@Hal9000ize And Chris Squire. Obviously not the lead vocalist but Yes vocals wouldn't have been the same without him. To sing and play like that was extraordinary.
@@Saffy-yr8voi did lol. Grew up on the midnight special. Everybody played it. Old music box Genesis was wild. Great show man saw many epic performances. You watched or you missed it. No click and repeat.
@@powell888 EXACTLY! His right hand was amazing back then. I don't know why he switched to a pick, I was sorely disappointed -- especially as a bassist who doesn't use a pick -- when he switched. His bass playing was never the same after that, sadly.
@@robertkaye5434 He switched to a pick because he developed carpal tunnel syndrome in his right hand and couldn't pick with his fingers anymore. He couldn't even hold a pick at that point, it was taped to his thumb.
My all time favourite King Crimson lineup with some of the band's best music ever made from this amazing group of monster players. RIP John Wetton, one of the true iconic voices
@@bepitan I love Adrians work with them yet it was great to see them do their classic material live. No idea what happened but no telling with Fripp, he just decides the fate of the band without other people’s input.
Watch John Wetton’s right hand. Look at all the subtleties and inflections he achieves by strumming, patting, fingering, using his thumb and fingerpicking. Great left hand technique as well. I studied John Wetton for years growing up and he’s so very skilled. He’s at the very top of rock/prog rock players in my book.
He's underrated in prog. I saw this line up live when I was a kid, John's bass playing stole the show in some songs, everyone was talking about it when we left.
Yes, exactly. John Wetton also used to play his bass very hard, somtimes even breaking strings which is unusual for bass players. In my book, he's right up there with Chris Squire, Geddy Lee and Greg Lake.
Agree, funny because I was 13 when the 1st Asia album came out, no idea who John Wetton was, backtracking his career though I have been introduced to prog bands like King Crimson and U.K. I like both better than Asia now although that 1st album is still a fav. Also introduced to the many I mean many great musicians Wetton played with over the years, an almost endless list of the greatest prog/rock Drummers, guitarists, keyboardists, and electric violinists mainly Jobson in music history. A great Bass player Wetton was and singer so glad that I liked Asia enough to be interested in what other great music/bands John Wetton had been a part of , and I have been rewarded with a bevy of incredible music not only from Wetton but all the other great prog musicians that were mainly in the 70s, I rank Wetton No. 1 on my Rock God list !
John Wetton was unhappy in Wishbone Ash cause he wanted more of his songs included. So he formed Asia a band there he found his greatest commercial success but I dislike them much. Family, King Crimson, UK his most interesting stuff. I wonder what if he stayed in Uriah Heep for longer?
@@Tupin7quim I love him, but the extra kick in Wetton's case is his playing and singing... in this very song he's at some point playing and singing in different time signatures.... a virtuoso.
This is probably the best footage we have of John Wetton in this incarnation of KC. The typical American TV director would automatically give the most camera time to whoever was singing, so that was John's time in the spotlight. It's great to see how he worked. Wetton's bass tone was far ahead of its time. Most of the prog bass players were playing Rickenbackers, but Wetton was playing Fender through a distortion pedal, giving him growl in the lower end, where Ricks had growl in the top end.
John Wetton was the most powerful singer and bassist for King Crimson. The other ones were great in their own ways, but Wetton always had so much presence.
@@МаксРогозин-е1ю Discipline is an absolute goddam masterpiece. Period. 80s style production sound marred those three Crimson records but composition wise they had some real gems during that era.
@@craigdamage You can't compare sounds of the 70's and 80's. The powerful wideness and creativity of the 70's with all these wonderful young musicians and creators is unique.
@@МаксРогозин-е1ю I actually really liked the Levin/Belew lineup. But as someone interested in rock bass playing, Wetton was kind of my prototype. Really good balance of technique and grit.
Back in a time where this, listen to this, was considered prime time TV... I wish I could go back for a month, just one month and be a kid again during this time.
Exactly. Larks Tongues in Aspic, Starless and Bible Black (in fact mostly live album), Red their greatest releases. And countless live recordings from that lineup. Honestly I'm still frustrated that Fripp disbanded them in 1974. Their later Belew era output isn't to my liking.
Progressive rock is so confusing. I thought that was Adrian Belew singing. But, yeah, Wetton, who honestly I only knew from the band “UK.” Bill Bruford was in Yes on the great The Yes Album, but then I suppose made the move and Alan White came in. And Belew was in Crimson and all (?) the later David Bowie albums.
@@oo88oo Bill Bruford was with Yes from their beginning. He also was a part of Yes's Fragile and Close To The Edge albums which came after The Yes Album. He left the band after Close To The Edge to join King Crimson partly because Yes had done some gigs with King Crimson and Bill was enticed by Crimson's/Robert Fripp's methods.
