The trailblazing rulers of prog-rock, King Crimson, are to perform a series of live dates in 2019 in celebration of the band's 50th Anniversary. The group, which was reactivated by band leader Robert Fripp and returned to touring in 2014, will include both festivals and headline shows in the tour which will take place across three continents. So far there are three UK dates included.

The band's acclaimed, sell-out shows in 2014 included two sparkling nights at the Roman amphitheater in Pompeii - a venue which Pink Floyd once made their own. According to Robert Fripp, the band's audience has been reinvented in this new era, much like the group itself,  “In Pompeii, a large percentage of the audience was young couples" says Fripp, "KC moved into the mainstream in Italy. I walked onstage knowing that this band's position in the world has changed level.”

King Crimson's influence in the 21st century has been further solidified by recent nods from other artists - Kanye West sampled classic track 21st Century Schizoid Man for his 2010 hit Power while Nicholas Cage's new film Mandy features Starless in it's opening scenes.

King Crimson has famously featured over 20 different musicians in its ranks since forming in 1968 - including numerous separately successful artists like Greg Lake (ELP) and Boz Burrell (Bad Company) - with Fripp being the only consistent member. The latest line up is a striking reinvention of the group's sound and features three world-class drummers Pat Mastelotto, Gavin Harrison, and Jeremy Stacey, along with vocalist/guitarist Jakki Jakszyk, keyboard player Bill Rieflin and saxophonist/flute player Mel Collins and of course the ubiquitous Fripp.

Their three-hour show will include material from most of King Crimson's thirteen studio albums - including much of their defining work, 1969's seminal 'In The Court Of King Crimson.' The 8-piece line up also plays many songs the group had never played live before, as well as new arrangements of Crimson classics and compositions by the three drummers.

The band will be playing three shows at the iconic Royal Albert Hall in London in June 2019. Dates and ticket links are as follows:

18 June - http://axs.com/uk/events/365703/an-evening-with-king-crimson-tickets?skin=aegpresentsuk

19 June - http://axs.com/uk/events/365704/an-evening-with-king-crimson-tickets?skin=aegpresentsuk

20 June - http://axs.com/uk/events/365705/an-evening-with-king-crimson-tickets?skin=aegpresentsuk

In addition to live shows the band recently released 'Meltdown' a BluRay filmed during five sell-out shows in Mexico City in 2017, and will drop an in-depth documentary about the band, 'COSMIKC F*KC,' in 2019.

Praise for King Crimson:

Jimi Hendrix saw them at the Marquee in 1969 and declared them to be the best band in the world. In many ways, almost half a century later, they still are.” - ERIC THIESSEN, All About Jazz.

“Crimson has never sounded more complete, or more joyous, on stage than it does now.” - JORDAN ZIVITZ, Montreal Gazette

“On our final evening at the festival, we were witness to the concert that inevitably proved to be its highlight...The blend of mood, melody, ambiance and atmosphere dazzled the audience, which responded with frequent standing ovations.” - LEE ZIMMERMAN, Goldmine Magazine

For more info visit: https://www.dgmlive.com/

Author: Cameron Arndt

Cameron Arndt is a musician and freelance writer from Glasgow, Scotland. He writes for his own music review website (www.rockandrolltraffic.com) and also contributes to Music Talkers.