from Live at the Orpheum (2015) onwards
Bill Rieflin
Jeremy Stacey2016–2021[38] all King Crimson releases from Heroes (2017) onwards

Session contributors

ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributions
Keith Tippett
Robin Miller
Mark Charig
Nick Evans1970Lizard (1970)
Paulina Lucas1971Islands (1971)
Wilf Gibson1971 [39]
Harry Miller1971
Richard Palmer-James1973–1974
Eddie Jobson1975USA (1975)

Line-ups

King Crimson

PeriodMembersReleases
November 1968 – January 1970
January – April 1970
  • Robert Fripp – guitar, keyboards, electronics
  • Peter Sinfield - lyrics
  • Michael Giles – drums
  • Greg Lake – lead vocals
  • Mel Collins – saxophone, flute
  • Peter Giles – bass
August – November 1970
  • Robert Fripp – guitar, keyboards, electronics
  • Peter Sinfield - lyrics, EMS VCS 3[41]
  • Mel Collins – saxophone, flute
  • Gordon Haskell – bass, lead vocals
  • Andy McCulloch – drums
February – December 1971
  • Robert Fripp – guitar, keyboards, electronics
  • Peter Sinfield - lyrics, lighting, EMS VCS 3
  • Mel Collins – saxophone, flute, occasional backing vocals and keyboards
  • Boz Burrell – bass, lead vocals
  • Ian Wallace – drums, percussion, backing and occasional lead vocals
December 1971 – April 1972
  • Robert Fripp – guitar, keyboards, electronics
  • Mel Collins – saxophone, flute, occasional backing vocals and keyboards
  • Boz Burrell – bass, lead vocals
  • Ian Wallace – drums, percussion, backing and occasional lead vocals
July 1972 – February 1973
February 1973 – July 1974
  • Robert Fripp – guitar, keyboards, electronics
  • Bill Bruford – drums, percussion
  • John Wetton – bass, lead vocals
  • David Cross – violin, viola, keyboards
July – September 1974
  • Robert Fripp – guitar, keyboards, electronics
  • Bill Bruford – drums, percussion
  • John Wetton – bass, lead vocals
Band inactive September 1974 – April 1981
April 1981 – July 1984
  • Robert Fripp – guitar, keyboards, electronics
  • Bill Bruford – drums, percussion
  • Adrian Belew – guitar, lead vocals, lyrics
  • Tony Levin – bass, Chapman stick, backing vocals, synthesizers
Band inactive July 1984 – April 1994
April 1994 – December 1999
  • Robert Fripp – guitar, keyboards, electronics
  • Bill Bruford – drums, percussion
  • Adrian Belew – guitar, lead vocals, lyrics
  • Tony Levin – bass, Chapman stick, backing vocals
  • Pat Mastelotto – drums, percussion
  • Trey GunnWarr guitar, Chapman stick, backing vocals
December 1999 – December 2003
  • Robert Fripp – guitar, keyboards, electronics
  • Adrian Belew – guitar, lead vocals, lyrics
  • Pat Mastelotto – electronic drums, programming
  • Trey Gunn – Warr guitar, touch bass, backing vocals
December 2003 – June 2007
  • Robert Fripp – guitar, keyboards, electronics
  • Adrian Belew – guitar, lead vocals, lyrics
  • Pat Mastelotto – electronic drums, programming
  • Tony Levin – bass, Chapman stick, backing vocals
June 2007 – August 2008
  • Robert Fripp – guitar, keyboards
  • Adrian Belew – guitar, lead vocals, lyrics
  • Pat Mastelotto – drums, percussion
  • Tony Levin – bass, Chapman stick, backing vocals
  • Gavin Harrison – drums, percussion
  • Heaven & Earth (1997–2008) – 50th Anniversary edition – box set (2019)
Band inactive August 2008 – September 2013
September 2013 – March 2016
  • Robert Fripp – guitar, keyboards
  • Pat Mastelotto – drums, percussion
  • Tony Levin – bass, Chapman stick, backing vocals
  • Gavin Harrison – drums, percussion
  • Mel Collins – saxophone, flute
  • Jakko Jakszyk – guitar, lead vocals, flute, lyrics
  • Bill Rieflin – drums, keyboards, occasional backing vocals
March 2016 – January 2017
  • Robert Fripp – guitar, keyboards
  • Pat Mastelotto – drums, percussion
  • Tony Levin – bass, Chapman stick, backing vocals, synthesizers
  • Gavin Harrison – drums, percussion
  • Mel Collins – saxophone, flute, keyboards
  • Jakko Jakszyk – guitar, lead vocals, flute, keyboards, lyrics
  • Jeremy Stacey – drums, keyboards, occasional backing vocals
  • Heroes EP (2017)
  • Live in Vienna (2018)
  • Audio Diary 2014–2018 – box set (2019)
January 2017 – April 2019
  • Robert Fripp – guitar, keyboards
  • Pat Mastelotto – drums, percussion
  • Tony Levin – bass, Chapman stick, backing vocals, synthesizers
  • Gavin Harrison – drums, percussion
  • Mel Collins – saxophone, flute, keyboards
  • Jakko Jakszyk – guitar, lead vocals, flute, keyboards, lyrics
  • Jeremy Stacey – drums, keyboards, occasional backing vocals
  • Bill Rieflin – keyboards
April 2019 – December 2021
  • Robert Fripp – guitar, keyboards
  • Pat Mastelotto – drums, percussion
  • Tony Levin – bass, Chapman stick, backing vocals, synthesizers
  • Gavin Harrison – drums, percussion
  • Mel Collins – saxophone, flute, keyboards
  • Jakko Jakszyk – guitar, lead vocals, flute, keyboards, lyrics
  • Jeremy Stacey – drums, keyboards, occasional backing vocals
  • (2021)

