King Crimson

King Crimson
King Crimson performing in 2003 Left to right: Trey Gunn, Adrian Belew, and Robert Fripp (Pat Mastelotto is hidden)
Background information
Origin	London, England
Genres	Progressive rock art rock post-progressive proto-prog
Years active	1968–74 1981–84 1994–2004 2007–09 2013–present
Labels	Island Atlantic Polydor EG Virgin Warner Bros. Caroline Discipline Global Mobile
Associated acts	Giles, Giles and Fripp Emerson, Lake & Palmer McDonald and Giles UK ProjeKcts 21st Century Schizoid Band Porcupine Tree HoBoLeMa Jakszyk, Fripp and Collins Crimson Jazz Trio
Website	dgmlive.com
Members	Robert Fripp Mel Collins Tony Levin Pat Mastelotto Gavin Harrison Jakko Jakszyk Jeremy Stacey Bill Rieflin
Past members	Peter Sinfield Greg Lake Michael Giles Ian McDonald Gordon Haskell Andy McCulloch Ian Wallace Boz Burrell Bill Bruford John Wetton David Cross Jamie Muir Adrian Belew Trey Gunn

King Crimson are an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The band has undergone numerous formations throughout its history of which 21 musicians have been members; since January of 2017 it has consisted of Robert Fripp, Jakko Jakszyk, Tony Levin, Mel Collins, Pat Mastelotto, Gavin Harrison, Bill Rieflin and Jeremy Stacey. Fripp is the only consistent member of the group, and is considered the band's leader and driving force. The band has earned a large cult following.

Developed from the unsuccessful trio Giles, Giles and Fripp, the band were seminal in the progressive rock genre in its first five years with its standard of instrumentation and complex song structures. King Crimson's debut album, In the Court of the Crimson King (1969), remains its most successful and influential, with its elements of jazz, classical, and experimental music. Their success increased following an opening act performance for The Rolling Stones at Hyde Park, London, in 1969. Following the less successful In the Wake of Poseidon (1970), Lizard (1970), and Islands (1971), the group reached a new creative peak with Larks' Tongues in Aspic (1973), Starless and Bible Black (1974), and Red (1974). Fripp disbanded the group in 1974.