Guitar Player Listens to King Crimson for the First Time (Frame by Frame)

[@IanHillan]

The bass is a chapman stick, played by the legendary Tony Levin. Robert Fripp and Adrian Belew were playing parts that are phased, one in 14/8 and the other in 13/8, so they such up every 13 (or 14) bars. That drummer is Bill Buford, the best progrock drummer of all time.

[@BadToad1963]

Best drummer ever. Period.

[@bhe8336]

Best drummer of all time. Confirmed. This band is legendary.

[@leonardsimonis2376]

I don't play drums so I don't know really about drums, so I wanted to ask if Phil Collins is in the same league. Also not sure about Led Zeppelin being a progrock band, but Jon Bonham is very great (I believe). In the 80s, KC were compared to The Police, and their drummer (forgot his name) seems to be great too.

[@donaldbass6737]

Love me some Bill Bruford...I’m a Yes head from way back...and King Crimson...but Neal Peart would get my nod for the best.

[@spiderbass65]

@@leonardsimonis2376 Phil is good, but he imitates other’s styles. Not in the same league as many of the greats (Bruford, Billy Cobham, Vinnie Coliuta, Dave Wekl, Steve Gadd etc.)

[@BadToad1963]

Robert Fripp, Adrian Belew, Tony Levin, and Bill Bruford. Four of the greatest musicians ever. Fripp was just voted the best progressive rock guitar player in some poll. Be warned, the King Crimson rabbit hole goes very deep.

[@landocal001]

It's worth the effort!!!!!

[@bencornish6910]

SO deep.......🤨

[@batfang5583]

Although of a completely different style, I'd put Steve Howe on the same level as Fripp just for his skill and ability.

[@tomt5745]

Fripp is brutal

[@hughjohnson2674]

Be aware that 1 guitarist was playing in 13/4 whilst the other was playing on 14/4 so the melody changes all the time. Tony Levin Was playing a Chapman stick. It is prog Rock by King Crimson one of the inventors of the that style.

[@spiderbass65]

There is so much history in this band. Members have played with Yes, Peter Gabriel, David Bowie, Frank Zappa, Talking Heads, and so many more. Dive in.

[@undergroundwarrior70]

Robert Fripp and Brian Eno recorded together on the 1973 experimental album "No Pussyfooting". Also Robert Fripp recorded on some of Brian Eno's albums.

[@spiderbass65]

@@undergroundwarrior70 I know, I couldn’t list all the artists they are connected to. Fripp also played with and produced Blondie. Tony also played with John Lennon. I could go for hours.

[@IAmInfinitus208]

Yes, Genesis and King Crimson. The holy trinity of Prog Rock for me. Also all these members as you said worked well with one another.

[@cyberserk5614]

@@IAmInfinitus208 no complete Prog Rock list without Gentle Giant.

[@Plasmariel]

@@cyberserk5614 Or ELP, it doesn't stop. I usually keep it at Yes & Genesis.

[@mattbrown5626]

The singer is playing in 7/8 and fripp on the stool is playing in 13/8

[@somedude5414]

^ THIS ^ is what you were hearing. 7/8+6/8 against 7/8 so they sync up again after while.

[@tableface77]

You can try this part yourself if you have a looper or any pedal which has a looper function. Record one bar of 7 and then play the two bars of 7 + 6 over the top. It's fun😉

[@louisvonbeethoven]

@@somedude5414 Yup. Math made magnificent !

[@GlobalWarring]

Tony Levin playing a Chapman Stick I think.

[@Heavenoid]

How many people screamed “It’s a Chapman Stick!!!!!!”, like I did?

[@erikswagerty6551]

I lpay one

[@brettmarlar4154]

You mean, after repeating that it's not s He. but s they?

[@Quintessentguy]

It's fun to listen to total novices listen to masters. Dude, you don't know Adrian Belew. Robert Fripp. You have no knowledge of Bill Briford or Yes. Like study some history you little ignoramus. What a joke.

[@801greg]

The instrument Tony Levin is playing is a Chapman Stick. It's an 8 or 10-stringed instrument that is played by tapping, rather than picking. And yes, the guitarists are playing out of time with one another -- it's a gamelan approach where the two guitarists together play interlocking parts that together make one piece. And, at certain points, they rejoin each other and play in sync.

[@talknrock9005]

Thanks alot for the info 👍🙂

[@fabioriato]

Only a small correction: Sticks also come in 12-string models, and Tony Levin plays one of those here.