As a musician and King Crimson fan of over 50 years, I'd like to share some observations on John's playing and overall performance. Please forgive the length but this guy is clearly exceptionally gifted. 1:08 Percussive string slap almost sounding like drums. To do this while singing lead shows he's thinking way ahead of the lyric and is connected to Bill in musical intent. 1:55 Watch John's right hand just before he sings "Easy money". He's reaching down to change the volume and or tone setting of his bass. He's using the volume and tone controls on his bass to change his tone and dynamics of his amp. This literally tells the amp when to be clean and smooth (verses) overdrive and get nasty and overdriven. That's 100% musicianship right 'chair! He does it again a couple of times entering into the guitar solo jam section at 2:09. Overall: How, in the name of all that is holy, can you sing that in perfect pitch and play that funky ass bass part at the same time...and nail it? I'm mean, the entire tune is an a screwed up time signature in the verse. John's singing over 3 bars of 3/4 (waltz time) and then 4/4. Essentially 3's over 4's cuz Bruford's playing straight time 4/4 pretty much all through the verse.
You nailed everything! I rewatched it after reading your reply. I know this sounds dumb,but I'm blown away that they were on the Midnight Special! That show rarely had bands on like this. I'm 66 a expanding audiophile, my 40 yr old son is a bona-fide audiophile and I just discovered Pearl Jam! I'm still stuck in the 60s and 70s! 😊😊😊 PEACE!
What a talented person John Wetton was. Miss him so much now!! Every band he was in from King Crimson to Uriah Heep to Asia he was the Voice and Most underrated Bass player of my time!! Got to meet him one time and such a humble guy. He loved Calif and was a huge Beach Boys and San Francisco music fan! We talked for 3hrs and I bought him dinner at my favorite Mexican food joint here in LA. We lost him the next yr in 2017. Just like Neil Peart of Rush and Eddie VanHalen, it was a kick in the nuts we lost these guys and was too soon. Outside of Rush, Asia was the most talented band I ever saw in person. Love seeing Frip and his wife now killing on U Tube with their covers!! John Wetton was The Mans Man!! See you in Heaven Sir!!
Don't forget a short spell, john featured in the band Family!!! Specifically, the album Fearless. I received an extended box set of this album for Christmas. I can't wait till I can devote some time and ears to this set, on Cherry Hill records.
In the Summer of '73 I was washing dishes at the Red Lobster and when I heard this music on the radio it changed my life. Amazing, Pure, beyond the sum the of the parts.
The first song that I heard the drumming of Bill Bruford back in 1980. I must have played the album a million times!!! What a masterpiece of an album!!!!
The best King Crimson lineup. The three albums they recorded ,so powerful and otherworldly. All three are masterpieces, but Starless and Bible Black has it all. So intense. Larks Tongues in Aspic is sequenced perfectly. And Red is, well, you know. 🔥
I agree with you, across the board. Starless is my favorite Crimson album, with Larks' Tongues close behind. But Red is excellent, as well. Prog rock at its absolute best!
@@jeffhubbard9951Finally. There are others out there claiming their love for SABB. Also MY favorite album of all time! Well SABB and UK are 1A and 1B. Depending on the day they can flip.
What a band. What a performance. It really doesn't get any better then this. Phenomenal talent on that stage with John Wetton, my all time musical hero, at the very top of his game.
What a great great clip! When it started I thought “geez - I wonder if this was live or mimed…?” Then there was that bit of feedback as the intro rolled into the first verse and you can see Wetton’s eyes roll and his face cringe. Yup - that’s live. Can you imagine the confidence it took to go on live TV and play Crimson music? That’s why they are legends!
This is AWESOME! Such a powerful band at it's peak! King Crimson could shred wallpaper at 3 miles! Thank you, Midnight Special for posting this classic performance!
For any new listener...don't fall for the highly opinionated and lazy input above, this band had several other peaks and kept innovating for almost 40 years.
@@pluggotic Exactly! I would go as far as saying they never had any lows, and were always sharp as a tack, no matter what the lineup. Differences in the music, sure, but never in a bad way. It's all good. How can you peak if you were born on the summit and never descended?
@@Bob-of-Zoid expectation is a prison and the cure is pushing forward. the momentum will get music through any slope. it is true for the musician as it is for the listener, but he just loves to forget that the Krims are no crowd pleasers. at least not until the very end.
@@pluggotic I agree on all but one thing: I have been to many of their shows, and for me it was no let down, not a second went by not worth paying attention to, so in that sense I disagree. In the other sense, their STFU or get kicked out, no photo flashes or disruptive behavior... policy, I can see how it would effect some people with a lack of "Discipline", but it made for much more enjoyable shows. Audience members shouldn't be the center of attention, at least not the ones that make it so. I actually worked in the industry for a while, and got to meet them a few times, Fripp, Belew, Brufford, Levin, the next year with Mastelotto, and Gunn in addition, and not just in a "meet n' greet, now get out" kind of way, but all access, long discussions, dinner... The only one who wasn't very sociable at the time was Robert Fripp, he made short work of gracefully thanking the musicians and any crew, and disappeared rather rapidly.
Wow, haven't seen this in 40 yrs. Still one of my favourite bands. I never got to see Crimson with Wetton live, but I got lucky enough to see him with UK, opening for Tull in Las Vegas. What a Great show. Aladdin Casino 1979.
