In the Prog Seat: King Crimson-Our Favorite & Least Favorite Line-Up 

I love Louis Nasser's sense of humor.

The line up with Wetton and Bruford was explosive, Cross was magical too. Those three albums are top stuff, nothing can touch them.

The Discipline line up is my favorite. The end of "Frame by Frame" where the 2 guitars play intertwining lines is one of the great moments in music history.

My favorite has to be the very first lineup, and a huge factor in this is Michael Giles. Such stylish and visionary playing and drum composition.

R.I.P to the great Ian McDonald 🙏 ✌️

I just read the sad news about the death of Ian McDonald. RIP May he rest in peace

The first is a groundbreaking masterpiece. Nothing comes close. At a time when musical innovation was at its peak, Crimson ruled them all. I guess you had to be there.

Great show guys, love it. There is only one man who, I believe could have easily stepped into any Crimson era. A player of exceptional creativity, emotion, power and technique. The one and only Terry Bozzio.

oh man ,.. I would have loved to have been part of this one.. enjoy!

My favourite King Crimson lineup is Fripp, Wetton, Bruford and Cross, those guys together sounded super tight as a four piece with a monster sound, at times they sounded like a beefed up Mahavishnu Orchestra on steroids, from the fierce violin playing to the thunderous bass playing to the intense drumming and guitar playing. Their live improvisations and jams were always a treat to listen to, this incarnation had and could do it all. My least favourite King Crimson lineup would have to be the current one from 2013 onwards, I always feel having one drummer is more than enough especially when it's Gavin Harrison but having three of them is just too much with all due respect to the other drummers Jeremy Stacey and Pat Mastelotto. Jakko Jakszyk although a very talented musician doesn't quite have the singing voice of the ones who previously came before him, Mel Collins and Tony Levin who are two guys you can always rely on to deliver in any situation I feel get lost in the mix due to all of the busy drumming. I think if that band was scaled down to a quintet then it would have sounded much better. I respect Fripp for wanting to try something different but this concept didn't and still doesn't work for me I would have loved to have seen Eddie Jobson in King Crimson, he would have been excellent with Fripp, Wetton and Bruford if the band continued in 1975 onwards especially as he provided the overdubs for their USA live album. His violin and keyboard playing would have put them over huge with a giant sound

The Bruford and Levin rhythm section was great, but I have to say that the Wetton Bruford rhythm section for me is one of the best ever in rock music, the power that combo had was astounding.

Yet another fantastic discussion that eased me through a dismal, rainy afternoon...

I saw the THRAK double trio at Massey Hall in Toronto. T'was completely face melting!

Best lineup: Fripp, Belew, Bruford, Levin. Actually, one or two years ago I would have said that Wetton/Cross era was my favourite, but I relistened whole King Crimson discography and I found 80s era so cohesive studio wise, that I couldn't resist. Of course, from the perspective of live performances, then I would probably pick Fripp, Bruford, Cross, Wetton. Worst lineup: Fripp, Belew, Mastelotto, Gunn. I wouldn't say that the output was weak, but it was rather inconsistent. At moments they could be just brilliant (Level Five EP from 2001 with the title track and Virtuous Circle - those are one of a kind instrumentals), but for example The ConstruKction of Light was quite sporadic album, The World's My Oyster Soup Kitchen Floor Wax Museum is such a phenomenal song that I actually remember its whole title :D But then you got ProzaKc Blues... I want to agree that this is their worst song, but for me this spot is reserved for Prelude: Song of the Gulls - I'm close to despising that cheesy orchestration. When you discussed about people who could enrich King Crimson, I thought that I really miss piano stuff in King Crimson. Not keyboards in general, but specifically piano. Like Tippett stuff, like Cat Food. So I started to think of ambitious keyboard players, that really like playing piano. Initially I thought about jazz pianists, but then I remembered Rick Davies from Supertramp... that guy might have brought interesting flavour to the whole idea of King Crimson, because he also enjoys jazz stuff, he can write really cool tunes balancing between jazz and pop (as King Crimson always did). One thing I'm not sure is that Rick Davies isn't really an improviser. So that could be an issue, but the idea is still intriguing.

