Good stuff!
To each his own. No important members? Belew (who has played w/ Zappa, Bowie, etc and Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel) were both in that 80’s band…the only King Crimson lineup to ever put out more than one album (they did three in a row…which were the most commercially successful in the group’s history.) It’s by far my fav era. This (the Beat Tour) was supposed to happen years ago w/ Fripp. Between Covid and other contractual obligations it just didn’t work out. Fripp then decided to retire, but gave full blessing to Belew and Levin to go forward with the project, which is named (Beat) after one of King Crimson albums from the 80’s.(Discipline, Beat, Three of a Perfect Pair) Bill Bruford was also in that band. That 80’s band IMHO had the best guitar,bass,drums,vocals…and songs, of any Crimson lineup. And I’m a fan of it all. I saw Crimson’s last ever show in the US w/ the 3 drummers just a few years ago.I wish I had seen King Crimson around 2017, 2018, or 2019 maybe, as they were real good then with their 3 drummers, a good singer and Robert Fripp)... I haven't liked much Adrian Belew's King Crimson : I saw them in 1982, and bought some albums that left me a same impression (very precise playing though)...
So I wouldn't go if they'd come here : I think it's a bit better than "21st century schizoid Bob with his wife" still![]()
I find it a strange idea to see a band calling itself Beat (King Crimson) as there are no important members of the King Crimson that I've liked, and none of their hits either...I'd rather see Peter Sinfield, Michael Giles ° and a few others trying to complement each other in a King Crimson kind of way...Still wish a very good time to those that go and see them...
°Edited : and Mel Collins I'd say with a couple + drummers from last line up maybe I felt like adding.
And don't forget Tony Levin! KC, bassist for Peter Gabriel, Stick Men, jazzin' with his brother, and solo projects.To each his own. No important members? Belew (who has played w/ Zappa, Bowie, etc and Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel) were both in that 80’s band…the only King Crimson lineup to ever put out more than one album (they did three in a row…which were the most commercially successful in the group’s history.) It’s by far my fav era. This (the Beat Tour) was supposed to happen years ago w/ Fripp. Between Covid and other contractual obligations it just didn’t work out. Fripp then decided to retire, but gave full blessing to Belew and Levin to go forward with the project, which is named (Beat) after one of King Crimson albums from the 80’s.(Discipline, Beat, Three of a Perfect Pair) Bill Bruford was also in that band. That 80’s band IMHO had the best guitar,bass,drums,vocals…and songs, of any Crimson lineup. And I’m a fan of it all. I saw Crimson’s last ever show in the US w/ the 3 drummers just a few years ago.As great as those drummers were, Danny Carey who did Bruford’s parts, is on a whole other level.
I mentioned Tony in the very first sentence.And don't forget Tony Levin! KC, bassist for Peter Gabriel, Stick Men, jazzin' with his brother, and solo projects.
Adrian did quite a lot of the lead vocals during his time with Zappa.I think that Adrian Belew played with Zappa, Talking Heads, Bowie, Joe Cocker as a guitar player, not as a lead singer...His singing and songs do not touch me much I must say (and I didn't listen many times to KC records with him). I knew about Tony Levin too, but his part is not as central.
I think the 3 drummers in the last line up are much much better than Bill Bruford (alone if you wish).
(BTW I said "no important members of the KC that I've liked").
Thanks for the information on how the Beat(KC) story happened and why (on the video Vai's guitar playing doesn't cut through and I hardly hear the individual notes, then you know...). I am very surprised too to read that the 3 albums with Belew/Levin and Brufford have been the most commercially successful ones. I believe(d) that 'In the Court Of the C.K.' would have sold more than them three together.
Well.., as you said, 'to each his own', and early King Crimson is my favourite ; I'm really keen of P. Sinfield's (and others) lyrics then too...
Bernie
Just checked it out and was rather surprised to find that Adrian was only with Zappa for about a year, 1977-78, touring and playing on "Sheik Yerbouti", where he provided the lead vocals for "Jones Crusher" and "City of Tiny Lites".I might have seen Franck Zappa with Steve Vai and there was an other guitar player (on top of Franck Zappa himself). Do you know what years Adrian Belew was in Zappa's band ?
Usually Zappa does some of the singing and there are often several singers on top. Different than being a frontman or the act itself still.
Levin's parts are always central...and typically part of the percussive role when on bass, or he plays the bass parts and low counter melodies at the same time when on Chapman Stick. Levin has been in many/most of the Crimson incarnations in the past 30 years. Including the final tours with the 3 drummers (which were great...but not Bruford great! Bill is one of my alltime fav drummers. Especially his time in early Yes. It took employing Danny Carey (one of the top 5 drummers alive!) for this tour to cover his parts! Probably the most challenging thing Carey has ever done! Btw, Bruford at that point had been in the band since Larks Toungue in 73. He was on 7 straight Crimson albums. Likely more than any member besides Fripp.I think that Adrian Belew played with Zappa, Talking Heads, Bowie, Joe Cocker as a guitar player, not as a lead singer...His singing and songs do not touch me much I must say (and I didn't listen many times to KC records with him). I knew about Tony Levin too, but his part is not as central.
I think the 3 drummers in the last line up are much much better than Bill Bruford (alone if you wish).
(BTW I said "no important members of the KC that I've liked").
Thanks for the information on how the Beat(KC) story happened and why (on the video Vai's guitar playing doesn't cut through and I hardly hear the individual notes, then you know...). I am very surprised too to read that the 3 albums with Belew/Levin and Brufford have been the most commercially successful ones. I believe(d) that 'In the Court Of the C.K.' would have sold more than them three together.
Well.., as you said, 'to each his own', and early King Crimson is my favourite ; I'm really keen of P. Sinfield's (and others) lyrics then too...
Bernie
Ike Willis and Ray White were in many of Zappa's 80s bands.I might have seen Franck Zappa with Steve Vai and there was an other guitar player (on top of Franck Zappa himself).
Ray White was in the band during all of Steve Vai's time. Ike Willis was also there for Steve's first tour, but then left, rejoining when Steve left.Ike Willis and Ray White were in many of Zappa's 80s bands.