The Court of the Crimson King

Hey there, Zoo Freaks, your hippie DJs at THE ZOO are spinning the epic vibes of "The Court of the Crimson King" by King Crimson, straight from their groundbreaking album In the Court of the Crimson King. This track, the grand finale of the 1969 debut, is a prog rock masterpiece, clocking in at over seven minutes with a haunting Mellotron riff that hooks you from the start. Did you know this song was composed by Ian McDonald with lyrics by Peter Sinfield, originally written for their earlier band, The Creation? It started as a country-western tune before morphing into the medieval, flute-filled epic we know today. The song’s structure, split into four stanzas with wild instrumental breaks like "The Return of the Fire Witch" and "The Dance of the Puppets," creates a cinematic journey. Cash Box back in the day called its lyrics "unusual" and full of imagery, and it even hit No. 80 on the Billboard Hot 100, King Crimson’s only single to chart there.

Here’s a wild story from the album’s creation: the iconic cover art by Barry Godber, featuring that screaming face, was painted in front of a mirror and laid on the studio floor for the band to see. Greg Lake said it felt like staring at treasure, screaming "Schizoid Man" right at them, perfectly matching the album’s intense opener. Sadly, Godber passed away at 24, just a year after the album dropped. Another cool tidbit? Robert Fripp, the band’s guitarist, has shared on Facebook his love for the album’s legacy, even nodding to a JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure meme tied to the band. Fans on X have celebrated the album’s 55th anniversary, with posts from @DGMHQ noting its chart success at No. 5 in the UK and No. 28 in the US, cementing its place as a prog rock cornerstone.

Let’s dive into how King Crimson got started. Formed in 1968 in London, the band emerged from the ashes of the psych-pop trio Giles, Giles & Fripp, featuring guitarist Robert Fripp, drummer Michael Giles, and Peter Giles. When Peter left, Fripp and Giles recruited bassist-singer Greg Lake, multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald, and lyricist Peter Sinfield, and by early 1969, King Crimson was born. Their first gig at London’s Speakeasy Club set the stage for a meteoric rise, and that summer, they blew minds opening for the Rolling Stones at Hyde Park before 250,000 fans. Jimi Hendrix caught their show at the Revolution Club and called them “the best group in the world,” as Fripp loves to recall. Their debut album, recorded at Wessex Sound Studios, blended psychedelic rock, jazz, and classical elements, laying the foundation for prog rock and influencing bands like Genesis and Yes.

Zoo Freaks, you can keep up with King Crimson’s legacy through their official website, where you’ll find tour archives and releases. Connect with them on Facebook, where they have over 286,000 fans, or follow their updates on Instagram and X. For fan communities, check out the Elephant Talk fan site for deep dives into their discography or join the King Crimson Fans Facebook group to swap stories with fellow prog rockers. Keep those freak flags flying, and let’s ride the Crimson wave!