I was fifteen at this time and my curfew was 11:00, soon to be changed to midnight when I turned sixteen in November (and had my first girlfriend, Penny. Sigh.), so I was always home in time to watch The Midnight Special on Friday nights. My buddy and me had been huge Crimso fans since we were twelve and 'In The Court of The Crimson King' came out, so I was super excited to watch them on TMS. They didn't disappoint, as you can see. They also did "Larks' Tongues In Aspic, Pt. II", which was equally as good. Man, I miss my youth. LOL!
Wetton never called attention to his bass playing but it was truly exceptional. His underplaying style was largely responsible for that great sound, giving mixers the room they needed to produce KC’s complex sound. His bass is really an unsung hero of this third iteration of the band.
there's a recent video of Fripp (with David Singleton, on their "That Awful Man And His Manager" speaking tour), where he proclaims Wetton's bass playing as strong and unique as Jaco's. Agree or disagree on that point, that's quite a statement coming from the likes of Fripp. Video also has a touching moment where Robert has to pause to collect himself while talking about Wetton's passing. Clearly he was quite fond of his old friend and bandmate.
John was kind of in the middle of the whirlwind of Fripp, Bruford and for a short time Jamie Muir. He found his footing a made a solid impression on all the lads I'm sure
I love the Midnight Special and all the fantastic groups they had on there. It was freaking awesome. I loved my generation of music 🎶 🎵, it blows every other generation away.
Thank you for finally releasing this Midnight Special performance. Please, keep the 1973 performances by the lesser known artists coming (Flash, Foghat, Savoy Brown, Rory Gallagher, Montrose, Wishbone Ash, etc.).
FINALLY! I've wanted to see this again since it originally aired. I thought it might be lost forever. If you have Lark's Tongues too that would be amazing. Thank you!
Damn...I've had this album since it came out and can thus say that this rendition is spot on "perfect" by KC standards. Love John Wetton and can say from live experience that Bill Bruford made this band too just like he helped make YES.
Pretty much any live version of the Larks Tongues in Aspic songs (other than the opening track) are always gonna be better than the album versions. Exiles, Talking Drum and Pt. 2 have a special vibe on the record, and I really love the sound effects on Easy Money, but I’ve alway found that to be the case.
Los 70 fue la decada dorada del rock progresivo con toda una pleyade de bandas con musicos de un talento sin igual que nos regalaron momentos y obras como esta,y tantas mas,saludos
Great video!! 50 years ago, last October! Small detail: this Midnight Special show may have aired on October 12, 1973 but was NOT "performed live" on the show (at least on that date) as claimed in the description. The concert must have been pre-recorded; performed at some earlier date, not sure when/where. On October 12 (and 13), 1973 King Crimson was performing at the Winterland auditorium in San Francisco as the middle billing prior to the top billed Steve Miller Band. (Opening band was "Blue.") I caught the Saturday show, on the 13th; the Larks Tongues in Aspic tour. Awesome and outstanding show. I remember Steve Miller played the whole first song with his back to the audience. At the time it seemed rude and pretentious, but maybe he was just trying to establish good communication and groove with the band. After all, coming after the complex and tight King Crimson would be quite a challenge.
In early 1974 I saw them live at Curtis Hixon Hall in Tampa, Florida. One of the best and most memorable concerts I had ever seen. With no seats, and the stage being about 6 feet high, I was able to walk along the front and get a close look at this incredible band. Half of the show I was standing in front of Fripp, who was about 5 feet away and I was mesmerized by his playing. Fripp had a black Mellotron and Cross had a white one.
The Night Club venue, above The Playhouse in Edinburgh in 1980 I watched Fripp with the League of Gentlemen play an absolutely blinding set. A venue so close up you can see the performers pores 😂. Fripp was as cool as a cucumber and sizzling guitar work of incredible precision was the crowds reward. Not a prog crowd I might add but he had them on side very early on in the gig.
Elegantly turned out by then but remaining a " miserable git " as he had been through most of his career. It gives me great pleasure to see him hoot with laughter nowadays when playing in the house with Toyah on their Sunday roast slot. Bless the old curmudgeon I think I'd be grinning like him if I was sharing a house with the still hot Toyah.
Please post Flash's performance from 1973 as well .. This performance is considered the holy grail for fans of the band Yes being the only footage of Peter Bank's post yes band live and his estate really would love to see it .. they played 2 songs .. "Psychosync" and "Dead Ahead". thank you in advance!
A fantastic song from a fabulous Larks album ( their best for me). King Crimson between 1972 - 74 perhaps the heaviest among all classic prog rock bands.
Two periods of music history criminally under filmed are this and pink floyd 77 tour so this is a treasure and deserves a medal, but also a teaser of what more stuff like a full show would be like....
This is the era I saw them live. Wetton was very good looking and obvs talented. Greg Lake told me at that time the desert was dry re girls in the audience coming ‘round the back’ after gigs! Prog rock had not encountered groupies at this time but Wetton did. Of course I was there for the music and as a teen girl it blew me away. God bless them all. An era in music that should be idolised. Lovely clever guys. They changed me.
John Wetton was a handsome, talented bastard
Very handsome
@@주훈김-k1h I think, I noticed just now, that he resembles Michael Palin.
In his prime here!