Interesting discussion, guys. Not sure about lineup preferences, so I'm staying out of that. Ken was absolutely correct about the Talking Heads connection; Fripp played on Fear of Music, and Belew played on Remain in Light - both prior to Discipline.

And now we have the very sad news of the passing of Ian McDonald on Wednesday just gone

Looking forward to the Prog gentleman and their expert insights. It is very hard to pick least favorite King Crimson line up ... a majority of the musicians were top shelf in their creative collaborations with Mr. Fripp. I would say that my favorite line up was the musicians who contributed to the Discipline album... very had to do a comparison. I feel the most favorite line ups will be close between the Red and Discipline musicians ... Starless is imho probably the best early era song that is a timeless song.

I know Greg Lake stuff more for some reason and that was way back before 1974. I don't know much about the line ups but, it's all good. I enjoyed the listen.

I find it quite telling, as well as compelling, that my favorite/best lineup for Crimson, as well as Yes, included Bruford. Nuff said!

King Crimson's first show was July 5th, Hyde Park 1969 opening for The Rolling Stones. Mick Taylor's first gig as a Stone. Love the music....

Favourite lineup Fripp, Wetton, Bruford, Cross & Muir. Lest favourite Fripp, Belew, Bruford, Levin

My favourite Crimson line up is Red 1974.Bruford,Fripp,Wetton.Phenomenal!

Awesome show. 1h49 of pure bliss.

Favorite for me is Red, but actually I find myself drawn to Islands often and I agree with Chuck, it’s an underrated album, my least favorite is The Construkction of Light.

80s lineup my favorite

Great, informative and engaging episode, kudos to all of you! I'm glad that Pete and Ken ( I think? ) stuck up for Islands, it's a great 'fripping' album!! =D Having said that, any KC line-up with Bruffy on board is my fav... and I'm with absent Anthony, Porcupine Crimson would be very interesting to see!

I've got to watch the new King Crimson documentary, should be out any time now.

My favourite is the Discipline line up. That's the one that really grabbed me - not just the incredible music, but partly because it features some of my favourite musicians. Levin and Bruford? Oh yeah, I'll have some of that please. I knew little about Belew before Discipline, but came to see him as the icing on the cake in that line up. Saw them play the Royal Albert Hall and it remains one of the most memorable gigs I've been to.

Excellent!

I appreciate the groups perspectives on KC and agree with most of what is said. As an older dude that first turned on to Crimson with their debut album, the original line-up remains my favorite, simply because the work was so ground-breaking. Nothing shaked up the musical landscape more than that first album. If the review panel included more long-time Crimso fans, I'd guess more of the conversation would have focused on the phenomenal work of Giles, McDonald, Lake, and Fripp and even the line-ups that followed up to Lizard.

Three of a Perfect Pair was my first KC album buy on cassette and a mainstay in my Walkman, in the 1980s as a teenager.

Fripp, Wetton, Bruford : favorite lineup

Best era: 1968 to 1971 taking into account Giles, Giles and Fripp, Court, Poseidon and McDonald and Giles Worst era: The current line up. The lack of a studio album and relentless live material only improved in the Elements box sets which embellished it all with archive material. Rookie member: Mike Oldfield. I would be interested in seeing where he would take the sound. He often played bass and you could bring in guest vocalists past and present.

Great discussion. When I was a kid in the 70s in Surrey (UK) I painted a cupboard in my bedroom with the big Crimson face and went on to paint a series of very dark red abstract paintings for my art college portfolio inspired by Red and one more red Nightmare but it was only when I watched a Fripp YouT video a year ago breaking down the guitar part for Fracture that I realised how much of the music had sailed right over my head. There is always something new to discover about KC.

I've always seen The First Day album as an unofficial KC record. I would have loved to have seen more from Fripp and Sylvian.

