Considered by some as the seminal King Crimson album for the band's 'classic period', Red stands as book-ends with the debut In the Court of the Crimson King, an album which guitarist Robert Fripp declared 'defined the progressive rock oeuvre'. Rumours have it that Red was the final album heard by Kurt Cobain prior to his untimely death while inspiring his band Nirvana's In Utero, citing one example of the influence it has had over the past fifty years. Also demonstrating King Crimson's approach to re-invention, Red points the way forward for proto-punk, grunge and math rock while casting a backwards glance to the grand ballad style represented on earlier albums such as In the Court of the Crimson King, In the Wake of Poseidon and Islands. Furthermore, the 1972-1974 Crimson re-wrote the ground rules for progressive rock, daringly transiting from the classical music quotation approach of other bands by applying modernist compositional techniques to such pieces as the driving title track and the mysterious improvisation, 'Providence', while anticipating the direction the band may have taken in songs such as 'Fallen Angel' and 'One More Red Nightmare' had Fripp decided not to jump ship prior to Red's release. AUTHOR: Andrew Keeling is a composer and musician whose enthusiasm for King Crimson began in 1969 after hearing the band's first album, In the Court of the Crimson King, later seeing the band 'live' in 1971. He has worked with Robert Fripp orchestrating The Wine of Silence (DGM/Panegyric) and written a series of Musical Guides about the music of King Crimson. As a composer, his pieces have been performed throughout the world and recorded on the Delphian, Metier, DGM, Burning Shed and Spaceward labels. He plays flute in an improvisation duo with former King Crimson violinist, David Cross, releasing two albums, English Sun and October is Marigold, and has also released albums with alt-rock bands The Gong Farmers and Andrew Keeling's Otherworld. He holds a PhD from Manchester University, UK.
