KING CRIMSON
to play two Friars nights on 31st August and 1st
September 2015 at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Following on from the
success of the Friars Exhibition in 2014, Friars is returning to its
roots in presenting shows at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre.
The first two dates to
be announced are two dates with KING CRIMSON in August and
September. King Crimson have not played a proper UK tour since the
eighties and the Friars dates will be the first two of the tour.
Live Nation, who are the biggest promoters in the world are
promoting all the other dates on this European Tour so it is a
complete coup for Friars that Friars Aylesbury is the only
independent promoter on the tour.
King Crimson first
played Friars in July 1969, just two months after Friars started, at
the New Friarage Hall in Walton Street. They drew more people than
any other band in the Friars Phase One first year of operation. Says
King Crimson main man Robert Fripp “I remember that gig very well.
It was one of the few times in my career that I broke a string on
stage”.
One year later on 15
July 1971 Friars presented King Crimson again, this time at the 1600
capacity Watford Town Hall and it was a complete sellout, even
though Greg Lake had already departed to form Emerson Lake and
Palmer.
Then 10 years later on 7th
October 1981 Friars presented King Crimson again, this time at the
Friars Aylesbury Phase Three Civic Centre venue. Again it was an
amazing evening and a complete sellout.
King Crimson is all
about the genius of Robert Fripp who is regarded as one of the
greatest guitarists on the planet. (He is also married to Toyah
Wilcox). Robert has created his own unique guitar tuning which is
totally unconventional. He has put an astonishing band around him
for this tour. Legendary bass player Tony Levin (who has played with
John Lennon, Paul Simon and Peter Gabriel) and Mel Collins on
sax/flute (who was a member of Camel and King Crimson but who has
also played with The Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton). In addition
there are no less than three drummers who play at the front of the
stage in a row, Pat Mastellotto, Gavin Harrison and Bill Reiflin.
The icing on the cake is that local hero Jakko Jakszyk (who sang
with Steve Hackett at Friars in 2013) is the lead singer and second
guitarist. Jakko was inspired to become a musician when he went to
see King Crimson at Friars Watford in 1971. His gig as lead singer
of his favourite band is therefore a dream come true.
The repertoire on this
European tour will draw from King Crimson’s long history going right
back to the legendary 1969 album ‘In The Court of the Crimson King’.
Says David Stopps:
“These dates are very exciting for Friars Aylesbury. Not only are
King Crimson one of the best bands in the world but this will be the
first time that Friars has presented an all seated show in
Aylesbury, and the first time that we have presented a band two
nights in a row.”
Tickets for these King Crimson Friars Shows
will go on sale this Friday 6th February at 09.00am from
the Aylesbury Waterside Box Office and the same day online from
www.atgtickets.com.
If you are able to
pay in person by cash or debit card, you will save on fees. The
ticket prices are £35-£55 and are the cheapest on the whole tour.