John Wetton was doing Sting before Sting. Those bass lines against those vocal lines. Jeez! Killer!
Jack Bruce was also a bassist/vocalist
Here he was clearly the chairman of the board. He took care of both the high and the low notes.
Greg Lake too
Level 42
@Hal9000ize And Chris Squire. Obviously not the lead vocalist but Yes vocals wouldn't have been the same without him. To sing and play like that was extraordinary.
Today I learned that King Crimson performed on The Midnight Special
As did I. Never knew this performance even existed. Epic prog on mainstream television. Fucking awesome.
Me too.😊
Who knew?
And I think that audience is still confused as to what they saw. ;-D
@@Saffy-yr8voi did lol. Grew up on the midnight special. Everybody played it. Old music box Genesis was wild. Great show man saw many epic performances. You watched or you missed it. No click and repeat.
RIP John Wetton, incredibly original player. A true inspiration.
Si,John Wetton fue un músico fabuloso.RIP.Una pena.
😊❤
What a voice!!! I'm all in shivers after watching how Wetton is singing familiar since my youth Easy Money!!!❤
Yes he was…so missed and gone too soon
So underrated, but a great player and singer.
The M400 played here by David Cross is King Crimson's secret weapon...
One of the best bass sounds to ever be broadcast on national tv
Not to mention one of the best bassists!
Perfect comments! That right hand used so many approaches for the notes, its all in the hands...
@@powell888 EXACTLY! His right hand was amazing back then. I don't know why he switched to a pick, I was sorely disappointed -- especially as a bassist who doesn't use a pick -- when he switched. His bass playing was never the same after that, sadly.
Absolutely.
@@robertkaye5434 He switched to a pick because he developed carpal tunnel syndrome in his right hand and couldn't pick with his fingers anymore. He couldn't even hold a pick at that point, it was taped to his thumb.
My all time favourite King Crimson lineup with some of the band's best music ever made from this amazing group of monster players. RIP John Wetton, one of the true iconic voices
Uhhh, noooo!
couldnt understand getting rid of belew ..
@@bepitan I love Adrians work with them yet it was great to see them do their classic material live. No idea what happened but no telling with Fripp, he just decides the fate of the band without other people’s input.
It's not bad with Greg Lake.
This lineup was lightening in a bottle.
Crazy to think this was half a century ago.
Ooof we got OLD 😂
Watch John Wetton’s right hand. Look at all the subtleties and inflections he achieves by strumming, patting, fingering, using his thumb and fingerpicking. Great left hand technique as well. I studied John Wetton for years growing up and he’s so very skilled. He’s at the very top of rock/prog rock players in my book.
He's underrated in prog. I saw this line up live when I was a kid, John's bass playing stole the show in some songs, everyone was talking about it when we left.
Yes, exactly. John Wetton also used to play his bass very hard, somtimes even breaking strings which is unusual for bass players. In my book, he's right up there with Chris Squire, Geddy Lee and Greg Lake.
And playing with a young Bruford who would flip beats left and right. To stay grounded off of that and lock in with him takes a lot of skill
John Wetton: My favorite bass player, ever.
@@waynevanstanley3795 Mine too. His playing in those improvs from 1972-1974 are unparalleled. His testament is the Great Deceiver boxset.
There will never be another like John Wetton. He was something special. 72-74 KC is simply LEGENDARY.
Agree, funny because I was 13 when the 1st Asia album came out, no idea who John Wetton was, backtracking his career though I have been introduced to prog bands like King Crimson and U.K. I like both better than Asia now although that 1st album is still a fav. Also introduced to the many I mean many great musicians Wetton played with over the years, an almost endless list of the greatest prog/rock Drummers, guitarists, keyboardists, and electric violinists mainly Jobson in music history. A great Bass player Wetton was and singer so glad that I liked Asia enough to be interested in what other great music/bands John Wetton had been a part of , and I have been rewarded with a bevy of incredible music not only from Wetton but all the other great prog musicians that were mainly in the 70s, I rank Wetton No. 1 on my Rock God list !
@@voxdot bravo! well put.😊i concur.
@@voxdot He also was a big help on the Wishbone Ash record ' Number the Brave .
John Wetton was unhappy in Wishbone Ash cause he wanted more of his songs included. So he formed Asia a band there he found his greatest commercial success but I dislike them much. Family, King Crimson, UK his most interesting stuff. I wonder what if he stayed in Uriah Heep for longer?
@@МаксРогозин-е1ю Good call Makc , I agree completely . Andy Powell turned down the song that was a huge hit for Asia .
In the early 70s, there was no bassist like Wetton. A monster. Fripp said back then “arguably England’s finest bass player”.
Chris Squire, another AMAZING bassist from the 70s. Both playing in Heaven now
Chris squire would like to have a word
Geezer Butler
@@Tupin7quim I love him, but the extra kick in Wetton's case is his playing and singing... in this very song he's at some point playing and singing in different time signatures.... a virtuoso.
Wetton , Squire, Jones, Entwistle
That bass playing is out of this world. Funky, melodic, and at times, down right nasty.
This is probably the best footage we have of John Wetton in this incarnation of KC. The typical American TV director would automatically give the most camera time to whoever was singing, so that was John's time in the spotlight. It's great to see how he worked.
