Review book King Crimson

SID SMITH-IN THE COURT OF KING CRIMSON

(2001, Helter Skelter Publishing, UK Pounds 14,99, ISBN 1-900924-26-9)

At first I had severe doubts about this book because of the position of the author. Sid Smith  has written a lot of linner notes for King Crimson re-releases and has contributed an on-line diary to the web site for Fripp’s record label DGM. So I was afraid that Mr. ‘Frippercontrollics’ would constantly look over the shoulder of Sid. But reading this book I have to admit that Sid succeeded in writing an interesting and objective book. Fripp was 11 when he started mastering the guitar with an almost obsessive determination: within a few years he learned to play several styles and at the age of 18 he even gave lessons (Al Stewart was one of his pupils!). Fripp turned out to be a very gifted musician with an adventurous mind but also a person with a very dark side. This book delivers some clues about the origin of Fripp’s whimsical, nasty and even sociopatic behaviour. Robert Fripp: “Ever since the age of ten I’ve been very much on my own – and of course at that age I was aware of it and upset. I suppose when you’re young you think it’s a fault not having friends”. Classmate Gordon Haskell (later King Crimson bass player): “I spent a lot of time with him and it was a strange life. His mother and father didn’t seem to share their life with him and so he was left to his own devices, studying and left in his little cocoon”. Charlotte Babes (former girlfriend of Ian MacDonald): “Well, I found Fripp extremely annoying and irritating. He was just so meticulous, it would drive me nuts. He would just practise for 29 hours a day and I always thought he was a robot rather than a musician.” Ian Wallace (former King Crimson drummer): “We were on the road and for two weeks Fripp wouldn’t speak to anyone and he’d just sit in the dressing room playing scales over and over. In the van he just wouldn’t speak to anyone and it got very frustrating and it cast a cloud over everything. But back to the band because this book is not titled “In the court of king Fripp” (although...). It stand as informative with lots of interesting facts and details, from diary notes, early fans and personal opinions by band members and relatives. About the pre-King Crimson years with Giles, Giles and Fripp. The meteoric rise of King Crimson after their sensational Hyde Park concert as Rolling Stones’ support act in front of 650.000 spectators. The highly acclaimed debut-album with that stunning cover (including painter Barry Godber’s sad story). The emotions and tension between Fripp and Ian MacDonald, the Giles brothers, Pete Sinfield, Greg Lake, Adrian Belew and mainly Bill Bruford (“Robert knew he needed Bill but hated the fact that he needed Bill”). About the famous Mellotron (“hernia-inducing!”) and all the changing line-ups with Fripp as the key-member. The incredible percussionist Jamie Muir. The reasons why Fripp decided to let “King Crimson cease to exist”. King Crimson II in ’81. His break with the label EG and King Crimson as a ‘double-trio’. The appendix contains a comprehensive discography, gigography, short notes about all the King Crimsons members and of course an index (total pages 346 including lots of small but nice black and white pictures). My final remarks. The story of King Crimson in this book is blended with chronological reviews from all the songs on their albums. This delivers lots of interesting details and musical remarks, especially about songs like “21^st Century schizoid man”, “In the court of the crimson king”, “Starless” and “Elephant talk”. But to me these ‘review pages’ were a bit disturbing and distracting: just when I was into the story I had to read two, three or four pages with musical facts, sometimes quite technically. In  my opinion the author could better place these ‘review pages’ at the end in a special chapter or only use a few reviews about the most remarkable songs. A bit disappointing is the lack of information from Fripp about the family Fripp: did he feel neglected by his mother, was his father too demanding or was he jealous at his sister Patricia? Nonetheless, a fascinating book about a seminal band!

Erik Neuteboom