In The Court Of The Crimson King : King Crimson At 50 - A Film by Toby Aimes

Review by Rob H.

 "In The Court Of The Crimson King" is not quite like other music documentaries, the premise is simple enough but how do you succinctly capture the essence of a band that has been active for over 50 years, has a constantly changing line up, reinvented itself on numerous occassions and of course has that one constant....Robert Fripp.

If you were expecting a fluff piece with lots of music padding it out then this isn't for you, if you want to see the funny Fripp from Robert & Toyah's Sunday Lunch and weekly promo videos in which Toyah shows a bit more boob and Fripp suffers another indignation then this certainaly isn't for you!

Many band members past and present appear although many also don't and others aren't here anymore, quite poignantly drummer Bill Rieflin died during the course of the documentary and his interview segments of a man knowing his time was coming to a close adds extra gravitas and you have to respect how he deals with his own mortality.

So the Fripp you do see here is only one aspect of the man, intense, driven, not always likeable but with one focus....King Crimson. He even offered to leave the band so it could continue in the early years. When the "modern era" of the band started with the Belew, Bruford, Levin and Fripp line up they called themselves Discipline, the name would soon revert to King Crimson and "Discipline" became the title of their first album and it is pointed out that the meaning of the word isn't necessarily a pleasant one. King Crimson are Disciplined!

No real dirty laundry is aired but it's obvious that Crimson have not been an easy band to be part of, Fripp remarks that the current (or should that be last) line up is the first time that their hasn't been a single member on stage that actively hated him! Adrian Belew is accused of having "frontman syndrome" but also that he both sought Fripp's approval while deliberately antagonising him musically on stage. Belew states that being in Crimson made him lose his hair!

Fripp is serious about his music, or about silence and how music affects it, his hands are as calloused as a tradesman from daily constant practice. Taking your phone or camera out at a Crimson show is enough to get you thrown out of a show, it affects his concentration and crafting the perfect soundscape that much!

The documentary is more about people than it is about music and it's a wonderful work, if you aren't a fan then this glimpse of Fripp will probably give you a strong opinion about him and you might even think he isn't that likeable. Fans of the band will know that Fripp has many aspects and what you're shown here is just one and whatever your opinion he is the master of over 50 years of one of the most incredible bands there's been.