Wetton's bass tone was far ahead of its time. Most of the prog bass players were playing Rickenbackers, but Wetton was playing Fender through a distortion pedal, giving him growl in the lower end, where Ricks had growl in the top end.
This lineup was so perfect! John Wetton and Bill Bruford
Monumental rhythm section.
When did King Crimson ever have a bad lineup? NEVER! They may have evolved but all were good mutations.
Great interview on YT from Bruford where he says playing with Crimson you just had to "know".
Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Starless and Bible Black, Red are my favourite 3 albums of all time
Robert Fripp has gotta be one of the most brilliant musicians of all time
not say anyone in this is band is anything short of amazing....
too bad you only see him for 5 seconds in this video
Robert Fripp created math rock, in my opinion. Certified genius and visionary
Seriously?
@@xxryder1That's my question, as well..
John Wetton was the most powerful singer and bassist for King Crimson. The other ones were great in their own ways, but Wetton always had so much presence.
Of course. Tony Levin is considered a great player but I just don't like 80s era King Crimson material.
@@МаксРогозин-е1ю It's like a whole different band in the 80's, and 90's also with THRAK (1995)... An actually progressive band.
@@МаксРогозин-е1ю Discipline is an absolute goddam masterpiece. Period. 80s style production sound marred those three Crimson records but composition wise they had some real gems during that era.
@@craigdamage You can't compare sounds of the 70's and 80's. The powerful wideness and creativity of the 70's with all these wonderful young musicians and creators is unique.
@@МаксРогозин-е1ю I actually really liked the Levin/Belew lineup. But as someone interested in rock bass playing, Wetton was kind of my prototype. Really good balance of technique and grit.
Back in a time where this, listen to this, was considered prime time TV... I wish I could go back for a month, just one month and be a kid again during this time.
I think it was called Midnight Special because it came on at midnight, a few hours after prime time.
@@geinikan1kan i think you're missing the point....
now we only listen to junk , imitating to be music
@@gavriilnick4225 I hurt myself on that point. Let me get a bandage.
@@gavriilnick4225 There has always been junk. The quantity of it may have increased, though. Just don't listen to it 😉
That laughter heard at 4:00 was from a battery-operated novelty device called the "Bag Full of Laughs." Did anyone else here have one of those?
Yep.
wake up babe, new 70s king crimson footage just dropped
This was my favorite lineup of King Crimson! RIP John Wetton Thanks for your music!
mine too, even better with jamie muir
me2
My father was a violin player and he liked King Crimson with David Cross!
Better with Mel Collins.
Greg Lake sounded good with them
John Wetton's having a beer with Greg Lake and David Bowie.
Rock at its best! Bruford, Wetton, Fripp, and Cross. This performance is one day short of being fifty, wow! 😀
Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Starless and Bible Black, Red are my favourite 3 albums of all time
'72-'74 KC was an incredible band...and John Wetton was an absolute monster on the bass.
Exactly. Larks Tongues in Aspic, Starless and Bible Black (in fact mostly live album), Red their greatest releases. And countless live recordings from that lineup. Honestly I'm still frustrated that Fripp disbanded them in 1974. Their later Belew era output isn't to my liking.
John never got his due IMHO!
Progressive rock is so confusing. I thought that was Adrian Belew singing. But, yeah, Wetton, who honestly I only knew from the band “UK.” Bill Bruford was in Yes on the great The Yes Album, but then I suppose made the move and Alan White came in. And Belew was in Crimson and all (?) the later David Bowie albums.
@@oo88oo Bill Bruford was with Yes from their beginning. He also was a part of Yes's Fragile and Close To The Edge albums which came after The Yes Album. He left the band after Close To The Edge to join King Crimson partly because Yes had done some gigs with King Crimson and Bill was enticed by Crimson's/Robert Fripp's methods.
He went high and low as a chairman of the board. The entire range; vocals and bass.
As a musician and King Crimson fan of over 50 years, I'd like to share some observations on John's playing and overall performance. Please forgive the length but this guy is clearly exceptionally gifted.
1:08 Percussive string slap almost sounding like drums. To do this while singing lead shows he's thinking way ahead of the lyric and is connected to Bill in musical intent.
1:55 Watch John's right hand just before he sings "Easy money". He's reaching down to change the volume and or tone setting of his bass. He's using the volume and tone controls on his bass to change his tone and dynamics of his amp. This literally tells the amp when to be clean and smooth (verses) overdrive and get nasty and overdriven. That's 100% musicianship right 'chair! He does it again a couple of times entering into the guitar solo jam section at 2:09.
Overall: How, in the name of all that is holy, can you sing that in perfect pitch and play that funky ass bass part at the same time...and nail it? I'm mean, the entire tune is an a screwed up time signature in the verse. John's singing over 3 bars of 3/4 (waltz time) and then 4/4. Essentially 3's over 4's cuz Bruford's playing straight time 4/4 pretty much all through the verse.
In the verses, Wetton is actually singing in 7/8 time for four measures followed by two measures of the 4/4 instrumental interlude-brilliant stuff.
