King Crimson - Elephant Talk

[carynstl]

When I first caught Belew touring with Zappa I was gobsmacked. Then this album comes out of no where at a time pure crap was being played on the radio. One of the best match ups of musicians I have ever seen perform together. Who else isn't glad Bruford left Yes when he did!

[JaysGuitarCovers]

holy fuck

[Hlotar]

Lol, smiling Fripp...

[KevinHayden]

340 likes, no dislikes. Sums it up well!

[maxcohen13]

This was on an American TV show called Fridays on the ABC network.

Adrian Belew is the man.

[spam549]

What is that man doing to that guitar?!!

[culzo89]

This is the shit that gives me nightmares.

[smetatan000]

This how Bob Saget attracts his bitches. Look at that dynamite pink suit. That a pimp suit.

[Philocology]

Gob from Arrested Development is king on guitar

[locobrusca]

PASARON 30 AÑOS QUE SIGO ESCUCHANDO ESTO Y NO ENCUENTRO SUPERACIÓN, ES DEFINITIVAMENTE MI CANCION FAVORITA......KING CRIMSOS ME DIO LOS MEJORES MOMENTOS MUSICALES DE MI VIDA, GRACIAS POR PUBLICAR ESTOS VIDEOS, GRACIAS

[spaghettoche]

so great ! Incredible performance ! better like the studio recording

[Back2Tenn]

Dude..............

Thanks, 30 year Yes fan, but have loved this song forever.

[jezza10181]

sounds a lot like talking heads

[realrealblades]

@jezza10181 One article said, IIRC, that "Adrian belew, who can out-Byrne Byrne".

[Matiefti2]

unbelewable...

[gretchfendermartin]

wtf

[rcorregan]

I dig Adrian Belew. Saw KC last on the pier in NYC back in 1984. Bill Bruford was playing drums then. It was AWESOME!

[TalkinBoutDaWayouts]

@rcorregan Seen the same show 6th row in a cathedral. King Crimson the best church music I've ever heard.

[hedwund1]

God Damn it's talented but terrible music.

[Lizzzeg]

@hedwund1 are you unaware of the basic concept of subjectivity? Because us KC fans think this is a miracle of modern composition.

[hedwund1]

@Lizzzeg That's why you are all douchebags.

[mikens1]

It's only talk! Picker, picker, picker. Peter Piper picked

a heap of pickled peppers!

[scotttland31]

bicker

[CreeMetis]

Adrian Belew=most underrated musician in rock

[DEEJAYSEEIII]

@CreeMetis

Its just symptomatic of the problem. King Crimson = Most Underrated Band in Rock

[rickwakeman97]

In this live, Robert Fripp scares me!

[lifeandtimesofband]

@martyballin, @colenelly ....yeah, it's a little awkward . But elephant talk has always sounded this way, I believe. What is it that you two are hearing that sounds strange? Great conversation , btw.

[Martyballin]

I guess I'm not from the right planet, b/c this just isn't actually enjoyable to listen to....But I'm not going to give this vid its first thumbs down, I will simply abstain

[Colenelly]

@Martyballin Is it the vocals? I came back to see it because the first time weirded me out so much. Now I find it catchy.

[dbBosco1]

@Martyballin clearly you are not. The Chapman work, the guitar parts, the drums and the vocals are all incredible. There is not a single thing wrong with this video from the polyrythms to the pink suits.

[MrFukthishit]

@Martyballin sorry, but you even failed at abstaining...!!!

[Rankawino]

ESPECTACULAR

[dreamtheaterfan360]

Tony Levin = God

[xXTiberiusXx]

i love how after they play they're all just like "yeah. we good."

[jamful2]

Whoa! I'd forgotten about this "song". When I saw those guys in 1981 they sounded like they just got off the mothership. The Zappa influence is definitely there. I was lucky to have friends to turn me on to great music I most likely never would have discovered myself.

[caspianrex]

I love Adrian's playing, but I have 2 agree w/ several people who have said Fripp is simply incredible, playing all that incredible stuff as if it's no biggie...and smiling, no less. So un-Frippish.

[LJRO]

Robert Fripp fucking sits there with his suit on, absolutely RIPPING IT like it's fucking nothing. a true badass.

[idkmm7]

did they pay fripp to smile?

[newfuckingwave]

@idkmm7 one would imagine that fripp would HATE someone like adrian belew - what with all his smiling and enthusiasm - yet he seems to be one of the few people fripp actually likes

[Poisonnachos]

@idkmm7 Either that or it was a big publicity stunt.

[everyonelovesEvan]

keep pressing 7

[XylophoneNoir]

If memory serves me this was a TV appearance on "Fridays". Absolutely perfect version of King Crimson--it successfully combined experimental and world musics with progressive rock, free improv, industrial textures, electro-acoustic and damned good danceable pop sounds too. I recall being in college, majoring in music, and having powerful lessons with each of these 3 albums' releases. Bill Bruford taught Rock-n-Roll how to be tribal and then Free Jazz! .......jp

[mitch77zz]

What guitar you ask? Fripp was playing the Roland GR300 Guitar synth.