Looking forward to watching this later - unfortunately cannot join en vivo. Cheers, 🍕

Wow, this was so hard. The problem for me is my favourite King Crimson albums are the first two but as far as line-ups go, you can't go past the Larks to Red era, they really had something special happening during that era.

Loved this! Fripp, Wetton and Buford for me for best but I can't pick a worst because I love it all

Love 'em all. Starless And Bible Black lineup is my favorite.

Excellent show, guys! I'm just getting into classic prog at 30 - better late than never, and this whole video hit the spot. Thanks, fellas!

Great episode idea Eric!

The Bill Bruford Autobiography is back in stock at, Burning Shed. Mine is autographed so the rest of the stock should be.

@ 9:22 Yes, that is the magical lineup. Love Discipline, (not so much Beat and Three of a Perfect Pair), but everything Fripp, Wetton, Bruford, and Cross did was amazing. I love the spaces between the players and the notes. If I had a time machine, I would go to the gig in Asbury Park, NJ on June 28, 1974, which brought us much of the USA release.

Have been enjoying these videos. Like the Levin-Buford-Belew-Fripp lineup the most. There is a late night TV video of them doing Elephant Talk. What's memorable is that one can actually see Fripp smile (almost chortling) when Belew makes the elephant sounds.

Most amazing presentation on one of the greatest bands of all time. On the line up of Trey Gunn, Mastelotto, Belew and Fripp would urge the panelists to watch "Eyes wide open 2003" concert on YT. It’s one of the powerful and engaging performances by the KC quartet ever. Anthony is bang on with this one guys , you probably missed it. 👍🤘

For me, the bruford, wetton era is untouchable. I love improv centre to the cosmos.

Discipline Era for me, no question

I saw the "Double Duo" open for Tool. Great show,. Young crowd, many likely had no idea who KC was. Along the lines of what was discussed, Fripp was hiding in the shadows and not happy. At one point the crowd of 9000ish, started chanting Tool and booing. All stop. Maynard comes out. Tells the crowd off and that they wouldn't be who they are w/o KC influence and to show some respect. I wish I could recall exactly what he said. It was quite a sight!

The founding lineup had more songwriting/composing chops (MacDonald was at least as significant in this as Fripp and Sinfield) than any other KC group in my opinion, their best vocalist in Lake, and Sinfield at the top of his lyrical game. I would have to put them first, with Belew/Bruford/Levin/Fripp as a very close second, as Belew is a phenomenal frontman, guitarist, and songwriter, and Bruford's greatness goes without saying. Then, the Wetton/Fripp/Cross/Bruford group. Probably not an accident that Bruford features in two out of three of my favorite line-ups.

Excellent analysis by everyone. This was so tough because the Discipline lineup was so good but my guilty favorite was the double trio. That lineup sounded so big and on the edge of disaster I just loved the musical conflict between the players and they were such a beast live. Least favorite is Construction of Light lineup and here's why: I think Bruford and later Levin added a level of "swing" and improve to the music that was sorely missed when they were gone. The COL lineup was talented but the music was too angular and straight. The beauty of the best Crimson was how the most difficult songs could dance and move around Fripp's angular and almost mechanical playing.

When I saw them in Spring 1981 at Manchester Polytechnic they were calling themselves Discipline.

Starless and Bible Black is a pure masterpiece. Put on some headphones late at night with the lights down and let that album take you places. Be careful!

Never got to see them live but from the footage I've seen I'd have to pick the mid 90s touring line up where you had the Discipline quartet + Pat & Trey

What is the world coming to!? I find myself agreeing with Steven again!! I remember hearing Frame by Frame in the mid eighties, I was about 6, and it just blew my mind Great video!!

28:53 - I appreciate the Ron Carter shoutout.

The lineup of Fripp , Belew, Mastalotto and Gunn is my personal favorite.

Until I discovered SoT I hadnt taken much notice of the Disciline era of Crimson, however now I have to say that they come close to be kng a favorite, though I'd go with the Wetton/Bruford/Cross line up on the Great Deciever. least favourite I'd echo the ConstruKction of Light choice. I think McLaughlin would be a great addition as I think that The Dance of Maya and You Know You Know have a sort of Crimsonality about them, I also wonder what would happen if Fripp got together withThundercat.

