In the early 1970s, King Crimson was among the court of progressive music royalty where bands like Yes, Genesis and Emerson, Lake & Palmer reigned.
In 1981, following a seven-year hiatus, main creative force Robert Fripp put together a new lineup featuring himself, drummer Bill Bruford, American guitarist Adrian Belew and bassist Tony Levin. That lineup—which lasted three years—released three albums:
Discipline
,
Beat
, and
Three of a Perfect Pair
.
Now, 40 years later, Belew and Levin, along with
renowned guitarist Steve Vai and Tool drummer Danny Carey have formed Beat (stylized in all caps) to highlight that era of Crimson. Later this month, the band arrives at Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall, where the final incarnation of Fripp’s band kicked off its last tour in 2021.
Belew started the process of putting Beat together in 2019 when he realized that 2021 was the 40th anniversary of
Discipline
. Fripp and Buford declined to join him, so collaborating with producer Angelo Bundini of the “Celebrating David Bowie” tour (on which the 74-year-old has performed) to enlist the musical services of Vai and Carey was the way to go.