[@801greg]

@@fabioriato That's actually incorrect. The 12-string model is the Grand Stick and wasn't introduced until 1990 -- 6 years after this recording and video. Tony definitely sometimes plays one now, but he did not play one in the 1980's incarnation of King Crimson.

[@batfang5583]

Also notice the heavier strings are in the middle and get lighter as you move out. Levin is the master of the instrument but I believe Trey Gunn, who also played bass with Crimson played one as well. And if you want to see more Levin check out Liquid Tension Experiment or some of the ABWH, except when he was sick and Jeff Berlin filled in.

[@thlemos]

@@batfang5583 Tony Levin has a band called Stick Men, with 2 musicians playing chapman sticks and a drummer. Very interesting

[@timcardona9962]

The singer, Adrian Belew, is a legend who started out in Zappa's band but the man behind King Crimson is Robert Fripp, the guy sitting down and playing guitar. King Crimson are pioneers of progressive rock and have gone through many different lineups and they all sound completely different. Like Zappa, it is a world unto itself.

[@Hollyrock712]

Saw Belew with Zappa in the 70’s with Zappa. They were filming the Zappa movie. Kicked ass. The Paladium in NYC on Halloween...

[@EdwardGregoryNYC]

@@Hollyrock712 Frank never forgave Bowie for "stealing" Belew away from him by paying a decent wage."

[@JimB0802]

​@EdwardGregoryNYC I think Frank understood that Adrian was going places and respected that, it was Gail who held the grudge I believe.

[@markpotvin4505]

This warmed my heart seeing a young person experience KC for the first time with no preconceptions and digging it.These 4 creative virtuoso legends together changed my life forever. My fave band of all time period.

[@JimB0802]

Same bro

[@patrickscutella836]

I've been a fan for 50 years. I envy the journey you are about to take.

[@jamesrinehart8889]

This is how musical journeys begin! I am 60 years old and I still enjoy the journey.

[@ronaldp.vincent8226]

If you like the twin guitars going in and out of sequence, you should check out the song Discipline. Insane polymeters going on.

[@HollowGolem]

"so what if everybody in the band is playing in a different time signature at the same time? And the drummer has a different time signature for each arm and his legs? Sound fun?" That song is insane. "Discipline " is absolutely the right name for it.

[@ronaldp.vincent8226]

@@HollowGolem 5 over 4 over a different 5 over 17 over 15 over 9 over…

[@bradmossman7201]

Thing to appreciate is that these guys are doing this themselves live. No effects, studio tricks or anything. Just awesome!

[@talknrock9005]

I know 🤯🤯

[@floorticket]

They use racks and racks of effects.

[@lightaces]

There are plenty of effects, but that takes nothing away from what they were doing. Hell, half the guitar sounds on those albums were guitar synths.

[@jameswilson8433]

Wanted to catch this before Fripp takes it down.

[@CharCanuck14]

Almost a month and it's still up. It's a bloody miracle!

[@Unicorns8myPoo]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@neonpark1874]

@@CharCanuck14 Possibly because he doesn't have enough subscribers for it to trigger something? Just a guess. I'm not Complaining.

[@jameshotchkin8438]

King Crimson - Starless

[@budmaynard5952]

Tony Levin, the bass player is playing a Chapman Stick (or Beta Stick). He is also Peter Gabriel's main bass player. The guy sitting is the founder and only continuous member of KC - Robert Fripp. Did you notice how freaking fast he was playing? These guys are INSANELY talented. The guitarists, Fripp and Adrian Belew, were playing in various and different time signatures. The drummer, Bill Bruford, is my favorite drummer, and prior to King Crimson, he was the drummer for Yes. Genre - Art or Progressive Rock. This will give you an idea of what these guys are capable of: this refers to the title track of the same album Frame by Frame came from - ""Discipline" is a 1981 instrumental composition by the progressive rock band King Crimson. It is the title track on Discipline, their return album after a seven-year hiatus. The piece is 5:13 in length and serves as the album's conclusion. It has a faster tempo and more of a new wave pre-techno sound compared to the preceding piece, "The Sheltering Sky". It contains heavy influences of minimal music in the form of a repeating theme with subtle variations introduced over time, creating a hypnotic effect. The composition undergoes many time signature changes. There are two main guitars (one played by Robert Fripp the other by Adrian Belew) which are often in a different time signature, giving the song a chaotic and intense feel. Many times the guitars play similar patterns, but one drops a note making them go either out of sync or change time signatures. During the piece the two guitars of Belew and Fripp, respectively, move through the following sequence of pairs of time signatures: 5/8 and 5/8, 5/8 and 4/4, 5/8 and 9/8, 15/16 and 15/16, 15/16 and 14/16, 10/8 and 20/16, 15/16 and 15/16, 15/16 and 14/16, 12/16 and 12/16, 12/16 and 11/16, 15/16 and 15/16, 15/16 and 14/16. Throughout the drums play in 17/16 - the Bill Bruford drumming video, Bruford and the Beat, builds up to an explanation of the 17/16 pattern used (including the fact that the 4/4 bass drum pattern is maintained as a "dance groove") and includes a live performance of the track interleaved with an interview with Robert Fripp about aspects of the track. In other interviews Fripp has explained that the track was composed as an exercise in discipline - no single instrument is allowed to take the lead role in the performance, nor to play as simply an accompaniment to the other instruments, but each player must maintain an equal role while allowing others to do the same." You should listen to that whole album (Discipline). It is mind blowing. The studio versions are even tighter.

