King Crimson 1995

The present incarnation, the Double Trio, is the fifth live ensemble since the group's birthday on January 13th. 1969 in the basement of the Fulham Palace Cafe, London. The conception of the present personnel was January 7th. 1994, and their birthday April 18th. 1994, both in Woodstock, New York.

Robert Fripp            Adrian Belew
Guitar                  Guitar & voice

Trey Gunn               Tony Levin
Stick                   Basses and Stick

Pat Mastelloto          Bill Bruford
Acoustic and Electronic Percussions

I took the personal decision to put King Crimson back into action during the second half of 1990 but without a clear idea of how that might be. When Adrian Belew visited me in England during the Summer of 1991, expressing his commitment to the next stage of Crimsonising, the shape became more defined and the intent clear. Tony Levin had also expressed his commitment to the next stage of Crimson with the dry T.Lev aside that "I figure a a three year break is fine, but seven years a bit TOO long". And that was four years ago.

The picture of a Double Trio formation appeared in a flash while I was driving past our village church towards Salisbury one afternoon in the Autumn of 1992. The double trio was not what I intended, expected, nor wanted but I trusted (and trust) this point of seeing sufficiently to act upon it. Sometimes it takes time for ideas to come into effect with the risk that the available moment for good ideas may be lost.

The primary reason for the delay between 1991 and 1994 is the dispute and litigation between myself and Messrs. SG Alder and MA Fenwick, the principals of EG Management and formally EG Records and EG Music, who had represented King Crimson and myself since 1969. The principals' financial problems as Lloyd's Names and the collapse of their property company (which went into voluntary liquidation in August 1992) were reflected by their failure to pay outstanding royalties to artists on January 1st. 1991.

Secondary reasons for delay were Tony Levin's commitment to Peter Gabriel, mine to David Sylvian, Adrian Belew's solo career and responsibilities as a producer, and Bill Bruford's involvement with Yes and his continuing management by EG (until April 18th. 1995). These all contributed to delaying the return of Crimson to active duty.

The recording of VROOOM (May 1994) was set as a challenge, with the aim of pulling together six busy musicians to write and rehearse a new and available repertoire. The mini-album is the product of two weeks' rehearsals, three weeks' work overall and is, in effect, the recording of our first rehearsals together. VROOOM was released independently in November 1994 on DGM through Possible Productions in North America, Pinnacle in the UK, Rough Trade in Germany and Benelux, COD Tuxedo in Switzerland, France and Scandinavia, Virgin in Italy and Spain, Pony Canyon in Japan and the Far East.

King Crimson rehearsed for a further two weeks (July 26 - August 6) and flew to Argentina on September 22nd. for one week of rehearsals and two weeks of live work, to play-in both the band and new material. The Double Trio presented King Crimson's formal return to active duty on Saturday 1st. October, 1994 at the Prix d'Ami disco, Buenos Aires. The dress rehearsal the evening before was a poorly kept secret: I suggested to the promoter that he invite his friends to come and listen.

The first full studio album since 1984 - THRAK - was recorded at Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios between October 24th. - November 19th., and November 28th. - December 4th. 1994. Virgin release it in April 1995 throughout Europe and North America.

A world concert tour begins in Europe at the beginning of May 1995 and continues throughout the rest of the year.

King Crimson - THRAK

Recorded and mixed in six weeks at Real World Recording Studios, Box, UK, September 24th. - November 19th., November 28th. - December 4th. 1994.

Release April 1995 on DGM through Virgin in North America and Europe, Pony Canyon in Japan and the Far East.

Definitions:

VROOOM An inevitable and remorseless forward movement which carries everything before it.

VROOOM VROOOM

1. The same, but here it comes again.
2. A King Crimson instrumental (1994) with a middle section originally written, but not used, for "Red" (1974).

THRAK

1. A sudden and precisely directed impact moving from intention and commitment, in service of an aim.
2. sound of 117 guitars almost striking the same chord simultaneously.

Marine 475 (Coda to VROOOM)

1. An example of remorseless and unforgiving inevitability where one is called to honour one's liability without limitation.
2. A Lloyd's insurance syndicate which suffered catastrophic losses for 1989, 1990 and 1991 resulting from Hurricane Hugo, Exxon Valdez and Phillips Petroleum. Several Names involved were from the music industry - even honest, God-fearing family men and good guys that you could trust, who had nothing to hide and who were renowned for their probity and sound business practices.

King Crimson

1. "The man with an aim". From an Anglicised form of the Arabic phrase "B'il Sabab" ("Beelzebub").
2. Term coined by Peter Sinfield in 1969.

References:

"The Great Deceiver" (December 1992) is also a 4 x CD set of live recordings from 1973/4 in Europe and America. This also includes a Scrapbook.

"Robert Fripp: From King Crimson To Guitar Craft" (Faber) is a book which I asked Eric not to write. It has one very good chapter (on the Guitar Craft course which Eric attended) and several chapters on King Crimson.

Other Discipline Global Mobile releases:

King Crimson - VROOOM (1994)

Trey Gunn - One Thousand Years (1994)

The Robert Fripp String Quintet - The Bridge Between (1994)

The California Guitar Trio - Yamanashi Blues (1994)

The California Guitar Trio - Invitation (1995)

Robert Fripp - 1999: Soundscapes Live In Argentina (1995)

Forthcoming:

Adrian Belew - The Acoustic Adrian Belew (Japan & Europe 1995)

King Crimson Official Bootleg - Indiscipline: Live In Argentina (1995)

Robert Fripp - 1995: Soundscapes Live In California (1995)

Volume One: Radiophonics

Volume Two: A Blessing Of Tears:

Volume Three: Soundbites

Robert Fripp & The League of Crafty Guitarists - Intergalactic Boogie Express: Live In Europe (1995)

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