Countryside, Milwaukee & Palatine
KING
CRIMSON
Believing in Music Again
Sat. Oct. 18
Holiday Inn
Countryside
6201 Joliet Road (Rt.66)
Countryside • 847-409-9656
Show Hours: 10-4pm
Sun. Oct. 19
Serb Hall
5101 W. Oklahoma
Milwaukee, WI
10am-4pm
Sun. Nov 2
Holiday Inn
Express
1550 E. Dundee Rd
Palatine, IL • 847-409-9656
Show Hours: 10-4pm
46 illinoisentertainer.com october 2014
T
his reporter and King Crimson have
crossed paths many times, over a
dozen at last count. In a 1991 interview, Robert Fripp spoke about the band’s
iconic 1969 debut album, In The Court Of
The Crimson King, and the profound
impact the band had on contemporary
progressive music:
“I think one would have to say that a
musician acknowledges that music is a
power. You don't have to believe in God,
but a musician believes in music as if it
were God. And one would have to say
with that band that something took place
outside of the band. The words I would
use is that music leaned over and took us
into its confidence. We knew it had nothing to do with us, but we knew something
was going on.”
The same could be said about every
version of the band Fripp has assembled,
from the improvisational initial line up
with Greg Lake, Mike Giles, Ian McDonald
and Peter Sinfield; through the early 70s
version that featured John Wetton, Bill
Bruford, and David Cross; to finally, the
“Discipline” version that included
Bruford, Pat Mastelotto, Trey Gunn, Tony
Levin and Adrian Belew, which lasted
from the early 1980s through most of the
last decade.
And then- there was silence.
Six years ago, Robert Fripp announced
his retirement, and all the former members
went on with their various musical
careers.
Now the Crimson King has returned to
his court, and brought a new seven piece
version of the band with him. The current
line-up again features Robert Fripp at the
helm, with Jakko Jakszyk, Tony Levin,
Mel Collins, Pat Mastelotto, Gavin
Harrison and Bill Rieflin. It includes three
drummers,
a
saxophonist/flautist
(Collins, back from the 1970-71 version),
paired guitars, bass and assorted devices.
Last month, the band kicked off a US
tour that included a three night stand at
Chicago’s Vic Theater, September 25, 26,
and 27th. Illinois Entertainer caught up
with bassist exraordinare Tony Levin, who
has been a part of every Crimson line up
since 1981. In a candid interview he talked
about the current band, the future of King
Crimson and the always enigmatic Robert
Fripp:
IE: Most King Crimson fans were under
the impression Robert Fripp had retired
and ended the prospect of him working
within the context of the band ever again.
What made him change his mind?
Tony Levin: Ah, I'm not the one to explain
Robert's thinking. What I do know is that
last December, he wrote me saying he was
excited about re-awakening King
Crimson, and with a new lineup, and
would I like to be part of it. Of course, I
was more than happy about that - Crimson
is, for me, the most challenging of the
musical situations I get invo