[@alwaysprepared]

The instrument is the Chapman Stick played by Tony Levin. The genre is progressive rock. King Crimson is the name of the group, not an individual. Another one you would like is Elephant Talk and also Indiscipline. I'd recommend live versions.

[@Raphtor13]

Every single person there LEGENDARY - Robert Fripp, Adrian Belew, Tony Levin and Bill Bruford! Great song off my all time favorite album - Discipline.

[@JohnBullard]

Recently read a story about Jimi Hendrix seeing King Crimson and then jumping up and down excitedly shouting that this was his favorite band.

[@mhlevy]

Back in their early days, when Chris Squire and Jon Anderson of Yes saw King Crimson live, Jon told Chris that they REALLY needed to practice a lot more.

[@Aldoborzoni]

Young mortal being, you just tapped into King Crimson. It might take the rest and the best of your life to get up to KC and have a basic understanding of what it means.

[@Buccarado]

It's a band. One of the greatest, really; and that's coming from a young guy. I'd recommend listening to their first album, it's much different (more aggressive/calming, has more variety) but really interesting. Anyways, do what you do, just my recommendation

[@jupiterlegrand4817]

On their 2014 tour, I saw KC fans in their 60's dragging teen grand kids in to see the concert. Going in, their facial expressions were "Oh man, nothing but old geezers. Why am I here? This'll suck." On the way out, the look was stunned disbelief. "Wow...so THAT is what talented musicians can do when they REALLY play..." The conversion was astounding. The power of real music.

[@jimdandrea9307]

They will change your life.

[@bobcorbin3294]

King Crimson has been around since 1969 in many different forms the only constant is the guy playing guitar sitting down his name is Robert Fripp

[@ronniefarnsworth6465]

Let me save you about 20 yrs of search listening, Just listen to Classic Prog .... The Greatest Musicians and Music and you'll be very Happy !! King Crimson/ Yes/ Genesis of 1970-77'/ Jethro Tull/ Pink Floyd/ Gentle Giant/ Nektar/ ELP/ Triumvirat/ Camel etc ... I'm 65' and have seen all these great bands in the 70s and others later many times having grown up in the Best time in music !! 👍🎶🎸🎹🥁🎻🎷🎤🎼✌

[@kidflersh7807]

you HAVE to listen to Fracture, and then maybe FraKctured

[@kellywann3794]

I agree completely. You must listen to Fracture, and explore Robert Fripp.

[@IanHillan]

Fracture is my favorite King Crimson song, and it will blow your mind.

[@cobbycaputo3332]

Check out their song "Discipline" from the 1981 album of the same name. Some of the greatest interlocking guitar work ever.

[@marktaylor2502]

You have so much to learn. Enjoy the ride

[@chewbaccabooberry]

Robert Fripp (on the stool) is the guitarist and mastermind behind King Crimson, in all its incarnations. Check out FraKctured (Live in Bonn, Germany 2000). Also, really need to go all the way back to the early days and check out 21st Century Schizoid Man and Starless, at very least.

[@talknrock9005]

Thanks I'll check them out

[@cybore213]

I'll second the motion for FraKctured. You've never heard anything like it, I'm sure.

[@mhlevy]

@@talknrock9005 The song, "21st Century Schitzoid Man," from the album, "In the Court of the Crimson King" has been described as the first "real" heavy metal song.