You nailed everything! I rewatched it after reading your reply. I know this sounds dumb,but I'm blown away that they were on the Midnight Special! That show rarely had bands on like this. I'm 66 a expanding audiophile, my 40 yr old son is a bona-fide audiophile and I just discovered Pearl Jam! I'm still stuck in the 60s and 70s! 😊😊😊 PEACE!
Jon Wetton, is just such a strong force. Solid bass player and with an incredible voice. Gone but never forgotten.
Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Starless and Bible Black, Red are my favourite 3 albums of all time
Wow John wetton is so incredible, cool bass , perfect voice. Fripp is so original
What a talented person John Wetton was. Miss him so much now!! Every band he was in from King Crimson to Uriah Heep to Asia he was the Voice and Most underrated Bass player of my time!! Got to meet him one time and such a humble guy. He loved Calif and was a huge Beach Boys and San Francisco music fan! We talked for 3hrs and I bought him dinner at my favorite Mexican food joint here in LA. We lost him the next yr in 2017. Just like Neil Peart of Rush and Eddie VanHalen, it was a kick in the nuts we lost these guys and was too soon. Outside of Rush, Asia was the most talented band I ever saw in person. Love seeing Frip and his wife now killing on U Tube with their covers!! John Wetton was The Mans Man!! See you in Heaven Sir!!
Don’t forget his work with UK… I think his best.
Forgot UK.
That was prog rock glory right there.
Don't forget a short spell, john featured in the band Family!!! Specifically, the album Fearless. I received an extended box set of this album for Christmas. I can't wait till I can devote some time and ears to this set, on Cherry Hill records.
@stanleyscott9786 And, if I recall correctly, he was with Uriah Heep for a bit. Not sure he did an album with them, though.
I will not forget the importance and brilliance of Wetton!!
In the Summer of '73 I was washing dishes at the Red Lobster and when I heard this music on the radio it changed my life. Amazing, Pure, beyond the sum the of the parts.
Man this lineup was smoking hot.
Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Starless and Bible Black, Red are my favourite 3 albums of all time
John Wetton. what a legend!
The first song that I heard the drumming of Bill Bruford back in 1980. I must have played the album a million times!!! What a masterpiece of an album!!!!
I saw this when it first aired. I was 15. Changed my life, bought the album the next day.
The best King Crimson lineup. The three albums they recorded ,so powerful and otherworldly. All three are masterpieces, but Starless and Bible Black has it all. So intense. Larks Tongues in Aspic is sequenced perfectly. And Red is, well, you know. 🔥
I wonder if midnight special had any Bob Welch with Paris live??
I agree with you, across the board. Starless is my favorite Crimson album, with Larks' Tongues close behind. But Red is excellent, as well. Prog rock at its absolute best!
@@jeffhubbard9951Finally. There are others out there claiming their love for SABB. Also MY favorite album of all time! Well SABB and UK are 1A and 1B. Depending on the day they can flip.
Grande Wetton vivi sempre.
What a band. What a performance. It really doesn't get any better then this. Phenomenal talent on that stage with John Wetton, my all time musical hero, at the very top of his game.
So awesome, I'd give anything to see a live performance of Red or Red Nightmare
What a great great clip!
When it started I thought “geez - I wonder if this was live or mimed…?” Then there was that bit of feedback as the intro rolled into the first verse and you can see Wetton’s eyes roll and his face cringe. Yup - that’s live. Can you imagine the confidence it took to go on live TV and play Crimson music? That’s why they are legends!
Well, they are Crimson...
Lark's Tongues, what an album it is. This is wonderful to see, the most devastating lineup of King Crimson to my ears. Brilliant.
Wetton and Bruford on another level.
I never knew that they did the midnight special. This was a great performance.
Lark’s Tongue as well!
I was a huge fan of John Wetton when he played bass in King Crimson and like many people I was extremely devastated when he died.
John Wetton was the real spirit of progressive : both greasy and arty, sophistic and popular.
King Crimson. The band that exemplify integrity, invention & originality. Classic songs. Atypical arrangements. Improvisation. Who could ask for more?
@mk smith There I was in the 70's hoping they would tour Australia. Would have loved to have seen the classic lineup live.
At last we can see good quality footage of this King Crimson lineup!
King Crimson, best prog band ever.
there is some in a german tv show called beat club and a video from central park
I'm gonna mention uk
you have to be joking...best prog band ever.😆😅😊.good one .
This is AWESOME! Such a powerful band at it's peak!
King Crimson could shred wallpaper at 3 miles!
Thank you, Midnight Special for posting this classic performance!
Our pleasure!
For any new listener...don't fall for the highly opinionated and lazy input above, this band had several other peaks and kept innovating for almost 40 years.
@@pluggotic Exactly! I would go as far as saying they never had any lows, and were always sharp as a tack, no matter what the lineup. Differences in the music, sure, but never in a bad way. It's all good. How can you peak if you were born on the summit and never descended?
@@Bob-of-Zoid expectation is a prison and the cure is pushing forward. the momentum will get music through any slope. it is true for the musician as it is for the listener, but he just loves to forget that the Krims are no crowd pleasers. at least not until the very end.