It's an almost unique situation, so many lineups and studio albums and not one bad one in the bunch. My favorite is the Discipline band because they seemed to have the most "fun" on stage, but how much "better" are they from the Great Deceiver lineup?... Its more a matter of taste than capabilities, you can't go wrong with any of them.

What Ken said about the difference when Adrian played his Strat as compared to the Parker is where I checked out on them too, he did such magic with that Strat.

My favourite albums span the different eras and I'm very tempted to go for the Discipline era, but having seen them live in 2018 I just have to go for that live line up with the three drummers. Fripp had come to terms with his past and having already added the first era stuff back in on previous tours he also did some of his 80s stuff, without AB alas, and he really seemed to be enjoying himself. Jakko Jakszyk did a great job handling vocals from different original vocalists and the whole band was absolute killer. Strictly speaking there were four drummers there, the fourth being the sadly departed Bill Rieflin who had been the third drummer plus keyboards in a previous line up, but was just on keyboards this time. You might say he showed admirable restraint for the entire concert. Filled in a lot of gaps lately so I now have all studio albums up to Thrak, not much interested in anything later, probably have the best of that period live on Radical Action to Unseat the Hold of Monkey Mind.

Good job, gents! My favorite is Discipline era, least is Islands lineup, and my outside addition would be Vernon Reid

I won't make it hard for myself and I will just pick Fripp, Jakszyk, Levin, Collins, Rieflin, Mastelotto, Garrison, Stacey as my favorite King Crimson line up. For my least favorite I would aslo agree with almost everyone, it is the "The Construkction of Light" line up. The person I would like to see in King Crimson: David Sylvian. I love the Damage: Live record he and Fripp did together, and I would really love to hear more of that.

I like Steven and Pete and Luis got on the KC bus during Discipline. I was fortunate to see this lineup during the Perfect Pair era and they did not disappoint! Although I must admit Larks is my favorite album like many others, I prefer a bit of Belew in my KC, but with Levin and Bruford.

I bought Thrak when it came out in the 90s, and I had no idea at the time that they were an old band, or at least a band of old dudes, because the music was so radical and current. The double trio era remains my favorite, followed closely by the early 80s version and the Wetton era. But I love Adrien Belew so much, that anything he is on I pull out first. The worst would be the Earthbound lineup, because what the heck was that?

K.C. with McDonald and Giless was their best.

Great show gents. Tried to see every tour of KC since 1984. I started with the Red Lp and listened forwards (and backwards) from there. My take: Favorite line up: Larks' Tongues in Aspic Least favorite line up: In the Wake of Poseidon (it's a sophomore slump and then some) Wishful thinking performer to add: Brian Eno whether with the feather boas, the two Revoxes, or the producer's chair...

My whacko dream line up of King Crimson in the spring of 1986(The fourth dual colored album in green with a violet symbol). Might be utter chaos and completely out there, but it´s a fun thing to think about. Guitar: Robert Fripp Main Vocals: Kate Bush Bass: Cliff Burton Drums: Neil Peart Percussion: Manu Katché Flute, Keys, Vocals, Lyrics: Peter Gabriel Keys, Textures, Sound Effects: Klaus Schulze Sound Effects/Sound Design/Production: Merzbow

i like the bruford, wetton, muir, cross, lineup. robert fripp and his wife been posting videos on RU-vid lately still plays great.

29:57 - VERY good way to put it my friend. I always felt like 80's and 00's Crim were on about different things but as far as line ups go it's the yang of THRAK, and there's a lot of the 80's stuff in the 90's.

The Red period was awesome.

Saw Fripp, Wetton, Cross and Buford in 73'-74'. 2 in Central Park May 26 73' July 4, 74'(final show of that iteration) NY Academy of Music September 22 73' and Asbury Park 74' Very very very intense!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Favorite lineups: Fripp-Bruford-Wetton and Fripp-Belew-Levin-Bruford. Least favorite: the most recent with Jakko and three drummers.