[@zachhoward9099]

@@mhlevy not to mention the original singer on that album was the late Greg Lake who left King Crimson in 1970 to form Emerson Lake and Palmer who were a Supergroup in the 70s and made some incredible Prog Rock of their own

[@landocal001]

It's called Prog Rock. The Chapman Stick is used primarily for the bottom end (bass). The dude playing it is a master on it and standard bass. Front guy with the awesome voice is Adrian Belew. All these cats are master musicians and have extensive solo and band careers. I saw this tour twice and wish I could have seen it more. No backend mixing, no special editing, just pure talent belching out perfect renditions of the studio stuff they released. NO QUANITIZING, just real LIVE music.

[@DWHarper62]

King Crimson is the group... the guitarists in this iteration of KC are the founder, Robert Fripp and Adrian Belew, both guitar legends with Bill Bruford of Yes on drums and Tony Levin on the Chapman Stick...

[@arnesaknussemm7294]

It's King Crimson! Nothing Is what it seem!!

[@brianalpert2383]

Welcome to the world of King Crimson, where all the rules of rock are broken and there are no limits. Odd time signatures, polymeters (playing in 2 time signatures at the same time), references to Bela Bartok, you name it. As said below, all the players here are legendary. The mastermind is Robert Fripp, the guitarist you see seated. The drummer, Bill Bruford, is the original drummer from Yes. This was the 1980s incarnation. This band was formed in 1969 with the groundbreaking album, In the Court of the Crimson King - and you should definitely hear that one. There have been many incarnations of this band, each with a totally unique style. Enjoy this journey.

[@lonbecker113]

King Crimson is Robert Fripp's band. He is the guitarist playing largely in shadows and one of the most talented and interesting musicians in rock. His ego has always been immense, and he is of the view that since classical musicians are not expected to dance around while playing he shouldn't have to. In 1969 King Crimson invented progressive rock with "In the Court of the Crimson King" Over 5 years he put together 4 distinct bands and recorded 7 studio albums before he disbanded the group out of fear they would repeat themselves. That last album, Red, is probably their best. Then 6 years later he put together the band above. Only the drummer had played on an earlier King Crimson album (the drummer is the original drummer of the band Yes, which he quit at the height of their popularity to play with Fripp, no doubt costing him millions of dollars. They made three albums before Fripp broke them up for the same reason. This was the first time that Fripp let someone else play guitar on a King Crimson album. But they got back together in the 90s as an oddly duplicative band, with two bass players and two drummers. And started putting out albums in the '00s. And have been touring ever since, well until the last year when Fripp has been making comic quarantine videos with his wife. By most accounts if you want to see what he can truly do you need to see Fracture which dates back to when there was just one guitarist in the band.

[@davidfitzwater1022]

Fripp has stated publicly, on more than one occasion, that he would love to be able to jump around and play. It is because he can't that he doesn't. It's one of the many things that i admire about him.

[@primateinterfacetechnologi6220]

Yeah man, it was funny to hear Adrian Belew talking about when Fripp took him on as a second guitarist, stating "When you're in a band with Bob Fripp, you don't just "play guitar""... but Fripp needed someone to do those interlocking parts with and he judged Belew to be the perfect guitarist for this. and Tony Levin of course... his lack of ego, and ability to sit down and play any part necessary, with a smile, and extreme precision, impressed Fripp very much. peace.

[@therealtwiggyleaf]

Wow! What an introduction to King Crimson! 😎

[@stonail665]

React to King Crimson - The ConstruKction of Light - Live in Japan 2003, interlocking guitar madness.

[@DWHarper62]

No delays on this song...

[@rnemchev]

It's so good young guys discover King Crimson.

[@talknrock9005]

Thanks 😊

[@reghunt2487]

King Crimson is a very deep world to explore. The band of that name started in 1969, with an album many consider to be the start of "progressive rock". over the years the personnel have changed greatly, with guitarist Robert Fripp being the only remaining original member. The version of the band you see here started in 1981 and ended in 1984, and released three albums. King Crimson released 13 studio albums, between 1969 and 2003. The members you see here, Robert Fripp, Adrian Belew, Tony Levin, and Bill Bruford, have also done a lot of work with other artists, and also have produced solo work. King Crimson is currently touring as a 7 piece ensemble, mainly focused on reproducing songs from all the previous incarnations. 2 guitars, three drummers, bass, and wind instruments.

[@leandropatronilho1555]

You`ve just started your awakening with this...keep going! ...spiral out!

[@tachikomakusanagi3744]

its interesting to watch someone gradually understand how genuine talent works, step by step, frame by frame...

