King Crimson - Dinosaur (Live At The Warfield Theatre, San Francisco, 1995)
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- Опубликовано: 23 авг 2024
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To stand up in front of thousands of rock fans and call yourself a dinosaur is bound to be a risky business. By 1995, progressive rock was viewed with great suspicion by both critics and Commentariat, seen as bloated, pompous and preening - barely able to walk, like a dinosaur on the verge of extinction. If you call your song ‘Dinosaur’, you’d better be good with irony and making sure the listener gets it. I winced when I heard the plan, and gave it a low estimate of success. Actually, I thought we’d be murdered.
I needn’t have worried. Happily, Belew’s masterful lyric is full of self-deprecating, deeply ironic humour (just like an honorary Brit), but at the same time painfully honest:
“Ignorance has always been something I excel in
followed by naiveté and pride
doesn’t take a scientist to see how
any clever predator could have a piece of me
standing in the sun, idiot savant,
something like a monument.”
Excellent stuff. As the song progresses, the grain of Belew’s voice gets progressively and spectacularly gritty on the title line, showing this guy ain’t messin’ around.
Meanwhile, down in the Crimson engine-room, Pat Mastelotto and I were finding it hard to find fresh things to do, particularly on a fairly straight 4/4 backbeat song like this. We’d already used all the obvious strategies in the band’s repertoire: two different meters at the same time (Sex, Sleep, Eat, Drink, Dream); playing the same thing as the other guy, but a quarter- or eighth-note later (Vrooom Vrooom); improvisation (Thrak); my small percussion to Pat’s groove (People, One Time); improvising with meters over one constant meter from Pat (B’Boom). Several of these approaches had been influenced by the work of one Gavin Harrison, shortly to become a Crimson drummer himself.
But, by Dinosaur, the rhythm tank was running on low. On the album ‘Thrak’, we had opted for the displaced thing for two drummers in the chorus of the song, and a pleasantly displaced backbeat by one drummer in the verses, until the last two lines, where you get a straight backbeat. Three variations then, so a decent bang for your buck.
Here though, live at the Warfield, and listening for the first time in years, I hear we’ve mostly abandoned the album version, and I potter along comfortably in a straight 4/4 with an underrepresented Pat playing along as second percussion. So, I guess we thought the album version didn’t translate as well on stage, at least as far as the drumming was concerned. The re-entry for Fripp’s guitar solo after the percussion-free rubato section is satisfyingly huge though, on both album and Warfield theatre versions.
The song reached peak exposure on ‘Late Night with Conan O’Brien’, a national US TV show. I remember a heavily-edited, pretty feeble version of it limping out of the speakers. This was another episode in King Crimson’s long-standing stand-off with mass media.The band’s occasional confrontations with the Big Time usually ended in tears. On that occasion, Mr O’Brien won hands down, but there is plenty of strength left in it here. Hope you like it!
#billbruford #tamadrums #paistecymbals #jazzdrumming #drumsolos #improvisationmusic #yes #rockdrummer #electronicdrumkit # #billbrufordsearthworks
The best song on a tremendous album. In the drums, I hear buried dinosaurs smashing their ways to the top, among other things. Phenomenal ❤
This song was on the British Airways in flight musical selection on my flight in the mid 90s.
BA has always been a very progressive corporation, words that hardly even belong together.
Just phenomenal. A completely original composition. The band and rhythm section were locked. Belew's vocals were way beyond what I expected.
I had this album on cassette when it came out. Forgot how much Iloved it. Belew's vocals, as with everything Crimson, were over the top!
The best band most people haven't heard in their lives. so sad...
I saw King Crimson in 95 at the Wiltern. That was the best concert I’ve ever seen so far. Second was the Discipline tour.
This snare, Jesus Christ🥁👌👌🥁
It's such a pity that the cameraman at the Warfield Theatre thought this was an Adrian Belew solo concert. All videos from this gig seem to suffer from this misapprehension. The double trio was such a fantastic group. But as all Crimson incarnations, it was exactly that - a group. A fascinating, magical ensemble working together as a team. Not a singer-songwriter supported by a backup band.
