Hardly any band reinvents itself with such consistency as King Crimson. Over the last five decades, band monarch Robert Fripp has managed to keep his constantly changing group of musicians on a common goal and thus keep the English rock institution relevant. The live formation with three drummers, at first sceptically eyed, celebrates great success, and so King Crimson go on their longest tour in 15 years in 2018.
Interviews are given by Robert Fripp, 71, now almost none. What's the matter with you? I don't know. On the other hand, the musicians, who can currently call themselves members of King Crimson under his aegis, are all the more willing to provide information. Above all singer and guitarist Jakko Jakszyk is a friendly contemporary who talks about his past as a crimso fan. Together with bassist Tony Levin and drummer Pat Mastelotto we also talked to him about what it means to be part of this fabulous formation.
eclipsed: King Crimson are celebrating their 50th birthday this year. Robert Fripp is the only constant member, you have joined over the years. What did the band mean to you before you became a part of it?
Jakko Jakszyk: I was a big fan in the early 70s, in fact Crimson was my first and greatest musical love! "Lizard" was my first album, and during the "Islands" phase I saw my first gig. I bought the first two albums and accompanied the band since then. Until I became a part of her myself through many detours. A childhood dream came true, I say that without false pathos.
Tony Levin: With me it was completely different. Before I joined the band in 1980, I hardly knew anything about them. Sure, I had heard a few songs, but by far not everything. In fact, it wasn't clear to me at first that I would suddenly become a part of King Crimson. In my opinion I played in a new project of Robert Fripp, but then he suddenly called it King Crimson.
eclipsed: What distinguishes the current incarnation from previous incarnations?
Levin: When I compare that with the 80s incarnation we recorded three studio albums with, it has very little in common with today's one. King Crimson always demands a lot from his musicians and never goes the easy, nostalgic way. This is important.
Pat Mastelotto: Let me put it this way: In the 80s they were a bit sparse, now they are extremely decorated!
Jakszyk: I haven't been part of the band that long and stand for the newest incarnation, but as I said I always accompanied it as a fan. Each phase stood for something completely different, and yet it's important that we accentuated the "Islands" phase a bit more on the last tour, because I think that this phase is underestimated.
eclipsed: It is really exciting to see how Jakko found his way into the old material...
Levin: I can only compare him with Adrian Belew, I played with him for years, and less with the older singers, whose pieces he now sings. He doesn't have much in common with Belew. He interprets the pieces in a way that gives us as instrumentalists much room to move in a certain direction.
