KING CRIMSON
In 1969 I was and had been in Blues Bands doing the music of B.B. King, Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, Howling Wolf etc., etc. A very good friend handed me his just purchased copy of King Crimson's Court of the Crimson King. We decided to go and listen to it on my my stereo as it was serious kit for the time and damn loud.I dropped the needle on my turntable cranked the amp and just over 7 minutes later I sat down totally, totally, totally stunned!!!About 3 days later I told myself to learn to both play and write music as good as I just heard ...OR ...sell my guitar!!!The next day I started a routine that I still stick to. Six hours playing every day and 2 hours writing and/or studying theory.
In 1971 I headed with guitar in hand across the pond to London UK and joined Prog Rock band Tallis.
Keep in mind when listening this came out in October 1969 and Sabbath came out in February 1971. Both are full Stack full volume and Heavy. Both have doom lyrics.
Ask yourself who invented what first??? 😇Two very important things. Robert Fripp copied no one if for no other reason there was no one to copy to create what much later the media labelled Prog.
In 1969 name one band/guitarist in Rock who had the skill and technique to play this speed and complexity. There aren't any.I recommend wearing headphones. Have the volume cranked. Also wear a blindfold so there are no visual distractions.During the sax solo listen to the guitar. It is played low as it is not meant to distract. BUT ...WTF the chord work is mind blowing.
Yes.
ReplyDeleteI always felt that Iron Man was kind of Sabbath's take on Schizoid Man, with the freakout section and everything. And there is the Ozzy version of Schizoid Man, too...
I've seen Crimson quite a few times, but the best version of this I saw was The 21st Century Schizoid Band version with both Mel Collins AND Ian MacDonald wailing on sax,in a pretty small venue for a band with that much power!
Certainly something