Spin-off bands

PeriodMembersReleases
ProjeKct One
ProjeKct Two
  • Robert Fripp – guitar, electronics
  • Trey Gunn – touch guitar, guitar synthesisers
  • Adrian Belew – electronic drums
  • Space Groove (1998)
  • Live Groove (1999)
  • Live in Northampton, MA, July 1, 1998 (2001)
  • Live in Chicago, IL, June 04–05, 1998 (2007)
  • Heaven & Earth Disc 5: ProjeKct Two - Baltimore, 1998 (2019)
ProjeKct Three
  • Robert Fripp – guitar
  • Trey Gunn – touch guitar
  • Pat Mastelotto – electronic drums, programming
  • Masque (1999)
  • Live in Austin, TX, 1999 (2003)
  • Live in Alexandria, Virginia, VA, March 3, 2003 (2007)
  • Heaven & Earth Disc 7: ProjeKct Three - Austin, 1999 (2019)
ProjeKct Four
  • Robert Fripp – guitar
  • Trey Gunn – touch guitar
  • Pat Mastelotto – electronic drums, programming
  • Tony Levin – bass, Chapman stick
ProjeKct X
  • Robert Fripp – guitar, electronics
  • Trey Gunn – touch guitar, baritone guitar
  • Pat Mastelotto – electronic drums, programming
  • Adrian Belew – guitar, electronic drums
21st Century Schizoid Band
ProjeKct Six
  • Robert Fripp – guitar
  • Adrian Belew – electronic drums
none
Jakszyk, Fripp and Collins:
A King Crimson ProjeKct
  • Robert Fripp – guitar, electronics
  • Jakko Jakszyk – guitar, vocals, keyboards
  • Mel Collins – saxophones, flute
  • Tony Levin – bass, Chapman stick
  • Gavin Harrison – drums, percussion
The Crimson ProjeKct
  • Tony Levin – Chapman stick, bass, backing vocals
  • Adrian Belew – guitar, vocals
  • Markus Reuter – touch guitar
  • Julie Slick – bass
  • Pat Mastelotto – drums, percussion
  • Tobias Ralph – drums, percussion
  • Official Bootleg Live 2012 (2013)
  • Live in Tokyo (2014)
Beat
  • Live band performing Beat, Discipline, and Three of a Perfect Pair [42]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: King Crimson: Biography & History . Eder . Bruce . . 16 April 2019 .
  2. Web site: King Crimson 1969: A Personal Throughview from the Guitarist . Fripp . Robert . Robert Fripp . . 7 November 2016 . 16 April 2019 .
  3. Web site: Why King Crimson are still prog-rock royalty . Fuller . Graham . . 28 September 2009 . 16 April 2019 .
  4. Web site: Lizard - King Crimson: Songs, Reviews, Credits . Lynch . Dave . . 16 April 2019 .
  5. Web site: 46 Years Ago Today . Smith . Sid . . 9 June 2018 . 16 April 2019 .
  6. Web site: Robert Fripp's Diary: World Central Held A Mass . Fripp . Robert . Robert Fripp . . 31 August 1999 . 16 April 2019 .
  7. Web site: Larks Tongues in Aspic - The Long View . Singleton . David . . 3 November 2016 . 16 April 2019 .
  8. Web site: Starless and Bible Black - King Crimson: Songs, Reviews, Credits . Eder . Bruce . . 16 April 2019 .
  9. Web site: Revisiting King Crimson's Implosion on 'Red' . DeRiso . Nick . Ultimate Classic Rock . 6 October 2015 . 16 April 2019 .
  10. Web site: Robert Fripp, interview: 'I'm a very difficult person to work with' . Hughes . Rob . . 31 October 2014 . 16 April 2019 .
  11. Web site: Discipline - The Long View . Singleton . David . . 3 November 2016 . 16 April 2019 .
  12. News: A Perfect Trio . Smith . Sid . . 14 March 2019 . 16 April 2019 .
  13. Web site: Robert Fripp's Diary: DGM HQ: A Sunny Day . Fripp . Robert . Robert Fripp . . 23 March 2012 . 16 April 2019 .
  14. Web site: Nashville Rehearsals - King Crimson: Songs, Reviews, Credits . Planer . Lindsay . . 16 April 2019 .
  15. Web site: Nashville Rehearsals . 10 October 2016 . . 16 April 2019 .
  16. Web site: The ProjeKcts - King Crimson: Songs, Reviews, Credits . Hayes . Kelvin . . 16 April 2019 .
