In the Court Of The Crimson King (Live 1981)

Greetings, Zoo Freaks! The Zoo Crew is spinning a classic tonight with In the Court of the Crimson King (Live 1981) by Greg Lake from the King Biscuit Flower Hour album, recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon in London on November 5, 1981. This live rendition captures the magic of Lake’s performance with a stellar band featuring Gary Moore on guitar, whose fiery playing transforms the King Crimson classic into a hard-rock spectacle. One juicy piece of trivia: this version was part of a setlist that blended Lake’s solo work with hits from his Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP) days and King Crimson gems. Fans on Amazon reviews rave about Moore’s guitar work, with one calling it a performance that “blows away” the original Robert Fripp version, making this live cut a must-hear for prog and hard rock lovers alike.

Another tidbit comes from the Prog Archives, where reviewers note that Lake’s voice, while warm and iconic, occasionally struggled to hold pitch during this live radio broadcast. Yet, his passion shines through, especially on In the Court of the Crimson King, which closed the show as a powerful encore. The King Biscuit Flower Hour recording, mastered at PolyGram Studios, has been reissued multiple times, sometimes under different titles like London ’81, and includes rare photos and sleeve notes with Lake’s own comments, as shared on Amazon Canada. This performance is a snapshot of Lake at a crossroads, trying to carve a solo path while honoring his prog-rock roots, and it’s a testament to his enduring connection with fans.

Let’s dive into how Greg Lake got his start. Born on November 10, 1947, in Poole, Dorset, England, Lake picked up the guitar at age 12 and wrote his first song, Lucky Man, which later became an ELP staple. By 17, he was a full-time musician, gigging in local bands like The Shame and The Gods, as detailed on Last.fm. His big break came in 1968 when his childhood friend, guitarist Robert Fripp, invited him to join a new band, King Crimson. Lake switched from guitar to bass at Fripp’s request and took on lead vocals, contributing lyrics and producing their groundbreaking debut, In the Court of the Crimson King (1969). The album, a cornerstone of progressive rock, hit number five on the UK charts and earned praise from Pete Townshend as “an uncanny masterpiece,” according to Wikipedia. Lake left King Crimson in 1970 to form ELP with Keith Emerson and Carl Palmer, cementing his legacy in prog rock.

Sadly, Greg Lake passed away in 2016, but his music lives on through his official channels and fan communities. Check out his official website at greglake.com for news and discography. You can also follow updates on his Facebook page, though he didn’t maintain personal Instagram or X accounts. Fans keep his spirit alive on Bandcamp, where you can grab tracks like this one, and in groups like the Emerson, Lake & Palmer Fans on Facebook, where Zoo Freaks can connect over his epic contributions. For more Crimson vibes, visit dgmlive.com, the official King Crimson fan site, to dig deeper into Lake’s early days.