- In the Court of the Crimson King (Expanded Edition) · 1969
- In the Court of the Crimson King (Expanded Edition) · 1969
- In the Court of the Crimson King (Expanded Edition) · 1969
- In the Court of the Crimson King (Expanded Edition) · 1969
- In the Court of the Crimson King (Expanded Edition) · 1969
- In the Court of the Crimson King (Expanded Edition) · 1969
- Red (Expanded Edition) · 1974
- Red (Expanded Edition) · 1974
- Discipline (Expanded Edition) · 1981
- In the Wake of Poseidon (Expanded Edition) · 1970
- Red (Expanded Edition) · 1974
- Discipline (Expanded Edition) · 1981
- Radical Action to Unseat the Hold of Monkey Mind (Live) · 2016
Essential Albums
- King Crimson’s 1969 debut album is often considered the group’s best. It is the album that transformed psychedelia into progressive rock influenced by jazz and classical music. Prior adventurers such as The Moody Blues sound tame in comparison to the wild-eyed ambitions of “21st Century Schizoid Man.” The members all dominate their instruments, with Ian McDonald bringing the Mellotron to center stage along with his expansive saxophone work, while Robert Fripp takes the guitar beyond the blues and singer Greg Lake commands the mic.
Music Videos
Artist Playlists
- The tip of the prog-rock spear and more.
- Chilly, challenging, and tirelessly complex.
- The prog rockers’ discography is a rabbit hole with no end.
- Experience the prog pioneers’ many phases in their most primal states.
Compilations
About King Crimson
King Crimson simultaneously defined and transcended prog rock. Fiercely original guitar stylist Robert Fripp has been the only constant through the British band’s many evolutions, always shepherding the group to something new. Their 1969 debut, In the Court of the Crimson King, blew minds with its unprecedented mix of hard-rock, jazz, avant-garde, and classical influences, with a pre-ELP Greg Lake’s rich, larger-than-life voice delivering lyricist Peter Sinfield’s wildly imagistic lyrics. With constantly shifting lineups through the ’70s, King Crimson pursued an uncompromisingly unique sound, sometimes relying heavily on improvisation. They split after the 1974 proto-metal touchstone Red, but Fripp rebooted the band for three funky, polyrhythmic, New Wave-influenced ’80s albums fronted by Bowie/Talking Heads sideman Adrian Belew. Variations of the Belew-fronted lineup convened in the ’90s and 2000s. In 2013, a new Crimson with new singer Jakko Jakszyk began touring, bringing fans tunes from all across the band’s career for the first time.
- HOMETOWN
- London, England
- FORMED
- November 1968