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Drudge Retort: The Other Side of the News
Friday, January 23, 2026

The Who's live sound in the late 1960s may have sounded metallic, but their studio work was definitely more comparable to that of emerging prog-rock artists.

In 1969, many professionals and music fans began to compare The Who to Robert Fripp's formative band, King Crimson.

Like The Who, King Crimson valued complex composition and evocative themes and also had a huge influence on the heavy metal wave, especially with the enduring classic '21st Century Schizoid Man'.

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After just a few months of existence, King Crimson made a major breakthrough when The Rolling Stones invited them to perform at their iconic free concert on July 5th, 1969, at Hyde Park, London.

The iconic concert was guitarist Mick Taylor's first public performance with the Stones following Brian Jones' dismissal and subsequent death.

The occasion exposed Crimson to a congregation of half a million people. Keen to strike while the iron was hot, they entered the studio to record their debut album, In the Court of the Crimson King.

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article link is FarOutMag

King Crimson - 21st Century Schizoid Man (Including "Mirrors")
King Crimson channel

www.youtube.com

Blood rack, barbed wire
Politicians' funeral pyre
Innocents raped with napalm fire

[Refrain]
Twenty-first century schizoid man

[Instrumental Break: "Mirrors"]

[Verse 3]
Death seed, blind man's greed
Poets' starving children bleed
Nothing he's got he really needs

Twenty-first century schizoid man

King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King (Album Visualiser)

www.youtube.com

(Could have been written for you know who.)

#1 | Posted by Corky at 2026-01-23 11:12 PM | Reply

Thanks for posting, Corky. I was lucky enough to see Asia several times, including front row seats. They played one or two songs from their previous bands, including In The Court Of The Crimson King and it was fantastic hearing it live.

#2 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-01-24 01:18 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

Long time Fripp fan. Fortunate to be around for a "Frippertronics" demo at a local record store in KC.

#3 | Posted by morris at 2026-01-24 11:14 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

@#3 ... In The Court Of The Crimson King ...

A fav album of mine.

I bought it back in the day.

Since then I have also purchase the box set ...

In the Court of the Crimson King (box set)
en.wikipedia.org(box_set)

... In the Court of the Crimson King is the first of the major box set releases from English progressive rock group King Crimson, released in 2010 by Discipline Global Mobile & Panegyric Records.

The set features recordings from the band's initial lineup and the sessions for their 1969 debut album In the Court of the Crimson King, including several mixes of the album.

Containing 5 CDs, 1 DVD, copious sleeve notes and replica memorabilia, In the Court of the Crimson King covers the genesis of King Crimson. ...

Of note is that the DVD in the set is actually a DVDA, i.e., DVD-audio.

The DVD-Audio disc contains releases (including stereo and 5.1 surround sound releases) of the album in 96/24 digital format. See Disc 6 in the Wiki article linked above.

All that aside...

imo, one of the all-time great albums.


#4 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-01-24 09:48 PM | Reply

@#4

Oops, forgot to close the formatting.

Starting with "Of note," the comment is mine, not the quoted article.

#5 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-01-24 09:51 PM | Reply

@#1 ... 21st Century Schizoid Man ...

Then there was ...

I Talk to the Wind
en.wikipedia.org

... "I Talk to the Wind" is the second track from the British progressive rock band King Crimson's debut album, In the Court of the Crimson King (1969).

Starting immediately after the cacophony that ends "21st Century Schizoid Man", the mood of this song is a stark contrast; it is serene, simple and peaceful. Ian McDonald's flute begins the song, and is one of the lead instruments throughout.[3] He also plays a classical-inspired solo in the middle of the song as a "C" section and a longer one at the end as a coda. ...



King Crimson - I Talk To The Wind (1969)
www.youtube.com

#6 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-01-24 10:54 PM | Reply

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