@@pluggotic I agree on all but one thing: I have been to many of their shows, and for me it was no let down, not a second went by not worth paying attention to, so in that sense I disagree. In the other sense, their STFU or get kicked out, no photo flashes or disruptive behavior... policy, I can see how it would effect some people with a lack of "Discipline", but it made for much more enjoyable shows. Audience members shouldn't be the center of attention, at least not the ones that make it so.
I actually worked in the industry for a while, and got to meet them a few times, Fripp, Belew, Brufford, Levin, the next year with Mastelotto, and Gunn in addition, and not just in a "meet n' greet, now get out" kind of way, but all access, long discussions, dinner... The only one who wasn't very sociable at the time was Robert Fripp, he made short work of gracefully thanking the musicians and any crew, and disappeared rather rapidly.
John Wetton… that voice!! ❤
Adoro Fripp ed i Suoi vari Crimson. Hanno generato musica visceralmente romantica!
Wow, haven't seen this in 40 yrs. Still one of my favourite bands. I never got to see Crimson with Wetton live, but I got lucky enough to see him with UK, opening for Tull in Las Vegas. What a Great show. Aladdin Casino 1979.
Rock on!
Best rock band EVER!
Thanks for this.
you can tell omar rodriguez lopez took a lot of robert fripp's playing style and composition as influence. Simply amazing.
🕷
Agreed! That is why I also love the mara Volta.❤
His bass technique is so good. He gives it so much character it's unreal
I was fifteen at this time and my curfew was 11:00, soon to be changed to midnight when I turned sixteen in November (and had my first girlfriend, Penny. Sigh.), so I was always home in time to watch The Midnight Special on Friday nights. My buddy and me had been huge Crimso fans since we were twelve and 'In The Court of The Crimson King' came out, so I was super excited to watch them on TMS. They didn't disappoint, as you can see. They also did "Larks' Tongues In Aspic, Pt. II", which was equally as good.
Man, I miss my youth. LOL!
John Wetton. Fantastic bass player and truly one of the all time greatest singers. Love his voice. \m/
Wetton never called attention to his bass playing but it was truly exceptional. His underplaying style was largely responsible for that great sound, giving mixers the room they needed to produce KC’s complex sound. His bass is really an unsung hero of this third iteration of the band.
there's a recent video of Fripp (with David Singleton, on their "That Awful Man And His Manager" speaking tour), where he proclaims Wetton's bass playing as strong and unique as Jaco's. Agree or disagree on that point, that's quite a statement coming from the likes of Fripp.
Video also has a touching moment where Robert has to pause to collect himself while talking about Wetton's passing. Clearly he was quite fond of his old friend and bandmate.
@@aka.Mr.French Yes, I watched that and found it moving.
John was kind of in the middle of the whirlwind of Fripp, Bruford and for a short time Jamie Muir. He found his footing a made a solid impression on all the lads I'm sure
Fripp also commented that playing with the Buford/Wetton rhythm section was like playing with a flying brick wall. Especially in their live improv.
I love the Midnight Special and all the fantastic groups they had on there. It was freaking awesome. I loved my generation of music 🎶 🎵, it blows every other generation away.
Excelente bajista, bocalista, baterista, guitarrista, violinista y melotronista. Cada quien es virtuoso en el intrumento que ejecutan.
King Crimson on The Midnight Special... surreal
I remember being a young drummer and watching this performance! These musicians were innovators! Great time for music!
1973-1974 best lineup ever.
Great song, fabulous band, especially 1969-74😊
John Wetton, a legendary voice in the name of prog rock.
Thank you for finally releasing this Midnight Special performance. Please, keep the 1973 performances by the lesser known artists coming (Flash, Foghat, Savoy Brown, Rory Gallagher, Montrose, Wishbone Ash, etc.).
You are welcome. The others are on the list but it might take a little while to get to them.
@@themidnightspecialtvshow Totally understandable. I've wanted to re-watch them again for 50 years. I can wait.
Savoy Brown? Oh please!
FINALLY! I've wanted to see this again since it originally aired. I thought it might be lost forever. If you have Lark's Tongues too that would be amazing. Thank you!
its there
@@themidnightspecialtvshow I found it, yes! Thanks!
@@themidnightspecialtvshow Oh, you're great.
... and awesome.
Damn...I've had this album since it came out and can thus say that this rendition is spot on "perfect" by KC standards. Love John Wetton and can say from live experience that Bill Bruford made this band too just like he helped make YES.
Pretty much any live version of the Larks Tongues in Aspic songs (other than the opening track) are always gonna be better than the album versions. Exiles, Talking Drum and Pt. 2 have a special vibe on the record, and I really love the sound effects on Easy Money, but I’ve alway found that to be the case.
I remember Wolfman Jack introducing them... and then those guitar and bass sounds.. Bless you MS for those two posts.
Man, I love Wetton’s voice. Perfect tone.
Fantastic performance! Great quality footage. Worth waiting 50 years to see this! Huge thank you to Midnight Special!
Wow Midnight Special with long jammies King Crimson
Stunning. John and the rest of the band at the height of their powers. Stunning.