[scottus1955]

pretty cool... it's like Talking Heads meets Primus!!

[darthvaderyoda]

@scottus1955 Except these guys were FIRST!!

[daregularperson]

@scottus1955 You may want to check your chronology. It's a bit more complicated than you make it out to be.

[priceischrist]

what guitar is Fripp using in this?

[mcrhythm2]

Could not agree more!

[joemac356]

When was this? Fripp still had dark hair and no glasses.

[1977lastresort]

great!

[marcfedak]

Excellent!



[casestudyification]

In case somebody didn't know, Fripp banned the high hat from the drums during this period.

[Bietel]

@casestudyification Surely this wasn't a Keith Moon influence, though.

[newfuckingwave]

@casestudyification "mehr we don't use hi-hats in this band"

[casestudyification]

Great to see Fripp smile so big.

[renangoncalvesflores]

King Crimson is my favorite band ever, from Red onwards. Belew and Fripp is my favorite pair of guitarists ever. Each have their own and unique style of playing, stage presence.

Belew is agressive, ironic, violent and lyrical. Reminds of Jack Nicholson.

Fripp is methodical, restrained, cruel. A self-contained strenght. But when it's unleashed, like in Aspic Tongue's solos, you better hold on.

Mastelotto and Levin are fucking amazing as well.

The double trio era... Would like to hear it again

[THEMIGHTYCAPUTO]

I CRY WHEN I WATCH KING CRIMSON... ITS AMAZING, BEAUTIFUL & SCARY

[maximiliancohen]

I saw this one, at 1:26 god smiled at me !!!

[jillingkoke]

Did you hear that? There must be an elephant in the building! Nope, Adrian Belew.

[chrishshaw]

Crimson were always a great band but there is no doubt Belew gave them a dynamic they never had before. So much raw power in this number.

[wallyb55232]

belew is one fucking wild guitar player

[consumptionmishap]

1:24 = greatest moment is music history.

[outaspaceman]

Arr,

Here in the muddy off-shore island of Blighty on Sea our Friday night T.V. choice was somewhat different to yours.

There has been a bonus pleasure to watching this vid.

My girlfriend thought it was Talking Heads (Tina W with a mustache!).

I didn't correct her, but found myself content, smiling on the inside.

BTW It's not Fripp's smile that surprises me but his lack of glasses.

[outaspaceman]

I remembered seeing this performance around the time and, after the usual search, arrived here.

I was worried I may have been disappointed if it didn't match up to my memory of it.

Turns out it's actually better than my memory of it.

Thanks for posting.

[snambo]

@outaspaceman Do you remember how Fridays had a cheesy California band play the last song spot that night? I was working as a busboy at the time and tried to finish my side work as soon as possible so I could go home and see King Crimson. I made it in time to see the last notes of Thela Hun Ginjeet. I waited knowing another song was in order but the final band time slot was some smooth jazz band. WTF? The jazz band wasn't awful - just pure vanilla and the exact opposite of a band like KC.

[renangoncalvesflores]

The most incredible is not the amazing performance, but Robert Fripp smiling to the camera at 1:26.

[joydivisionboy1]

@renangoncalvesflores yeah Frippy smiling at the camera surprised me too....was rather funny..

[drumrnva]

@renangoncalvesflores Yeah....actually kind of unsettling.

[musicmommary]

@renangoncalvesflores Love it....don't see Robert that happy very often!!

[terrancele]

@renangoncalvesflores I'd be smiling too if I was in a band where everything ran like clockwork and everyone in the band was a monster musician/living legend including myself..!

[floalen]

@renangoncalvesflores My god u are right!

[DoctorNarpasLoveless]

I have only two words to describe this performance: Mescalin Fellatio 

[TheKatyaford]

amazing guitar skills

[scriptulike]

Ridiculous amounts of talent, skill, dedication to their art and humility.

Beyond reproach.

Unreal noises Belew is dragging out of that Strat. Shades of Zappa on the solo. (Wasn't Belew a sideman with the great FZ for while? Around Sheik Yebouti.)

[noragloria]

@scriptulike - YES, HE WAS. Man, I love Bruford.

[scriptulike]

@noragloria Not enough Bruford on Youtube. Gradually Going Tornado, etc.

[scriptulike]

@noragloria

Not enough Bruford on Youtube. Gradually Going Tornado, etc.

[Darrylizer1]

@scriptulike

Yes Belew was a Zappa alumnus and used to sing City Of Tiny Lights with Zappa's band live. Adrian is one of the most underrated guitarists on the planet and a really nice guy.

[jharri1]

@Darrylizer1 Absolutely!

[neuromon]

this performance is a treasure for the entire planet!

[Sergios1977]

@neuromon love it!

[iluvj50]

Pretty effin amazing.