King Crimson: Classic Or Dud

Well, he hates his past, too, so that doesn't leave much to celebrate or say farewell to:

Robert Fripp: “My professional life has been so devoid of joy”

https://m.facebook.com/UncutMagazine/posts/873569076006412

By "joy" I'm pretty sure he means "money."

yeah man i heard he had plenty of joy touring with eno
hehehehe

fripp heads should get the upcoming Heldon reissue - Allez-Téia! I'm listening to it right now. There is even a song called In Wake Of King Fripp.

How is it compared with the Cuneiform reissue? Also: Heldon/Richard Pinhas: S&D

i'm not sure! i think this is just a vinyl reish on superior viaduct.

anyone nab any of the recent Crimson vinyl reissues? Bought Red today (my fave) but have not listened yet.

Completely joyless, I heard.

Hmmm

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t1.0-9/983756_10204866033075152_5762559804329043367_n.jpg

i'm not sure! i think this is just a vinyl reish on superior viaduct.

― tylerw, Monday, August 25, 2014 3:49 PM

correct, it is a vinyl reissue whereas the Cuneiform was CD. I assume the same master tapes were used.

Crimson YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYru1JoobMQ

OK, that drum trio is genuinely compelling and listenable. Suddenly I am psyched.

no e-drums or triggers, hallelujah

ok I spoke too soon but still sounds natural and quite good

I am very much looking forward to the KC cover version of "My Pal Foot-Foot".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_d1ud6bLmI&list=UUBxEf1UWDjbIEoh2MAQR7zQ

It's only recently that I realized that Fripp envisioned these three drummers as his frontline leads. Wonder what the songs will sound like?

Fripp is on the cover of the upcoming issue of The Wire. Should be interesting.

I bet he complains a lot in the interview. "I have packaged and resold each of the King Crimson albums 15 times, in every format, but what do I have to show for it? Plus, I have yet to find a benefactor who will pay me not to tour, so until I do, I will meditate, practice my guitar and perfect the art of speaking about Fripp on the third person."

I wish he'd hurry up and publish The Writing Project.

I kept hearing "it's a band of seven eagles"

It's the true story of seven strangers.

psyched for the melotron emulator.

Any ILXors in Albany for tonight?

setlist spoilers over at progressiveears

Huh. Intriguing. I guess it's not surprising it should take several cues/moods from the Fripp-Jakko-Collins project. From that report, it sounds like the band was still figuring stuff out (?). Then again, the 2008 iteration was apparently not always up to Fripp's standards, but I thought it was a total monster, so who knows?

Still on the fence about $$$.

well they haven't done an "official" show yet so who knows

I'm not sure this is the sort of band (specifically or generally) that is going to or even can shake up its set list from night to night.

I mean in terms of quality or performance, I would imagine that's pretty much the set list

that's a pretty amazing setlist to me. too bad they didn't sneak in In the Court . What is "Light of Day"?

oh it was on scarcity of miracles. bah. i like the title track though, a lot, so I'm happy to hear that one.

I am skeptical about new KC, and am curious about why this thread has so many recent replies

Because newest KC is touring?

Ok? Fripp is quite within the range of reproach as far as new material is concerned, and given that Levin and Collins are his only "ringers", I'm wondering where the new songs are coming from. Kind of amazing Belew isn't involved.

I wonder if they have plans to have any of the shows professionally filmed. Probably too much to hope for. That setlist at progressiveears is an intriguing mix of eras.

I don't think there are any new songs, per se -- there are some improv sections, and the drum trio section is new I guess.

Belew's facebook page, months ago:
q: were you asked to be in the new King Crimson?
a: no, I was not. robert informed me in an email that he was starting a 7-piece version of the band. he said I would not be right for what the band is doing.

it has so many replies because this is the first time they've toured in almost 8 years; and certainly the first time they've hinted at revisiting early material (which they are doing, if you check the setlist). The only newcomers are Reiflin (who has been in Fripp circles for a while now) and Jakko (ditto) so it's a sensible lineup. It's too bad no Belew but they also are avoiding doing any Belew material and Belew's Crimson Projekt has Fripp's blessing so people can go there for that; Belew was certainly important and I think Fripp acknowledges that by not doing any of his material without him.

also crim live is worth getting excited about.

Actually I'm very happy Belew isn't involved

belew is great. i love belew. but every king crimson show in my lifetime, thus far, has been about "elephant talk" and not "starless", and you know, i'd rather hear them play "starless", which clearly they were never going to do with belew in the band.

"larks' one" is an interesting choice. i have no idea how this band could pull that number off. incidentally, last night was also the live debut of "one more red nightmare". if you can believe that!

I'm wondering where the new songs are coming from.

Easy: no new songs. Lots of drum duos/trios, though, it seems.

Having seen him on the last tour, I consider Gavin Harrison a ringer. I'm happy Belew isn't involved, too, because he has such a dominant personality, but man, how cool would it have been to get someone like David Sylvian again instead of Jakko? I have a hunch Sylvian would never sing old Crimson stuff, though. But neither did Belew, really.

I should put in yet another reco for the Rieflin/Fripp/Gunn album "Birth of a Giant."

http://www.thewire.co.uk/img/scale/460/565/2014/09/10/460x565xcover368.jpg.pagespeed.ic.79Rb-P1b6u.jpg

electronic version just hit my inbox, imma check it out

reckon he's just about good enough at the guitar to pull off the hat

but only just

Any ILXors in Albany for tonight?

― Malibu Stasi (WilliamC), Tuesday, September 9, 2014 12:33 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Thought seriously about going, even though I don't own any of their records, but it's way too much $$$ for "this might be good." One of my fb friends posted a pic from the show, and when I saw three drum kits on stage, I immediately regretted my decision.

Also, they sold out two nights in about 20 minutes.

Good, wide-ranging interview. Next up in the archival reissue series is a 26 (!) disc Starless & Bible Black-era box set. Fripp says there are no plans for new KC material, but he hasn't ruled it out. No news on the Writing Project, unfortunately, although the legal battles are apparently now over (and were resolved to RF's satisfaction).

Steve Smith (NYC jazz/classical/avant critic) says last night was completely stupendous

one more red nightmare? hell yes!

what the hell was fripp's latest legal situation anyway?

It was a long-running battle with his former record companies over the payment of royalties, putting KC stuff up for download that they didn't have the rights to do, etc etc