King Crimson Comes to the Warfield

Upon meeting guitarist Robert Fripp for the first time, the late, great Jimi Hendrix asked him to shake his left hand, because “It’s closer to my heart…” Fripp, like others who were similarly inspired by that mercurial genius, would go on to much deserved critical acclaim as the founder of the prog-rock entity known as King Crimson. Now in its 45th year(!), Fripp and his latest incarnation of King Crimson roll into the Warfield in San Francisco on Friday and Saturday night for two of their final three shows to end an incredible tour that began in New York last June.


For those in the know, “Crimso”, as it is affectionately known, began in England, during the heady days of the late 1960s, alongside groups like Genesis, Yes, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull, and the Soft Machine, to name but a few. My earliest experience with the group came during their 1974 tour at Washington, D.C.’s Kennedy Center, featuring now retired drummer Bill Bruford, bassist John Wetton and violinist David Cross. Since that time, I’ve seen virtually every incarnation of the band, and they have been amazing.


In 1974, Fripp would place the group on hiatus for almost a decade; recording instead with the likes of David Bowie, Peter Gabriel and Brian Eno. Resurrected in the early 1980′s with the aforementioned Bruford, bassist/Chapman Stick player Tony Levin, and Bowie/Frank Zappa alum, guitarist Adrian Belew, Crimso released several albums, and in the 1990s, added two more players; Warr guitarist Trey Gunn and drummer Pat Mastelotto. Now, in the wake of Bruford’s retirement, Belew and Gunn’s solo projects, Fripp has reassembled yet another King Crimson; this time featuring Levin, Mastelotto, Mel Collins (a former Crimson saxophonist from the 1970s), as well as Jakko Jaksyzk of the group 21st Century Schizoid Band on guitar and vocals, as well as two more drummers, including Porcupine Tree’s Gavin Harrison, and R.E.M.’s Bill Rieflin. Dubbed the “Elements” tour, Fripp and company have approached material both old and new, with renewed vigor and from all accounts, some very tasty new arrangements.


Fripp has stated that “King Crimson lives in different bodies at different times and the particular form which the group takes changes. When music appears, which only King Crimson can play then, sooner or later, King Crimson appears to play the music…” Based on Levin’s informative and mesmerizing web diary, (http://www.papabear.com/tours/crim14/crim14_18.htm) and Crimson biographer Sid Smith (who is touring with the band), (http://sidsmith.blogspot.com/), Bay Area fans are in for a treat. Songs from the tour include updates of classic gems like “Red”, “Larks Tongue in Aspic Parts One & Two”, “Starless”, “Vroom”, “The Talking Drum”, “One More Red Nightmare”, as well as newer pieces from the Crimson ProjeKct ensembles, “A Scarcity of Miracles”, “The Light of Day” and “The ConstruKction of Light”.


Fripp was voted by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the top 50 guitarists in the world; I’d amend that to one of the top 10 of all time. One never knows if and when we will ever see anything like this again. Last week, during a performance with legendary jazz guitarist Larry Coryell at Yoshi’s, the famed drummer Lenny White (Miles Davis/Return to Forever), reminded the audience that we have been living in extraordinary musical times, and are very fortunate to have witnessed this era of artistry and creativity, occasionally unencumbered by the of vagaries of the music business. If you do get a chance to go see this group, do it… You’ll be glad you did.


“The Elements of King Crimson” 2014 US Tour


The Warfield San Francisco, CA



Friday, October 3rd and Saturday, October 4th @ 8:00 pm


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