1) U.K. were a short-lived British progressive rock supergroup active from 1977 through 1980.
In September 1976, singer/bassist John Wetton formerly of the British Psychedelic band Family (with Roger Chapman and Rick Grech) and drummer Bill Bruford, both alumni of King Crimson, worked on forming a band with Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman. The project was stopped by Wakeman's label. According to Bruford, "A&M Records were unwilling to let their 'star,' Wakeman, walk off with a used, slightly soiled King Crimson rhythm section, and the idea failed."
Determined to work together, Bruford and Wetton next asked guitarist Robert Fripp to reform King Crimson which Fripp had disbanded in 1974. When Fripp declined, Bruford and Wetton decided that each would bring in a musician of his choice to formulate a band. Wetton brought in keyboardist/violinist Eddie Jobson, whom Wetton knew from his work with Roxy Music in 1976 – "stealing" him from Frank Zappa. Bruford recruited guitarist Allan Holdsworth (formerly of Soft Machine and Gong) who had played guitar on Bruford's 1977 debut solo album, Feels Good to Me.
U.K. released their self-titled début album in 1978 and followed it with a supporting tour.
Following two lengthy American tours (June-October 1978), first Holdsworth and then Bruford departed U.K. over musical differences, going on to form the jazz rock fusion group Bruford. After the departure of Bruford and Holdsworth, U.K. didn't bring in another guitarist. Drummer Terry Bozzio (another one-time Frank Zappa band member) joined Wetton and Jobson, and as a result U.K. became a trio with a progressive rock lineup of keyboards/bass/drums (albeit supplemented by Jobson's violin). The trio recorded the album Danger Money, released in March 1979, and spent much of that year touring North America as opening act for Jethro Tull. A live album, Night After Night, was recorded in Japan that Spring and released in September. Following a final European tour in December 1979, and in spite of plans to record a new studio album in America in March 1980, U.K. disbanded. The reason for this was Jobson's and Wetton's different ideas on how the band should have gone on. Jobson wanted UK to go on with more long instrumental pieces, while Wetton thought that performing shorter songs was a better idea. Jobson stated that one song in particular was the reason of the band to disband: When Will You Realise?, a non-LP B-side (to date still unavailable on CD) featured on the Night After Night single, which Wetton would re-record (with slightly different lyrics) in 1980 on his solo album Caught In The Crossfire.
Throughout their brief existence, U.K.'s music was characterised by skilled musicianship, jazzy harmonies, close harmony vocals, use of odd time signatures (like 7/4 on the song In the Dead of Night), electric violin solos, and unusually varied synthesiser (Yamaha CS-80) sonorities.
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2) A folk rock side-project of members of Latvian band The Hobos. After the release of Radio Jah Jah, The Hobos decided to take some time to do other projects. Vilnis Krieviņš went back to play with the legendary Latvian hard rock band Līvi. Rolands Ūdris and Egons Kronbergs formed a side-project called U.K. and released the album KU. Finally, in year 2006 The Hobos went back to studio and a new album was expected sometime in 2009.
Rendezvous 6 02
UK Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
driving sown Park Lane
as London leaves
for the weekend again
through the dark city streets
in the clinging rain
I take my car
towards the Thames
Rendezvous 6 02
Rendezvous 6 02
Was that a face I saw?
No, just a trick of light
It's getting clearer now
but moving out of sight
It's cold and late
and I can't miss that train
I turn around
walk through the arch
of Waterloo
Rendezvous 6 02
Rendezvous 6 02
I see the same hooded face
He beckoned me from the gate
Did you not know, my friend?
Ten years ago was the end
After the war
Waterloo was no more,
But your ticket states
There is one train
It's leaving now
And there is a place
Remember my face
and Waterloo...
The lyrics to UK's song "Rendezvous 6 02" tell a story of a man driving through London as the weekend begins, heading towards Waterloo station to catch a train. As he drives, he sees a mysterious face but brushes it off as a trick of the light. As he approaches the station, he sees the same face again, and it is revealed that this person knew the singer ten years ago when Waterloo was destroyed in war. The singer catches his train, never to see the mystery person again.
