John Wetton (U.K., King Crimson) interview 1979

Vintage interview from the Boffomundo Show

[@eddiekonczal]

Fripp/Wetton/Bruford is not only my favorite Crimson lineup, but my favorite prog rock lineup ever! Three brilliant albums and out.

[@johnmcwhorter1728]

Can’t forget David Cross

[@BozJustBad]

Compositional talent, instrumental virtuosity, voice, looks and charisma-this guy has it all!

[@HYDRODUST67]

john wetton..one of the best bass players ever.

[@marcelopepinho]

JOHN WETTON this afternoon I felt a deep cut in my heart. You are not with us anymore. Well… all I have to say is THANK YOU. Your songs from Asia, King Crimson, Uriah Heep and other bands helped me confront the bleak life and the alienated teenage years in Brazil during the 70’s and 80’s. You made my life happier, shared my hardships and the good moments. Your songs also helped me shape into a person that I am today and I am very thankful for you. RIP from Brazil

[@twtom5028]

Wetton comes off as very down to earth. Calm, thoughtful guy.

[@TimesThree333]

Wetton was one of those singer/bass players in the 70s (like Deep Purple's Glenn Hughes) who never quite seemed to get the recognition they deserved. Really like that song he did with Uriah Heep - "One Way or Another."

[@TheInnerParty]

He got it in Asia, until of course they fired him and hooked Greg Lake to play the "Asia in Asia" MTV special. THe irony is Wetton replaced Lake in KC and Lake would replace him in Asia. Regardless, two of my all time favorite bass players.

[@stevenzanemusic]

Great interview. UK is truly an overlooked, obscurred, but awesome band.

[@hfhifi6878]

They could have been but Holdsworth didn't fit the bill. Too much flash; too little heart.

[@elfferich]

that´s funny ; John mentions the name of the coming KC album in 1981 at 2:56

[@Crafty_Spirit]

Funny that Starless, one of KCs greatest songs, was first rejected by Fripp and Bruford

[@garygomesvedicastrology]

Starless probably reminded them of KC from the first two KC albums. I know a lot of people love the piece but, to me at least, it was a step backwards for them. Well constructed song, but really not as adventurous as the improvisational direction in which they were headed. Even on Red, it's a little predictable for me; the main song, the ominous repeating bass line, then the saxophone improvs were kind of an encapsulation of KC history. At that point in time I wanted something more daring from the band. It's fine; I am just not as thrilled with it as many other KC fans, especially after having seen the band three times and being astonished by them. I came back to rock after an extended stay in free jazz; the blend of European free music and rock that LTIA set up interested me and moved me most. That's just my humble opinion.

[@redline2115]

Bill contributed the heart of the song- he wrote the slow middle bass part.

[@1aceves]

One of the greatest singers and bass players of all time!

[@Cristinact]

he couldn't do so back then but now we've got an even more honest, down-to-earth simple guy (well, "man") who's learned a lot about life. Now we're lucky to have touching testimonies of people like him who have survived and lived to tell

[@unknown772]

R.I.P. JOHN WETTON

[@johnkru1295]

Saw UK back up Tull in New Haven CT USA in 1979. That was an amazing show. RIP John Wetton.

[@lifesonfan]

I've spent the last couple of hours watching these interviews Ron. Just fantastic. Thanks for sharing these with us. You were very fortunate to speak with these guys. The Fripp interview is awesome!

[@lenpey]

Thanks for posting this piece for the time capsule, Midget Man!

[@TheDailyVinyl]

Man! I am ENJOYING this. Well done. So glad you were able to interview these guys back in the day!!!!!! Love Wetton's voice. Love me some U.K.

[@troycarbaugh2226]

Great interview, these guys were knowledgeable of the music. Both understood the intricate and very complex nature of UK and their sound. Now days you get some bimbo on TMZ telling us how awesome Lady gaga is without listening and understanding what it's all about. It would be nice to get a rock band of the same caliber as UK now days. Not possible: I think??

