“It was extremely hard to deal with. But if you impose incredibly hard obstacles to making something, and people stay in the room, you might just get there”: The radical neutrality that gave birth to King Crimson’s Red

King Crimson - Red.

In 1974, King Crimson released one of their most underrated, at the time, albums. Red, created by the powerhouse trio Robert Fripp, John Wetton and Bill Bruford, didn’t even reach the UK Top 40 and yet it’s now regarded by many as a key work – not only in Crimson’s back catalogue but also as a foundation stone in what would later become known as progressive metal. On its 50th anniversary in 2024, Crimson’s alumni told Prog about the allure of an album that’s reduced some adults to tears.

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