21st Century Schizoid Man (including “Mirrors”)

Zoo Freaks, get ready to dive into the mind-bending world of King Crimson’s "21st Century Schizoid Man (including ‘Mirrors’)" from their groundbreaking album In the Court of the Crimson King. This track, a seven-minute explosion of progressive rock, jazz, and proto-metal, hit the scene in 1969 and left audiences stunned. One wild story comes from drummer Bill Bruford, who, back when he was with Yes, caught King Crimson at London’s Speakeasy club in ’69. He described the song as a “God almighty powerful beast” that stopped the room cold, leaving everyone floored by its raw intensity. That night, Bruford knew he wanted to join Crimson, which he did a few years later. Another gem: the song’s iconic cover art, a screaming face painted by Barry Godber, was unveiled to the band the same day they recorded the track. Greg Lake recalled it as a magical moment, like “staring into the face of Schizoid Man” itself, as if fate had aligned the music and image perfectly.

The song’s lyrics, penned by Peter Sinfield, are a scathing critique of the Vietnam War, with lines like “Innocents raped with napalm fire” and “Politicians’ funeral pyre” hitting hard. Sinfield called it a “stark, black, bleak warning” about humanity’s greed and ignorance, a prophecy that feels eerily relevant today. Fun fact: Robert Fripp once dedicated a 1969 performance to Vice President Spiro Agnew, but later admitted it was just stage banter to rile up the crowd, not a literal nod. The track’s influence is massive—Kanye West sampled it for his 2010 hit “Power,” and bands like Ozzy Osbourne and Voivod have covered it. On X, fans like @sapphyreblayze have called it “ahead of OUR time,” marveling at how a 1969 song still sounds futuristic.

King Crimson formed in 1968 in London, rising from the ashes of the quirky trio Giles, Giles & Fripp. Guitarist Robert Fripp, drummer Michael Giles, and bassist Peter Giles were struggling to make waves with their art-pop sound when they teamed up with multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald and vocalist Greg Lake. Lyricist Peter Sinfield rounded out the crew, and their shared love for jazz, classical, and heavy rock birthed a new sound. Their big break came in July 1969, opening for The Rolling Stones at Hyde Park to a crowd of 500,000. Despite being mistakenly introduced as “Giles, Giles and Fripp,” they blew the audience away with “Schizoid Man” as their opener, cementing their place in rock history. By October, In the Court of the Crimson King was out, hailed as a cornerstone of progressive rock.

You can keep up with King Crimson through their official website at dgmlive.com, where you’ll find tour dates, releases, and archival goodies. Their Facebook page is active with updates and fan chatter, while their Instagram shares cool visuals and behind-the-scenes shots. On X, follow @DGMHQ for the latest news straight from the source. Fans are all over the web—check out the r/KingCrimson subreddit for deep discussions and memes. There’s also the King Crimson Fans Facebook group, where Zoo Freaks can geek out over setlists and rare bootlegs. Spin this track loud, and let the chaos take you!