[@JD-pr1et]

Try Time Horizon.

[@eddiekonczal]

If you like King Crimson check out Van Der Graaf Generator, early Yes, Gabriel-era Genesis, and ELP. If you like Wetton/Bruford-era Crimson, also check out U.K. which is what these two did after Crimson broke up.

[@joerobot32]

Thanks for this, these interviews are great!

[@prog4evr]

1:03 - With Jethro Tull at the Long Beach (CA) Arena - I was at that concert! That was a great night...

[@thorbynumbers3901]

2:38 Who would have thought! For my own part, I thought it was exactly the opposite, but Robert probably knew that!

[@matmoose]

@phildog2000 Gentle Giant albums before 1976. Crazy contrapuntal prog, very sophisticated, off the wall, and it does exactly what it wants to and couldn't care less about its audience. "Free Hand" in particular. And I agree with ironmanpenisbook about Close to the Edge, that's a cracking album. Oh, and no Prog collection would be complete without Genesis' 1970 - 1974 albums. A run of 5 astounding records. More recently, Diagonal's 2008 album is pretty bitching, a real return to prog roots.

[@kidflersh7807]

don't sleep on In'terview boi

[@Yarsh52]

I would personally recommend U.K. Live in America.

[@jsilence418]

thanks more really good stuff!

[@DarkAmbient93]

Awesome interview! It's too bad that, at that time, Wetton wanted more "organized" and accessable music because his work with KC is phenomenal to say the least! I think many bands compose their best music when their's a "frictional" dynamic in the band. In other words, the band members are tugging in different directions and causing internal conflicts. I think it's bands, like Rush, who can move past these conflicts and respect one anothers' views that write consistently great music.

[@Fusionhead]

Kudos to the show for opening with Arti e Mestieri's "Mescal"!

[@ModestMidget]

Very nice!

[@1990-t1j]

RIP

[@vlazzarini]

Your archive is fantastic! Thanks for sharing. Just one curiosity, if you don't mind me asking: were you an 'inspiration' for that spoof comedy film, "Wayne's World"? No offense intended.

[@54spiritedwill54]

the great john wetton!!

[@Guizupa]

It's from ARTI E MESTIERI's "Giro Di Valzer Per Domani" album.

[@Elyodachido]

Anyone gonna be in Los Angeles on Saturday, December 20th, 2008? You gotta go check-out the King Crimson tribute show by The Great Deceivers @ club SPACELAND!!!!!!!!!

[@louisrenya9900]

rip

[@dmanster]

What a very nice video! Do you have more of Wetton? Do you know the name of the theme music used to open the clip? Thank you. Dennis

[@drbogenbroom2000]

Greg Lake is an extraordinary singer. Check "Hollowed Be Thy Name"

[@Fusionhead]

Is that First Live in Japan? If so, it's due any day in the mail now. I have Tilt, Giro di Valzer per Domani, and Quinto Stato.

[@johnwattdotca]

Okay, it's official, now seeing black and white. The Court of the Crimson King has been declared a historic ruin.

[@phildog2000]

@eddiekonczal what other prog band would you recommend? I am into King Crimson, Camel and soft machine if you classify them

[@lferlan]

check out gentle giant and nektar.

[@orlandovallejos7460]

Arti e mistieri - Nove lune dopo. the principal music of this video

[@rileysdad1923]

Anyone know what the music at the beginning is?

[@tacomadc]

That's amazing news - I'll have to look for them! Who is doing the singing? Hope they're good.

[@AnEclecticMan]

Hey if you find out about how to get the theme song, could you please let me know, it sounds nice!

[@tacomadc]

screw the Asia reunion - when is there going to be a UK reunion? If Holdsworth isn't available they should get Frank Gambale, with Bozzio on drums - thata would be my dream lineup! Saw them open for Tull with the 3 piece lineup - awesome!

[@mellors]

Lake played bass with King Crimson and ELP.

[@theclavious]

What song is this at the beginning? Would someone please tell me??

