~ As part of a series of events and releases for their 50th anniversary, King Crimson’s 2019 tour will include special concerts across three continents, including both festivals and headline Shows ~
Since the band’s return to live performance in 2014, with critically acclaimed sell-out shows all over the world including two defining shows at the Roman amphitheatre in Pompeii, previously home to Pink Floyd, the audience has been reinvented, as much as the band itself:
“In Pompeii, a large percentage of the audience was young couples; KC moved into the mainstream in Italy. I walked onstage knowing that this band’s position in the world has changed level.” Robert Fripp
With its fiftieth anniversary, it seems that the wider world is finally ready to embrace King Crimson. A process that began with Kanye West’s sampling of “21st Century Schizoid Man” for his 2010 hit “Power”, now sees their song “Starless” as the soundtrack to the opening scenes of Nicholas Cage’s new 2018 film “Mandy”.
The band’s packed three-hour shows regularly include material from twelve of their thirteen studio albums, including many of the songs from their seminal 1969 album “In The Court of the Crimson King”, described by Pete Townshend, as an “uncanny masterpiece”. The new 8-piece line-up plays many historic pieces which Crimson have never played live, as well as new arrangements of Crimson classics – “the music is new whenever it was written”. There are also new instrumentals and songs, as well as the compositions by the three drummers, Pat Mastelotto, Gavin Harrison and Jeremy Stacey, which are a regular highlight. A unique show, where eight of the best musicians in the world play music without distraction or adornment.
King Crimson will be playing three shows at the Albert Hall in London in June 2019!
18 June – Tickets
19 June – Tickets
20 June – Tickets
“MELTDOWN” – A BluRay filmed at the band’s five sell-out shows in Mexico City in 2017, was released in October 2018.
“COSMIKC F*KC” – an in-depth documentary of King Crimson will appear in 2019.
“Jimi Hendrix saw them at the Marquee in 1969 and declared them to be the best band in the world. In many ways, almost half a century later, they still are.” – ERIC THIESSEN, All About Jazz.
“Fripp and his band offered an impeccable performance in two stages. No melodies, no flapping, only musicians at the top of their art.” – IAN BUSSIÈRES La Presse, Quebec
“The band finally reaps all that it has sown in its many transformations…the king is not dead, far from it, and they still rejoice.” – REJEAN BEAUCAGE, Voir.ca
“Crimson has never sounded more complete, or more joyous, on stage than it does now.” – JORDAN ZIVITZ, Montreal Gazette
“The uniqueness of seeing each of these seasoned musicians working is near indescribable and has to be experienced live to fully embrace their vision – think of eight master painters working in their own style, but on a common canvas, and you begin to get the idea of things.” – WE HEART MUSIC, Minneapolis
“On our final evening at the festival, we were witness to the concert that inevitably proved to be its highlight…The blend of mood, melody, ambiance and atmosphere dazzled the audience, which responded with frequent standing ovations.” – LEE ZIMMERMAN, Goldmine Magazine
ROBERT FRIPP, though best known for his work in King Crimson, has contributed to numerous albums by players as diverse as Brian Eno, David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Blondie, Talking Heads, Daryl Hall, The Roches, Peter Hammill, Keith Tippett, David Sylvian, The Orb, and The Grid. His 1979 solo album, “Exposure” was described as “the Sergeant Pepper of avant punk.” He has appeared twice in Rolling Stone magazine’s 100 Greatest Guitarist Of All Time poll, although Fripp claims these are likely to have been mistakes by the typesetter.
TONY LEVIN has been a member of King Crimson since 1981. Internationally renowned and constantly in-demand for his distinctive bass work, he also tours with Peter Gabriel with whom he has worked since 1977. He has appeared on albums by Paul Simon, John Lennon, David Bowie and countless others and recently formed his own band, Stick Men alongside Crimson drummer, Pat Mastelotto.
JAKKO JAKSZYK was a member of Level 42, before working with Mel Collins as part of ex-KC alumni group, 21st Century Schizoid Band between 2002 – 2004. His solo album, “The Bruised Romantic Glee Club” (2006) was his first recorded collaboration with Fripp, followed by “A Scarcity of Miracles” in 2011. An acclaimed producer in his own right, Jakszyk has recently mixed Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson’s UK Top 20 album, “Homo Erraticus.”
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MEL COLLINS was previously a member of King Crimson 1970 – 1972 appearing on “In The Wake Of Poseidon” (1970), “Lizard” (1970), “Islands” (1971), “Earthbound” (1972) as well as a guest appearance on “Red” (1974), the final King Crimson album of the 1970s. He subsequently worked with The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, Dire Straits, Eric Clapton and many others, before returning to King Crimson in 2014.
GAVIN HARRISON joined King Crimdon in 2007, playing a series of dates in the USA the following year. A respected author and tutor, he has also recorded three albums with The PineappleThief, though Harrison is probably best-known for his work with Porcupine Tree. Modern Drummer magazine placed him in their Top 50 Drummers Of All Time.
PAT MASTELOTTO joined King Crimson in 1994 after working with Robert Fripp and David Sylvian. A member of the hugely successful American 1980s group and MTV favourites, Mr. Mister, he is at home in both experimental music working with KTU as well as pop and rock appearing on albums by The Rembrandts, Hall And Oates and XTC.
JEREMY STACEY is a British drummer. His early work included the 1990s band, The Lemon Trees (with twin brother Paul Stacey on guitars, Guy Chambers and others) and Denzil. He has also played with Sheryl Crow, the Finn Brothers, Nick Harper, Noel Gallagher, and many more. On March 7, 2016, it was announced that he would be taking the place of Bill Rieflin as the centre drummer on the 2016 King Crimson European tour, a position he retained even after Rieflin’s return to the band.
BILL RIEFLIN is a multi-instrumentalist but is primarily known for his drumming with Ministry and industrial rock outfit KMFDM. From 2003 until their dissolution in 2011 he played drums with REM. He recorded with Robert Fripp on “Birth Of A Giant” and “The Repercussions Of Angelic Behaviour” (both 1999) and most recently in the ambient super-group, Slow Music in 2006 and 2014.
