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Retro Review: King Crimson ‘In the Court Of The Crimson King’

Published

15 years ago

on

Join me Bloody-Disgusting reader as we travel back to the year 1969. I am willing to guarantee that this was before the majority of you were born (it was WELL before I was even a thought), so let’s take a look at some of the major events of that year: Ohio State won the Rose Bowl. Nixon succeeded as President of the United States of America. The Beatles performed their last public concert. The Boeing 747 makes its first flight. Monty Python’s Flying Circus airs its first episode on BBC. And King Crimson releases their first album, ‘In The Court Of The Crimson King’, beginning a musical career that is still going on today.

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The album opens up with what might very well be King Crimson’s most famous track, ‘21st Century Schizoid Man’. Mixing rock, jazz, fusion, folk and insanity, this track got a solid boost in popularity when it was featured on Guitar Hero 5 (where the drums kick my ass, even on medium). It’s a track that has both driving and catchy riffs, incredibly proficient drum work and powerful vocals.
The rest of the album features gorgeous instrumentation with astounding production. It’s an album that oozes that warm analog sound we audiophiles love while still sounding great compared to today’s music. The one thing that this album demands is patience, as King Crimson love to stray into long, noodling jams that have sporadic, almost Tourette’s like phrasing. The beginning of ‘Moonchild’ has some of the most beautiful music on the album: Haunting synth guitars hover in the background, sounding as though they are yearning, begging for something that cannot be delivered. 
Something that should be paid close attention to when listening to this album is how brilliantly each member plays off of each other. Their mastery of the call-and-response technique makes it as if you’re listening to a conversation between instruments.
The Final Word: The impact of this album, and of King Crimson’s work, can probably never be fully appreciated. Maynard James Keenan says that Tool probably wouldn’t be around if it weren’t for King Crimson. Kanye West sampled ‘21st Century Schizoid Man’ in his song ‘Power’. Stephen King referenced the album in his Dark Tower series. There are countless more examples of the impact of this album, but to fully understand and appreciate it, you have to hear it. ‘In The Court Of The Crimson King’ is the definition of a perfect album, one that has withstood the test of time and will continue to inspire musicians for generations to come.
Remember to leave a comment with a suggestion for next month’s Retro Review OR shoot me your idea via Twitter at SimplyJonnyBD.
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Movies

‘The Lost Boys’ Musical Extends Broadway Run With North American Tour Set for Spring 2028

Published

7 days ago

on

May 28, 2026

By

The Lost Boys: A New Musical officially kicked off on Broadway last month, and Deadline now reports that the show’s Broadway run has been extended into next year.

The show was originally set to run through November, but Deadline reports that The Lost Boys: A New Musical “has released a block of tickets through Sunday, March 7, 2027.”

The news comes in the wake of The Lost Boys: A New Musical becoming the most Tony-nominated musical of the season with twelve nominations including Best Musical.

Additionally, “The Lost Boys will launch a North American National Tour in Spring 2028, at Playhouse Square in Cleveland. Additional cities and tour dates will be announced later.”

The Lost Boys: A New Musical is of course an adaptation of the 1987 horror classic from director Joel Schumacher, with the cast including Ali Louis Bourzgui as lead vampire David (originally played by Kiefer Sutherland), Maria Wirries as Star (originally played by Jami Gertz), and LJ Benet as the soon-to-be-turned Michael (originally played by Jason Patric).

The horror musical’s cast also includes Shoshana Bean as Lucy Emerson, Benjamin Pajak as Sam Emerson, Paul Alexander Nolan as Max, Jennifer Duka as Alan Frog, Miguel Gil as Edgar Frog, Brian Flores as Marko, Sean Grandillo as Dwayne, and Dean Maupin as Paul.

The Lost Boys: A New Musical is Directed by Michael Arden, featuring Music and Lyrics by The Rescues, Book by David Hornsby & Chris Hoch, Story by James Jeremias & Janice Fischer, and Produced by James Carpinello, Marcus Chait & Patrick Wilson (The Conjuring) by special arrangement with Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures.

When a mother and her two teenage sons move to Santa Carla in desperate need of a fresh start, they soon uncover the darker side of this sunny coastal community. While Lucy tries to piece her family’s life back together, Michael keeps pulling away in search of belonging.

As he finds connection with a local rock band and its charismatic leader, his younger brother Sam comes face-to-face with a terrifying reality: When night falls, Michael’s new friends are even more dangerous than they first appeared.

Joel Schumacher directed the original The Lost Boys vampire movie in 1987, wherein two brothers move to a new town and discover that the area is a haven for vampires.

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