[@EddioPinaR]

Of course they are absolutely in time. They are the kings of Discipline

[@erolbulut2584]

Nothing is hard to play for these 4 guys. They are icons.

[@Darkser37]

You should listen to "Discipline" if you want to hear really crazy guitar sync :) Great video

[@clivehorridge]

Watch live videos, much better than the studio recordings...

[@Darkser37]

@@clivehorridge already done few times for the frejus live haha

[@Biofilmz]

This is one of the great versions of King Crimson. Adrian Belew and Robert Fripp were amazing on Guitar; Tony Levin was a king on Bass/Stick, and the great Bill Bruford on drums. These guys were a big influence on Math Rock and so forth

[@markmoerman7471]

As an old dude who's been listening to King Crimson for almost half a century, it's fantastic to see that the music can entice the ears of a younger fellow who'd never heard heard of them. Music is life!

[@jeremykumin1579]

I'm somehow not surprised to see you here, Mark. For the OP. Never heard of "this guy 'King Crimson' " before? Well, apparently Kanye West has, and I'd bet you know who that is, even if it's not your usual genre either. Funny how things go in cycles.

[@reghunt2487]

The genre is "progressive rock", but this particular track is also referred to as "math rock".

[@ThatandCo]

padowan , many things to learn you have old as dirt I am and still learning everyday. Never stop in the quest.

[@weeooh1]

King Crimson is NOT a guy, its the name of the GROUP. The guitarist is Andrew Belew (former guitarist for Zappa, David Bowie and others as well). Really should do a little basic research before reacting. 😉

[@beekay5914]

Andrew? Try Adrian.

[@antoniocarlin5026]

jajajajajajaja this guys obssessed with anime jajaja I think and I hate anime that a character from a anime story named King Crimson jajajaja.... well anime sucks

[@TheZepp44]

Saw Robert play with Steve Vai and Joe Satriani in G3, always remember when they did their sets, all the kids booed Fripp, not releasing what an Clever and Accomplished musician he was, also when they all jammed together he just stood in the background and played. 🤘🎸😎💀✊

[@garycoates4987]

King Crimson is a legendary band Robert Fripp is pure genius

[@josjanssen6733]

They are not playing out of sync with each other, they are playing slightly different rhythms. The "periods" of the rhythms are long ans just slightly different. This gives the cyclic impression that they appear to be playing the same thing, then get out of sync and then come together again. If you repeatedly count from 1 to 8 and your neighbour counts from 1 to 7, you start out together and come together again at 56.

[@gregorypollack2199]

King crimson is the name of the band. The Man behind the guitar work and singing in this video is Adrian Belew and the one behind King crimson his name is Robert fripp

[@whlewis9164]

This is exactly the correct reaction.

[@HerbalistGuybrush]

Robert FRIPP just shared this video on his fb :D

[@Orielzolrak]

man please listen!

[@sst3d]

King Crimson.. Very unique ...creative

[@keithlerain6022]

The band King Crimson formed in 1969. In the ‘90s the bass player in my band had a Chapman Stick, so I got to check it out. It’s a tapped instrument, not strictly a bass, and the lowest pitched strings are in the middle. Very cool, but I recently learned my friend sold his Stick. Adrien Belew was discovered by Frank Zappa. Although Belew doesn’t read music, Zappa made an exception due to his immense talent and hired him anyway. The 13/8, 14/8 section is indeed confusing to play; since one guitar is playing one less note per measure, it gets progressively more out of sync, until it eventually syncs back up and switches to the same count. I’ve seen this band live on two occasions, once with this lineup of Fripp, Belew, Levin & Bruford, and then with Trey Gunn added on tapped Warr guitar, and 2nd drummer Pat Mastelotto.

[@andyscott5277]

Just saw the current King Crimson lineup play last night. Long time fan, first time hearing them live. It was astoundingly good. Beyond impressed. Had three drummers playing in front of the band with full kits. Just an incomprehensibly amazing show.

[@neonpark1874]

I saw the current tour also...at the Greek Theater in LA. First time I'd seen King Crimson since the early 80's. They were phenomenal back then and incredible on this tour too. A lot of differences with respect to personnel, but always supremely talented musicians.

[@philipfraietta3422]

You should listen to "In the court of the Crimson King", one of the greatest Progressive Rock albums of all time.. Greg Lake of ELP was the lead vocalist and bass player

[@Roddy1965]

Adrian, he'll do well. He's going places.