[@vyse75]

is the intro song by crimson? if so, what is it?!??!

[@NoelGrassy]

D0od it did & He was ruling with Bruford one night at the Cow Palace. David Cross couldn't make enough noise to keep up with the massiveness the rhythm section was putting down. Bob would do these frenzied runs on his guitar and his only "gettin' down" guitarist type moves were to slightly raise up off his stool for a brief moment & sit back down. Oh they killed that evening! The 4way wasn't half bad either...LOL

[@garygomesvedicastrology]

I was really disappointed when Cross was let go. He was responsible for adding delicacy and chaos to the line up. Red is a great song, but I wasn't thrilled with KC as a power trio.

[@actron]

What is a good UK album or song to check out?

[@madzialena1977]

@burlearth Crowe is a New-Zealander and not an Australian!

[@delfino30]

theclavious: The song if from the italian prog band "Arti & mestieri" with the supreme master drummer furio chirico. Put on youtube "furio chirico gravità"

[@cellardoor199991]

@veplaini Wayne's World didn't come out until the 90's

[@joerobot32]

there both good. if they weren't, fripp wouldn't have asked them to join the band. the question is not whether or not they are good at what they do, but if you like them. if you do prefer one over the other than good.

[@afroeroticus]

Who plays the introduction song?

[@progagainstpirates]

Where is the title screen music of this show from??

[@lenpey]

Italian band called Arti + Mestieri. The album is called Giro de Valzer per Domini.

[@Lordcahoona]

lenpey Thanks for the info. I found the whole album here www.dailymotion.com/video/x20fxjs_arti-e-mestieri-giro-di-valzer-per-domani-1975-full-album_music. the track starts at 20:14

[@orlandovallejos7460]

+progagainstpirates Nove lune dopo - Arti e mestieri - Nove lune dopo

[@corkskrewclubhouse93]

That intro song sounds a lot like a U.K. song.

[@tacomadc]

Is it just me or does John look and talk exactly like Russel Crowe? You wouldn't want to mess with either one in a bar fight that's for sure.

[@cellardoor199991]

@roetfuss yes

[@DeVipressZephoria]

Thank you for categorizing this correctly, the other link, I advised them to remove the "Asia" in the label...such as I am studying John Wetton, and I know if people didn't know Asia but only of KC and UK, this would confuse them, because they might look for ASIA material and it not be there. Thank you for your consistency.

[@ziegunerweiser]

05:15 starless

[@TheArabassist]

IMO Wetton was a better bass player, but Lake was a better vocalist by far.

[@Poisonnachos]

he kinda looks like Ashton Kutcher.

[@chadhoy7489]

Soon after UK would fold and Asia was born

[@Cristinact]

However, John is quite the opposite, don't you think?

[@madzialena1977]

@tacomadc defo he looked as sexy as russell;))) but has a different accent:)

[@ahagestedt]

what a couple of goofy interviewers though. these guys clearly didn't understand music...or at least this genre. Not all questions...but most .... were pretty dimwitted. Still, some interesting tidbits 'o info comes out of wetton.

[@jax1moi8]

The interviewer is not exactly the most articulate chap. He spends three times as long as needed to kinda sorta ask a question.

[@mjcussen]

mjcussen. Different, not better.

[@mikedrud]

I believe he's about to undergo a heart surgery. These guys are great but they are really starting to get old, eh?

[@petemarr824]

1979?? The quality of this is awful! black and white, fuzzy.. if it wasnt for John Wetton I would have put this down is early 60s.

[@lenpey]

This was the technical level of public access in 1979. This is a public access program you are looking at. Would like to see what you could have managed in the way of a production for $25.00 at that time.

[@waynedrumpal]

you surely can listen to all king crimson straight you dont have to be stoned or buzzed...sorry mr wetton,prog is much more rewarding when you listen to it head on

[@misterghee1]

eh at prox 4.30 peope want to sit down and listen pffff NOT great music from an already old fart