Robert Fripp Aims to Restart His Legendary Prog-Rock Band: ‘King Crimson Is in Motion’

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A decade past its last studio effort, 2003’s Power to Believe, and long after most people had all but given up on such a thing, Robert Fripp has announced the reformation of King Crimson. More intriguing still: It will be in a new seven-man lineup with three drummers, according to Fripp. DGMLive’s Sid Smith has confirmed that this edition of Crimson will include Mel Collins, Gavin Harrison, Jakko Jakszyk, Tony Levin, Bill Rieflin, Pat Mastelotto and Fripp.

Five of the current players were part of 2011’s A Scarcity of Miracles, released by Jakszyk, Fripp and Collins and featuring contributions from Levin and Harrison. Fripp previously worked with Rieflin on 1999’s The Repercussions of Angelic Behavior. King Crimson’s most recent configurations, dating back to 2009, saw Fripp working with Mastelotto, Harrison, Levin and guitarist Adrian Belew, who had been with King Crimson since 1981. Collins was a member of Crimson from 1970–72, with a return appearance in 1974.

Fripp says that the agreement to participate from Rieflin, who’s had previous stints in Ministry and Nine Inch Nails, means that the “King Crimson VIII” edition of the band has “moved to its next stage of actualization.” He also says that an on-going legal dispute with the Universal Music Group is headed toward a likely settlement, something else that had been a sticking point.

“So, King Crimson is in motion,” Fripp adds. “This is a very different reformation to what has gone before: seven players, four English and three American, with three drummers. The Seven-Headed Beast of Crim is in Go! mode.” New music, Smith says, should follow sometime next year.

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