[@Nikioko]

King Crimson is one of the big four Progressive Rock bands (along with Yes, Genesis and Jethro Tull) and listening to them for the first is a dive into the rabbit hole.

[@rickbaamonde8188]

King Crimson is the band, not a guy. The guitarist sitting down has led the band through various iterations, but this group is most people's favorite, which produced 3 amazing albums. There is a split in some audiences, since many love the vocal songs, while others prefer the progressive instrumentals. This song seems to be a perfect combination of catchy song and progressive math rock. Funny you mentioned Steve Vai, as he will be replacing Robert Fripp as the 1st guitarist, when the band reforms this fall (of 2024) under the band name "Beat". He is currently putting out videos on his progress in learning the songs. The Chapman Stick that the bassist, Tony Levin, is playing, allows him to be both the bassist and another guitarist, as they come with 10 or 12 string options.

[@martincaz7772]

Is there a follow up to this or like you getting more into KC?

[@steveweston6287]

The guitarist is Adrian Belew and you mentioned Steve Vai who both played with Frank Zappa which ties it all in!

[@jonathanfrieze8497]

it called a chapman stick and yes 100% there playing in poly rythms and yes he is an adrien belew is an ncredible player singer check out his solo acoustic song called 1980something

[@ydoesgooglesuck1960]

Check out 3 of a perfect Pair or Thela Hun Jinjeet by King Crimson.

[@hamdemon99]

This is the best reaction video I've seen since kids playing with audio tapes. Keep jumping into new stuff, up to your knees. You seem to have interesting taste. If they haven't mentioned it, this 4-piece made 3 King Crimson albums: Discipline Beat Three of a Perfect Pair If you haven't heard Genesis, try "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway" - The standout track is "Fly On a Windshield/The Broadway Melody of 1974"..

[@brettmarlar4154]

The stick that Tony is playing is a 12 string. It is basically the range of a piano on a fretboard. These guys are massive influences of Rush, Tool, and Primus. They have "heavier" stuff too. Like "Larks Tongues In Aspic part II", "Indecipline", "Elephant Talk", and "Thela Hun Jinjeet". K.C. is basically the godfathers of Progressive (or Art) Rock. This era of the band is about as pop or mainstream as they got.

[@zeruchofficial]

The bassist is Tony Levin and the instrument is a 12 string Chapman Stick. There is a 90s version of this with 2 drummers, the two guitarists and an additional "touch guitarist" playing a 14 string Warr guitar.

[@ronniefarnsworth6465]

You have so much to learn Master "Yout" !! 😉 🎶🎼

[@douglasennis7291]

Group is King Crimson in this iteration Adrian Below from Zappa and Talking Heads joins Robert Fripp on guitar. Google for knowledge 👍🏻

[@eldergods]

Go see them this probably last tour, still ridiculous performance. Look it up, Crimson -- best band to many for 40 years. AND still!

[@indianaparkwarsproductions9513]

You gotta listen to the studio version. It has an incredible intro that isn’t in this live version

[@undergroundwarrior70]

I saw this lineup of King Crimson twice, mid 80's and early 90's.

[@EccentricAuntWanda1]

This is a super-talented group - Tony Levin on bass/stick, Robert Fripp on lead, Adrian Belew on vocals and guitar, and the great Bill Bruford on drums. This early 80s version of King Crimson was great.

[@reghunt2487]

The "bass instrument" that Tony Levin is playing is called the "Chapman Stick". It's a "touch" or "tapping" instrument, this one in particular is a 10 string (there are 12 string models too). It's often used as a replacement for a bass guitar, but most of the strings are actually in the guitar range. The main idea is that one person can play bass, chords, and melody all at once using two hand tapping. Tony Levin is a legendary bass player, but a middling Stick player.There are some amazing Stick players out there, and it's worth checking them out. "'Jessica' Allman Brothers played on the Chapman Stick" - Bob Culbertson kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZXSmYuFlteKgKc "Catholic Girls version · Live recording" - Guillermo Cides & Chus Gancedo kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5rVh3SrjL2Hm6M

[@BobHutton]

I liked the coming in cold.

[@AjuanThomas]

I never tire of people falling into King Crimson's rabbit hole. Welcome to creative wonderland

[@michaeljones6948]

The legendary Tony levin one

[@godbluffvdgg]

This song is from before you were born...You really can't get the jist unless you're very familiar with the great musicians in the band and the history of the bands they all played in...