The song is steeped in imagery that portrays the bleakness and loneliness of the city at night. The "dark city streets" are described as being "in the clinging rain", adding to the feeling of isolation and sadness. The singer is on a journey to catch a train, to leave the city and escape whatever sadness or loneliness he may be feeling. The mysterious hooded figure adds to the tension and mystery of the song, as the singer may be unsure if he is safe or in danger.
Line by Line Meaning
It's 5 o'clock
The time is 5 pm
driving sown Park Lane
Driving on Park Lane
as London leaves
As people leave London
for the weekend again
For the weekend, which happens frequently
through the dark city streets
Through the dimly lit streets of the city
in the clinging rain
In the persistent rain
I take my car
I drive in my car
towards the Thames
In the direction of the Thames river
and Waterloo...
And head towards Waterloo station
Rendezvous 6 02
Meeting at platform 602
Rendezvous 6 02
Meeting at platform 602
Was that a face I saw?
Did I just see a face?
No, just a trick of light
No, it was just an illusion caused by the lighting
It's getting clearer now
I can see it more clearly now
but moving out of sight
But it's moving away from my line of vision
It's cold and late
It's both cold and late
and I can't miss that train
I cannot afford to miss that train
I turn around
I make a 180-degree turn
walk through the arch
Walk through the station entrance
of Waterloo
Of Waterloo station
Rendezvous 6 02
Meeting at platform 602
Rendezvous 6 02
Meeting at platform 602
I see the same hooded face
I see the same person with a hood on
He beckoned me from the gate
He called me over from the gate
Did you not know, my friend?
My friend, were you not aware?
Ten years ago was the end
The end was ten years ago
After the war
Post World War II
Waterloo was no more,
Waterloo station was completely destroyed
But your ticket states
However, your ticket indicates
There is one train
There's only one train
It's leaving now
The train is departing at this moment
And there is a place
And there's space for you
Remember my face
Don't forget my face
and Waterloo...
And don't forget our meeting place
Contributed by Claire W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@lamarmeiki7962
It's 5 o'clock
Driving down Park Lane
As London leaves
For the weekend again
Through the dark city streets
In the clinging rain
I take my car
Towards the Thames
And Waterloo
Rendezvous 6: 02
Rendezvous 6: 02
Was that a face I saw?
No, just a trick of light
It's getting clearer now
But moving out of sight
It's cold and late
And I can't miss that train
I turn around
Walk through the arch
Of Waterloo
Rendezvous 6: 02
Rendezvous 6: 02
Rendezvous 6: 02
Rendezvous 6: 02
I saw the same hooded face
He beckoned me from the gate
Did you not know, my friend?
Ten years ago was the end
After the war
Waterloo was no more
But your ticket states
There is one train
It's leaving now
And there is a place
Remember my face
And Waterloo
@BarryBangemout
It was very sad to hear that John Wetton had passed. Personally, for me
he was a masterful and innovative musician. He played with many bands,
Family, Mogul Thrash... but most notably, King Crimson, UK & ASIA.
To pay proper homage, I posted 5 UK Live tunes. R.I.P. John, you will be
truly missed.
Night After Night: https://youtu.be/n4tlbh28ycg
Rendezvous 602: https://youtu.be/17DCtfr3Y-Q
Presto Vivace - In The Dead Of Night: https://youtu.be/H9hpbwGKOVw
Time to Kill: https://youtu.be/Rlg9z8ucUHE
Caesars Palace Blues: https://youtu.be/LB8AwKbBc0Q
@nikki00matsumoto
The most beautiful song I have ever heard. This song will haunt me for the rest of my life. RIP, Sir Wetton.
@rikk7041
R.I.P. John Wetton. One of the best-ever singers in prog, rock or pop. And one of the top bassists too. Irreplaceable.
@hamadah4
RIP John Wetton......what agreat songs you wrote...
@alquimistacl
What a jewel of the good days of prog rock
@garyinmarz8938
another bass genius with a voice.
@amydefalco3730
RIP John Wetton.. farewell.. and thanks for all the great music. :'(
@slimshine953
The great John Wetton!
@jhatho2
That is my favorite UK song!! Awesome
@liEfe
Me too. Really
@DenisMorissetteJFK
Best album of 1979.