  17. Web site: An Amazing Journey . Gunn . Trey . Trey Gunn . . https://web.archive.org/web/20040402110501/http://www.treygunn.com/word/letter.html . 21 November 2003 . 2 April 2004 . 16 April 2019 .
  18. Web site: Sept 1, 2004: Ex Uno Plures . 11 June 2008 . . 16 April 2019 .
  19. News: King Crimson Confirmed For 40th Anniversary Celebrations . Smith . Sid . . 28 June 2007 . 16 April 2019 .
  20. News: The Return of King Crimson . Smith . Sid . . 19 November 2007 . 16 April 2019 .
  21. Web site: King Crimson: King Crimson: Park West, Chicago, Illinois August 7, 2008 . Kelman . John . . 4 September 2008 . 16 April 2019 .
  22. Web site: Robert . Fripp . Robert Fripp's Diary: Marriot Downtown, 85, West Street, NYC. . dgmlive.com . 5 Dec 2010 . 7 Mar 2021 . 7 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210307183948/https://www.dgmlive.com/diaries/Robert%20Fripp/marriot-downtown-west-street-nyc-3-210916 . live .
  23. Web site: Chris . Coplan . King Crimson announce reunion for 2014 . Consequence of Sound . 26 September 2013 . 7 Mar 2021 . 25 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210925115951/https://consequence.net/2013/09/king-crimson-announce-reunion-for-2014/ . live .
  24. News: Robert Fripp Resurrects King Crimson . Giles . Jeff . Ultimate Classic Rock . 25 September 2013 . 16 April 2019 .
  25. News: King Crimson unveil new-line up and 2014 tour plans . . 25 September 2013 . 16 April 2019 .
  26. News: King Crimson call up drummer Jeremy Stacey . Munro . Scott . Prog . 7 March 2016 . 16 April 2019 .
  27. Web site: Robert Fripp's Diary: Bredonborough . Fripp . Robert . Robert Fripp . . 3 January 2017 . 25 April 2020 .
  28. News: King Crimson Will Tour The U.S. In 2017 . Lifton . Dave . Ultimate Classic Rock . 7 January 2017 . 16 April 2019 .
  29. News: Chris Gibson joins Crim . Smith . Sid . . 13 October 2017 . 16 April 2019 .
  30. King Crimson's 50th Anniversary Press Day: 15 Things We Learned . Shteamer . Hank . . 8 April 2019 . 16 April 2019 .
  31. Web site: Robert Fripp's Diary: Bredonborough . Fripp . Robert . Robert Fripp . . 4 May 2019 . 5 May 2019 .
  32. Web site: Tony Levin's Road Diary: Leipzig Warmup . Levin . Tony . Tony Levin . 9 June 2019 .
  33. Bill Rieflin, Drummer for King Crimson, R.E.M., Ministry, Dead at 59 . . March 24, 2020 . April 25, 2020.
  34. Web site: 2021-12-13 . Have King Crimson suddenly ended – or are they on the cusp of a new cycle? . 2022-05-08 . Guitar.com All Things Guitar . en-GB.
  35. Web site: Kielty . Martin. Gavin Harrison Says He's Unsure if King Crimson Is Finished . 2022-05-08 . Ultimate Classic Rock . 29 April 2022 . en.
  36. Web site: Kennelty . Greg . 2022-07-16 . KING CRIMSON Is Likely Done Touring . 2023-02-02 . Metal Injection . en-US.
  37. Web site: 2018-11-27 . King Crimson, Greens Playhouse, 1972 . 2023-06-18 . DGM Live . en.
  38. Web site: Live . D. G. M. . 2017-04-28 . King Crimson, Heroes, 2017 . 2022-06-01 . DGM Live . en.
  39. Web site: King Crimson – Formentera Lady (Instrumental Edit) . YouTube . 2 November 2020 . Although his work on the album is uncredited, Wilf [...] was the leader for the small string orchestra that appeared on Prelude Of The Gulls..
  40. Book: Smith, Sid. In The Court of King Crimson. 2002 . Helter Skelter Publishing . 46. >
  41. Book: Smith, Sid . In The Court of King Crimson . Helter Skelter Publishing . 2002 . 112–116. >
  42. Steve Vai and Tool's Danny Carey Unite with King Crimson Musicians for 'BEAT' Tour . . April 2024 .