[@astroteech]

Oh my god! I got to see King Crimson reunite about 10 years ago when the Adrian Belew Power Trio and the Stickmen reunited in a concert in Sacramento, played separately, then rejoined to play classic King Crimson. I can hear it in my mind now. Check out the Adrian Belew Power Trio on the German TV program Rockpalast. Your jaw will drop.

[@talknrock9005]

wow now im jealous lol

[@docsketchy]

Wow, just wow, you have never heard of King Crimson! They formed in 1969. The guy sitting down was a founding member. His name is Robert Fripp, and in addition to possibly being the best flatpicker in the world, he is also essentially the father of progressive rock. The classic first King Crimson album "In the Court of the Crimson King" was the first true progressive rock album, and set the bar very high for the bands that followed. The drummer is Bill Bruford, who was a founding member of another progressive rock band you've probably never heard of, which formed in 1968 and went on to massive worldwide success: Yes. He left Yes to join King Crimson just after recording what is arguably the greatest progressive rock album of all time, and one of the greatest albums of all time period, "Close to the Edge." His first album with King Crimson was the classic "Larks' Tongues in Aspic" which is also definitely among the top 10 all-time greatest progressive rock albums. He has now retired from drumming, but he basically worked as a jazz drummer for many years. The guy on the "Chapman Stick" is the legendary bass player Tony Levin, who has played with everybody in every genre. The singer and lead guitarist is Adrian Belew, who played with Zappa and Talking Heads before joining King Crimson. King Crimson is, of course, the devil.

[@JigOfTheDubGopher]

It's an "Chapman Stick" invented by Emmett Chapman. Also check out the "Warr Guitar" and Francis Dunnery's "TapBoard" 🙂

[@palantir135]

In the court of the crimson king album Discipline album Lizard album Three of a perfect pair album

[@anthonyshope8408]

No,the guitarist is Adrian Belew who also was in Frank Zappa's band as well as briefly playing in David Bowie's band.I saw Adrian do a small,intimate nightclub show in his hometown of Erlanger,Kentucky at Peele's Palace in November,1997.It was a venue where you sat at tables and drinks were served.He had a cordon bleu around a dozen tables which were reserved for his high school friends and families,and he appeared not as a member of the world famous prog rock band KING CRIMSON,but as a member of his high school rock band,The Denims......He didn't play even one King Crimson,Frank Zappa,or David Bowie song,but rather spent the whole evening with The Denims playing about 30 Beatles songs as they did back in the day.....Check out Adrian's cover of the Beatles,"FREE AS A BIRD"....SUPERB !!!

[@rk41gator]

Bill Bruford is a fantastic jazz/fusion/rock drummer. He also played with Yes and for a short time, Genesis. Prog Rock rules!

[@ge0rgeharris218]

Don't forget Greg Lake being an original member of King Crrimson!

[@toddspango]

Was your mind blown likemine was when I first heard that music? King Crimson is an old prog band that came back in the 80s after a six year break with a new lineup and a new sound. I love that you keyed into Tony Levin and the stick. There are a coupld of other stick players out there, but Tony is the undisputed king of that instrument. That one section you were talking about where it seems like they're out of time with each other? They are definitely *in* time, but they aren't playing together (what's called "in unison") They were harmonizing and playing different parts of an arpeggio so it kind of goes back-and-forth between Adrian and Robert. At the end, they played in unison. That's another thing I like about that band, they alter parts between repetitions. And it's all such fluid playing, like the best prog always is, That whole album and both of the next ones -- "Beat" and "Three of a Perfect Pair" were from around this same time and had a cohesive feel, which I'd describe as early eighties progressive, like The Police and Talking Heads. At different points in their evolution as a band, they had different sounds. If you haven't already, you should check out their first album, In The Court of the Crimson King, which I think you might find to be more up your alley, and in particular the song 21st Century Schizoid Man.

[@donaldanderson6604]

There is live version of this where Belew starts the riff far too fast, which is fine until Fripp has to play in double time. Even the world's greatest guitarist admitted that he'd been hung out to dry. I've been listening to this since 1981 and it is still awesome.

[@mhlevy]

One thing about King Crimson is that while Robert Fripp lays down the rules that all other musicians must live by, and in that way, he forces them to be more creative and force them "out of their comfort zone." With the album "Discipline," which was the first or 3 albums this incarnation of King Crimson made, Robert's rule for Bill Bruford was that he could NOT use the ride cymbal for keeping time in the songs. Robert felt that the ride cymbal took up too much of the sonic soundscape of his guitar. So Bill Bruford, a prog-rock and jazz-fusion legend, was forced to come up with new ways to drive the sound.