It’s weird I have no interest really in this music but I totally enjoy the show .

another line up was amazing during the sylvian fripp tour in 93' mastletto gunn fripp sylvian and michael brooks with his infinite guitars they came in Paris and i missed them i missed them unfortunatly but got the CD with tracks from rain tree crow "every colour you are " somthing like that ....:-)

Great show! Great minds! How about, Fripp, Gavin Harrison, David Sylvian, Kerry Minnear, and Percy Jones with Eno producer!?

Belew was the much needed blood transfusion for Crimson for the 80s, as Trevor Rabin was for Yes. I would also go with Eddie Jobson [he made some violin overdubs on the live USA] for the Red-era instead of Cross. And we would have had Bruford, Wetton and Jobson playing together. That is 3/4s of UK :)

Some people I’d like to see with Crimson. 1. Patrick Moraz 2. Rick Wakeman 3. Terry Bozzio 4. Marco Minnemann My least favorite line up is The Construkction of Lightt My favorite line up is the Bruford/Wetton/Cross and Fripp

great discussion. something about that first lineup that's always endearing to me. maybe re visit the topic with Zappa?

Sad sad news Ian MacDonald has passed away RIP 🙏

Larks tongues, islands , in the court ,red.

King Crimson. Ken is spot on. There is no bad line up. I discovered King Crimson in 1980, but I went back. I love The Court, Larks Tongue, and Red, but as a!ways with Fripp at the helm my favorite line up is Fripp, Belew, Bruford, and Levin. The trilogyy of Disipline, Beat, and Three Of A Perfect Pair is great. I saw them one time in 1995. It was the the Thrak/ Vrooom tour. They played songs from the trilogy. It was in a beautiful theater. I had a great seat. It was a great concert.

My favorite is probably the Wetton era. My apologies for bragging/name dropping but I had the chance to play Starless with John Wetton and speak with him personally and he was super super nice and willing to talk about music and KC. As for least favorite, I can't choose!

It would be intriguing to see/hear what happens if Serj Tankian joined KC: strong personality, incredible voice, different background.

Wow. I decided a couple of weeks ago, after listening to the Heavy ConstruKction live set, that the Double Duo was my least favorite lineup of KC. But I didn’t expect ALL of you to agree. (I love Islands, by the way.)

Love this conversation, cheers guys. KC is one of my three top favorite progressive bands for sure, I love every line up. I think Lizard and Islands are so overlooked and underrated, unbelievable albums. I believe its Mel Collins as guest on Red, not McDonald by the way. Great talks

Best line of the night…Steve said “there’s more going on, but they’re not saying anything”. 👍👍

I think the first King Crimson album I heard was In The Wake of Poseidon sometime in the mid to late 70's. It has always been a very special album to me. The album cover art is really nice too. Not mentioned in this video probably because it has its own lineup. But several albums around that period had album specific lineups.

Favourite lineup has to be the Wetton era, probably with Muir to add his magic - so the pre-Larks tour although the 4 piece that existed until just before the recording of Red was unbelievable live. A hypothetical 1974-5 Fripp, Wetton, Bruford, Jobson lineup could have been the best of the lot if they'd gelled. Honourable Mentions - Discipline quartet, and the various recent live 3 x drummer lineups. Least favourite - Lizard, never got into that one. Love Islands, like Wake & bits of the '90s stuff, hate Lizard - so that has to be my least favourite lineup.

Excellent show prog crew! I couldn't make the premier as I was in Seattle seeing Dream Theater. My favorite KC line-up is the Discipline era. It was my introduction to them. I was a young teenager when I heard Discipline, it felt and sounded very accessible, but mind blowing when you really listened. My least favorite is the newest line-up. Amazing, but no studio albums and no dates on the last tour in the PNW. Someone I'd like to see in KC? Allan Holdworth... I can see it work in a very weird way! lol Edit: Thank you Luis for bringing up Elfman's Big Mess album. It's great out there prog.