These guys rock! What a great lineup
Fripp, Wetton and Bruford
And Dave Cross too
no flashy lights, no smoke, no fireworks, no... I guess that's what we call MUSIC!
Why did I have to wait 40 years to see this? Thank you, absolutely stunning quality!
Heavenly quartet, ahead of their time...but will always be.
Saw them at Packard Music Hall in Warren Ohio in 1973 , I believe it was 73. Fantastic night window pane and "The Court of The Crimson King."
Los 70 fue la decada dorada del rock progresivo con toda una pleyade de bandas con musicos de un talento sin igual que nos regalaron momentos y obras como esta,y tantas mas,saludos
Great video!! 50 years ago, last October! Small detail: this Midnight Special show may have aired on October 12, 1973 but was NOT "performed live" on the show (at least on that date) as claimed in the description. The concert must have been pre-recorded; performed at some earlier date, not sure when/where. On October 12 (and 13), 1973 King Crimson was performing at the Winterland auditorium in San Francisco as the middle billing prior to the top billed Steve Miller Band. (Opening band was "Blue.") I caught the Saturday show, on the 13th; the Larks Tongues in Aspic tour. Awesome and outstanding show. I remember Steve Miller played the whole first song with his back to the audience. At the time it seemed rude and pretentious, but maybe he was just trying to establish good communication and groove with the band. After all, coming after the complex and tight King Crimson would be quite a challenge.
King Crimson are simply mind blowing geniuses! Immortal legends! 🙏🏻
John Wetton was such an incredible singer, everything!
Wetton's voice never sounded better than this!
As far as Bruford's drumming & Fripps guitar playing, no one in prog history can beat either of them!
JOHN WETTON: Mogul Thrash, Family, Roxy Music, Uriah Heep, UK, Asia, . .he's the singer and bassist of "supergroups".
This would sound totally badass being released now, 50 years later. But then, this was conceived 50 FREAKING YEARS AGO.
Wow.
In early 1974 I saw them live at Curtis Hixon Hall in Tampa, Florida. One of the best and most memorable concerts I had ever seen. With no seats, and the stage being about 6 feet high, I was able to walk along the front and get a close look at this incredible band. Half of the show I was standing in front of Fripp, who was about 5 feet away and I was mesmerized by his playing. Fripp had a black Mellotron and Cross had a white one.
The Night Club venue, above The Playhouse in Edinburgh in 1980 I watched Fripp with the League of Gentlemen play an absolutely blinding set. A venue so close up you can see the performers pores 😂. Fripp was as cool as a cucumber and sizzling guitar work of incredible precision was the crowds reward. Not a prog crowd I might add but he had them on side very early on in the gig.
Elegantly turned out by then but remaining a " miserable git " as he had been through most of his career. It gives me great pleasure to see him hoot with laughter nowadays when playing in the house with Toyah on their Sunday roast slot. Bless the old curmudgeon I think I'd be grinning like him if I was sharing a house with the still hot Toyah.
Please post Flash's performance from 1973 as well .. This performance is considered the holy grail for fans of the band Yes being the only footage of Peter Bank's post yes band live and his estate really would love to see it .. they played 2 songs .. "Psychosync" and "Dead Ahead". thank you in advance!
THIS!
We will add it to the list. Thanks for letting us know.
Would love to see the Flash performance
John Wetton, one of the most beautiful voices of rock.
R.I.P. my friend.
A fantastic song from a fabulous Larks album ( their best for me). King Crimson between 1972 - 74 perhaps the heaviest among all classic prog rock bands.
Never knew they played Midnight Special. This is a jewel! Thanks!
You bet!
Fripp later gets a spot showing his Frippertronics concept. "Thank you, Rick James" echoes in my head forever.
Watched almost every midnight special concert. All were great.
Criminally underrated mega-group
This footage is priceless! Thank you, MS!
Glad you enjoyed it!
This is the only distorted bass tone that I ever really liked and John Wetton's voice matches it perfectly.
Incredible bass work and a fantastic voice, great to see the late Mr Wetton in full flow. So much talent in one band, it just makes your head spin.
Wow. That was sooo good. Wetton really was a force.
Two periods of music history criminally under filmed are this and pink floyd 77 tour so this is a treasure and deserves a medal, but also a teaser of what more stuff like a full show would be like....
You are absolutely Spot On. Floyd on The Animals tour with Snowy White accompanying Gilmour on guitar. What a Great tour. I wish it was recorded.
You can probably find it on TH-cam
Thanks Midnight Special for posting this Crimson broadcast.
Our pleasure!
Absolutely stunning! My God...thank you so much Midnight Special!!!
Amazing they did this + great performance.
What a great bass tone. Killer voice too. Tone reminds me of Sting. Outstanding.
This is the era I saw them live. Wetton was very good looking and obvs talented. Greg Lake told me at that time the desert was dry re girls in the audience coming ‘round the back’ after gigs! Prog rock had not encountered groupies at this time but Wetton did. Of course I was there for the music and as a teen girl it blew me away. God bless them all. An era in music that should be idolised. Lovely clever guys. They changed me.
Got to see this line-up twice in one summer. Always my favorite Crimson era. Thank you for posting. Like time-travel.