[@IMETYOUB42]

If you’re a guitar player and have never heard of King Crimson, you need to go down that rabbit hole asap.

[@EdwardGregoryNYC]

King Crimson, founded in '68, has had many line-ups with only one consistent member, Robert Fripp. He's sitting discreetly to the right and letting Adrian Belew take the front. Although it has essentially become his band, he always stays in the shadows so to speak - or sometimes literally. Fripp once toured with Peter Gabriel's group and actually played from off-stage. I had the pleasure of seeing their recent (final?) tour, twice. Go back and check out their first album if you wish: "In the Court of the Crimson King." It's a landmark album to several genres including progressive rock and metal. This song comes from their 80s phase with definite New Wave influences to their proggy roots.

[@batfang5583]

This is from the post 1981 era; they broke up in 1974 and this was part of their reforming. Other good stuff from this era are 'Three of a Perfect Pair', 'Elephant Talk', Indiscipline', and 'Dinosaur' among others. But you should check out earlier stuff from 1974 and earlier. '21st Century Schizoid Man', 'Starless', 'Starless and Bible Black' (those are two different songs, one instrumental), 'Fracture', Cat Food', Happy Family', 'Cirkus' - I could go on for days. And that older stuff is seriously heavy. Definitely not funk. Frame by Frame, although a great bit, is mild by comparison. And if you check out Schizoid Man, try to find the live version off of an album called USA. Mind blowing. And actually King Crimson is not any of their names, but the name of the band. There have been times where various alumni get together, with or without Fripp, and perform or record under a variety of names that have the word 'ProjeKct' in them: Crimson ProjeKct, ProjeKct 2, etc. Notice the Kc in there.

[@primateinterfacetechnologi6220]

totally... "USA" "Red" and "Lizard" are the albums that I dig the most. Of course as you know, lizard is so thick and warped that most people will have a hard time with it at first... But man, does it contain some gems. Sounds like alien circus jazz... peace.

[@stony2494]

Check out King Crimson’s Elephant Talk 😎

[@rondarnell949]

Tony Levin, playing a stick bass. Check out Elephant talk by the same group. It really highlights Tony's ability playing. Tony world renowned bass player. He has played on many studio projects. John Lennon "Double Fantasy " and toured with David Bowie, Peter Gabrielle.

[@OxenFloxen]

2:39 yeah that's the reaction most people have to seeing Levin playing the stick

[@stevenblakeakahashburns]

Also check out Roberts and Toyahs Sunday lunch lockdown videos Robert fripp - the guitarist sitting down and toyah Wilcox - 80s pop punk British icon (husband and wife) kzbin.info

[@sigurdursigurbjornsson6719]

You did the right thing, go in blind. It was priceless to see the reaction. I still go for Lark's tongue in Aspic to get blown out of my seat and that is 40 something years later. Like you said, maybe not your genre but you did pick up the important stuff. And this would have been no fun if you had gone in with a pre-listen.

[@michaeljones6948]

The legendary Tony levin on bass

[@someoneno-one7672]

Speaking about genre: King Crimson is known as a band who invented prog rock back in 1969. Prog is an extreme version of art rock. Art rock mixes different genres and styles of music (including jazz and classical), and an array of special effects. Prog, on top of this, loves long epics with complex structure and utilises unusual time signatures. Classic prog developed in the first half of 1970s, the greatest bands are King Crimson, Yes, Genesis, Jethro Tull, ELP, Rush and, arguably, Pink Floyd (who rarely played with unusual time signatures but did a lot of genre mixing, utilised most refined special effects and wrote quite complex epics). Strawbs, Camel, Caravan, Renaissance, Curved Air, Marillion, Porcupine Tree/Steven Wilson and many others are prog acts. 1990s gave us prog metal, Dream Theater is a great example of the latter. King Crimson occupies a very special place: some prominent classical musicians today do not hesitate to mention the band as their prime influence. Robert Fripp, the leader, has an encyclopaedic knowledge of music, including classical and jazz.Many of the band's alumni found an international success in their later careers. The reason why the ban had so many lineups is that every time they managed to establish a formula of success, Fripp would disband them and later would re-form the band to start a new journey taking just a small portion of old tricks with them. PS. The bigger version of the Chapman stick is the War guitar. At some point King Crimson had a prominent Warr guitar player, Trey Gunn among their ranks kzbin.info/www/bejne/iYvMiKmgh89kd7s