Great Show Pete. I knew you were going to say John McLaughlin..in the late 70's or early 80's Fripp & McLaughlin gave a joint interview with each other..I remember it being a very strange double Q & A . I think it was in Musician magazine which I don't think is in press anymore. I wonder if at time of the joint interview they ever considered working with each other..I agree with McLaughlin is on equal terms with Fripp and that would have been awesome if those two musicians had done something together. I'm not as familiar with newer lineups so I'll pick the Lark's Tongue line-up..I did see Crimson during Discipline tour at the Uris Theatre in NY and it ranks as a Top 5 show for me..and I saw them at the Pier in NY where Bruford came out first went to the front of the stage and started playing a some beats on a drum set up center stage and Belew followed him on and instead of going to the guitar he joined Bruford on the drum with his back to the audience and facing Bruford . the audience went nuts..What a great way to start the concert..

Hey Luis, I just got my copy of the KC transcriptions two week ago : )

I’ve been starting off the day with Dave Pike’s "Jazz for the Jet Set", and now i’m gonna watch you guys as usual. Good coffee and some nerdy King Crimson shit… can’t go wrong with that. My favorite line up is the one with Fripp, Belew, Levin and Bruford.

Lots of qualifying and hedging and finessing (I think they call it cheating?😉)… but heck it. As least favorite, I also have to pick Belew-Bruford-Fripp-Gunn-Mastelotto just due to “The ConstruKction of Light.” I’ve never been able to get into that album. Favorite is a hard call among, for various reasons: • Discipline: The interlocking guitars; the nostalgia factor - I was a senior in high school and KC’s reunion was an unexpected bright spot in an otherwise miserable time in my life, and the amazingly innovative sound and structure to the compositions. Deep and serious… but also whimsical and fun. • Court: More nostalgia factor as it was the first KC I was exposed to (’77-ish) and the whole thing was just mind-blowing, from the instrumentation, songwriting, playing, dynamics… all of it. • Larks’ through Red is tough: they all have the incomparable Bill Bruford; he and Wetton are so powerful yet graceful as a rhythm section. Compositionally, I lean toward Red and Starless. If “guests” Cross, Collins, and McDonald count as being part of the “line-up,” then I pick Red as I love horns (woodwinds, brass) and violin. If not, then Starless. (Also, if never having played live takes points off for Red: Starless.) For any ‘70s line-up, I would be intrigued, no matter how unlikely this would’ve been, to hear what Ornette Coleman would brought to Crimson, In the ‘80s, and additionally in the realm of plausibility due to his collaborating with Bruford and Levin, I think Mark Isham would’ve made an interesting addition.

Larks and Red for me

Favourite line up is The Red line up. Fantasy line up add Jeff Beck on second Guitar and Patrick Moraz on keyboards.

My favorite is definitely the Lark's- Red line up. Am not huge on Wetton as a vocalist but anything else about this lineup is magic. David Cross's Violin/Viola/Cello/Keyboard playing, Bill Bruford is my favorite drummer, John Wetton's bass playing (that I much prefer to his vocals, sue me) and to me Fripp really hit his stride in this era, both as a guitar player and especially as a songwriter. My least favorite is the 'Lizard' crew, not a fan of Gorndon Haskell's vocals at all (always thought that lizard would be a much better album if it was completely instrumental) the rhythm section (Haskell and Andy McCulloch on drums) is not too memorable to me, Fripp is kinda in the background on this album and there's just generally a lack of chemistry between all the players. I do really enjoy the addition of a couple of horn/reed players and their cool, unique flavors but that's about the only thing that keeps this lineup from being completely forgettable and even boring to listen to.

King Crimson - The Power To Believe - my favourite album Robert Fripp - guitar Adrian Belew - guitar, vocals Pat Mastelotto - acoustic and electric drums and percussion Trey Gunn - Warr touch bass The best line up and album for me The current line just regurgitates, very little new material - my least favourite line up

Fripp on guitar, Mike Portnoy on drums, Billy Sheehan on bass, and Robin Zander.

Well i remember Prozac Blues ended up in first place at the top ten on Montreal rock station

A good watch !