Founded by Robert Fripp, Michael Giles, Greg Lake, Ian McDonald and lyricist Peter Sinfield, the band initially focused on a dramatic sound layered with Mellotron, McDonald's saxophone and flute, and Lake's powerful lead vocals. Their debut album, In the Court of the Crimson King (1969), remains their most commercially successful and influential release, with a potent mixture of jazz, classical and experimental music. Following the sudden simultaneous departures of McDonald and Giles, with Lake also leaving very shortly afterwards, Fripp and Sinfield assumed direction of the group for In the Wake of Poseidon (1970), Lizard (1970), and Islands (1971) with Mel Collins, Boz Burrell and Ian Wallace among the band members during this period. In 1972, Fripp changed the group's instrumentation and approach, drawing from European free improvisation, and developing ever more complex compositions. With Bill Bruford, John Wetton, David Cross and briefly, Jamie Muir, they reached what some saw as a creative peak on Larks' Tongues in Aspic (1973), Starless and Bible Black (1974), and Red (1974). Fripp disbanded this group in 1974.
In 1981, Fripp and Bruford reformed King Crimson with another change in musical direction. The new group also included Adrian Belew and Tony Levin. They drew influence from African music, gamelan, post-punk and New York minimalism. This group lasted three years, resulting in the trio of albums Discipline (1981), Beat (1982) and Three of a Perfect Pair (1984). Following a decade-long hiatus, Fripp revived the group as a sextet he called the "double trio" in 1994 adding Pat Mastelotto and Trey Gunn. This group participated in another three-year cycle of activity that included the release of Thrak (1995), and multiple concert recordings. There was a hiatus between 1997 to 2000. Four members of the previous sextet reunited in 2000 as a more industrial-oriented King Crimson, called the "double duo", releasing The Construkction of Light (2000) and The Power to Believe (2003). After a five year hiatus, the group expanded (in the person of new second drummer Gavin Harrison) for a 2008 tour celebrating the 40th anniversary of their 1968 formation.
Following another hiatus (2009–2012), during which Fripp was thought to be retired, King Crimson came together again in 2013; this time as a septet (and, later, octet) with an unusual three-drumkit frontline, and new second guitarist and singer Jakko Jakszyk. This version of King Crimson continued to tour from 2014 to 2021, and released multiple live albums, rearranging and reinterpreting music from across the band's entire 50-year career for the first time.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KingCrimson
Studio albums
In the Court of the Crimson King (1969)
In the Wake of Poseidon (1970)
Lizard (1970)
Islands (1971)
Larks' Tongues in Aspic (1973)
Starless and Bible Black (1974)
Red (1974)
Discipline (1981)
Beat (1982)
Three of a Perfect Pair (1984)
Thrak (1995)
The Construkction of Light (2000)
The Power to Believe (2003)
(NOTE: Album covers, band images and YouTube links are not available due to certain legal restrictions imposed on Last.fm by King Crimson's management.)
Pictures of a City
King Crimson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stark sharp glass-eyed crack and peel
Bright light scream beam brake and squeal
Red white green white neon wheel
Dream flesh love chase perfumed skin
Greased hand teeth hide tinseled sin
Spice ice dance chance sickly grin
Blind stick blind drunk cannot see
Mouth dry tongue tied cannot speak
Concrete dream flesh broken shell
Lost soul lost trace lost in hell
The lyrics of King Crimson's "Pictures of a City" depict a dark, urban landscape. The concrete and steel are described as "cold" and "sharp," while the sounds of the city – brakes, neon lights, and screams – are emphasized. The verses also include references to the seedier side of city life, with mentions of "greased hand teeth hide tinseled sin" and "spice ice dance chance sickly grin." The portrayal of the city is bleak, with the final verse depicting a person who is lost, both physically and spiritually.
The song's lyrics are emblematic of the larger themes present in King Crimson's work. The band's music often explored the darker side of life and society, with songs exploring themes of isolation, alienation, and despair. "Pictures of a City" is no exception, with its depiction of a faceless urban environment and the lost individuals who inhabit it.
Beyond its lyrics, "Pictures of a City" is also notable for its instrumentation. The song features the distinctive guitar work of Robert Fripp, with its angular, dissonant chords and unconventional time signatures. The song also features the saxophone playing of Mel Collins, whose contributions give the song a jazzy edge. The instrumentation, coupled with the lyrics, create a mood that is both unsettling and captivating.
Line by Line Meaning
Concrete cold face cased in steel
A visual of a cityscape with skyscrapers and steel structures dominating the landscape
Stark sharp glass-eyed crack and peel
The city is also characterized by modern architecture and illuminated by neon lights
Bright light scream beam brake and squeal
The hustle and bustle of the busy city is portrayed in a noisy, chaotic manner
Red white green white neon wheel
The neon lights are specifically described to be in primary colors, representing the energy and vibrancy of the city
Dream flesh love chase perfumed skin
The lyrics shift to describing the people within the city, particularly those caught up in a romantic pursuit
Greased hand teeth hide tinseled sin
The darker side of the city is referenced, with the use of words like 'greased hand' and 'tinseled sin' hinting at dishonest and superficial behavior
Spice ice dance chance sickly grin
There is also a sense of danger to the city, as indicated by words like 'sickly grin' and 'chance'
Pasteboard time slot sweat and spin
There is an emphasis on time and movement in the city, with the last few words suggesting the arduousness of the everyday grind
Blind stick blind drunk cannot see
The chaotic nature of the city can sometimes leave people feeling disoriented or incapable of navigating properly
Mouth dry tongue tied cannot speak
The overwhelming sensory experience of the city can sometimes cause people to feel speechless or overwhelmed
Concrete dream flesh broken shell
The dreams and aspirations of people living within the city are often overshadowed by the harshness of reality
Lost soul lost trace lost in hell
The final line of the song emphasizes the bleakness of the cityscape, and the feeling of being 'lost', hopeless, and trapped within it
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PETER JOHN SINFIELD, ROBERT FRIPP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
jojo45180
Concrete cold face cased in steel
Stark sharp glass-eyed crack and peel
Bright light scream beam brake and squeal
Red white green white neon wheel
Dream flesh love chase perfumed skin
Greased hand teeth hide tinseled sin
Spice ice dance chance sickly grin
Pasteboard time slot sweat and spin
Blind stick blind drunk cannot see
Mouth dry tongue tied cannot speak
Concrete dream flesh broken shell
Lost soul lost trace lost in hell
Hobo Dawg
For each King Crimson song that is allowed on youtube, Lord Fripp demands a sacrifice of twelve oxen.
y2k [rebranding]
that would make approximately 2848393929200 oxen
Naþaniel Smiþ
@y2k [rebranding] liked for the Prince username
Blooze96
@y2k [rebranding] p0
Shacky Rustleford
And a license for his pet fish Eric
tom66joad
You don't hear Michael Giles's name brought up much in conversations about greatest drummers, but what an absolute beast.
Dü Hüsker
Yep and for me hands down the best KC drummer, not matter how high fans rate Bill Bruford.
tom66joad
@Dü Hüsker I see no point in ranking them. They are both incredible drummers.
Nick Mecca
We drummers certainly know it!! Listen to the roll at the end of In The Court....
Jose Resendiz
Underrated drummer