Possibly the greatest tribute to John Lennon ever composed.
Everybody gangster until Adrian Belew starts playing an orchestra from his guitar
This dinosaur (me) was at this awesome show !
My journey to KC started with this song. Long ago and far away...
Rookie hehe
Not a bad place to start!
I adore Thrak and this banger particularly. Thanks for the video and insightful description as always Bill! 🙏
OUTSTANDING!
I was there with my brother. Awesome show!!!
I was there too, with my very pregnant wife... my son Max is a Crimson fan; we've seen them a couple/few times together.. In vitro Crimsonization? He's also a guitar player and composer of video game music...
@@BritMCGuy alright buddy, you win
Saw them at the Pier in NYC. Miss these days and this music!!
Is this that awesome Adrian Belew again? Is there anywhere in all the music I love that he hasn't been? I love him.
Marvelous performance by the double trio!
That snare drum…………!
You just know it's Bill Bruford when you hear the snare hits!
@@lpspinners8736 I don't think there is an easier Identifiable drummer within one snare hit!
This is wonderful. I’m seeing Beat in October, and really looking forward to the new incarnation of “Crimson” playing the 80s stuff. I’ve never seen ANY variation of KC, ever, so this will be an experience. And I know that this particular song was from the 90s, but I am hoping that they throw in a couple of curveballs in the setlist or encore. Would absolutely love to see this one live.
That's actually a great suggestion! I assume Beat will throw a few tunes from other places, most likely Zappa if they can find a tune that suits a KC show (is there such a tune?). But Dinosaur would be excellent, easily played by the four-piece!
Adrian plays this song quite often on his "solo" tours, so it wouldn't surprise me if it makes the set list, along with Lark's Tongue #2 or some other KC songs not strictly from the "Discipline Era."
Jammy git. Wish they were coming to the UK. Enjoy. 😊
Saw them on thrax at the bismark in chicago. Great show.
Everyplace I've lived since "Thrak" was released, the mini-poster of the fire bucket was on my living room wall, just as it is this very moment! Still one of my favorite albums.
I as well thank you, Bill, for these gems and insights.
A truly formidable performance… a freight train with attitude.
And, as always, I really appreciate your commentary and illumination.
Such a great song...
I was at this show. It was a memorable show, to say the least.
There are so many incarnations of this band, and every one of them has achieved spectacular high points; this is one of them from this era. And there are so many that I dig into one of them for a while, then listen a while to another, and this goes on until I think I'm sort of out of my Crimson phase, but by that time I realize, oh, I haven't listened to _that_ line-up in a while...
I think there's medication for that now. Seek consultation.
@@davedillon1372 You crazy? Every time it comes around is a sign of coherence, of sanity...
The string section part played on the guitar at 4:15 is so moving
was thrilled to catch this +2 reunion in Detroit!
also played the cd on my community college radio show
One of my favorites. Saw this tour in LA at the Wiltern. Magnificent !
I saw it at the greek!
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII’M A DINOSAAAAAUUUURR
Killer! Was looking for an inspirational piece of music to help motivate me to practice bass guitar for my church rehearsal later tonight. FOUND IT. Bill- you are awesome, sir!
5:09 La guitarra de Robert Fripp comienza a cortar en el espectro sonoro como si el parlante tuviera vísceras que sangran, y luego Adrian.
Salvajemente bello!
I find it slightly amusing and poetic that I myself have become a dinosaur
I was at this show with my brothers. Outstanding night!!
When Adrian kept his hair long like this he looks like Buffalo Bill from silence of the lambs
Gorgeous!
that fantastik snare
King Crimson!! La Creme de la Creme!!
I was at that show, good times
Gracias Bill.
Saludos desde ciudad de Canelones, Uruguay.
Fantastic...intricate times...thanks.
My favorite Crimson song from this incarnation of the band! 🤘
The greatness my opinion came from not only their uniqueness and inventiveness with Sound and Music but the fact that they never sold out to popular music and though I'm not royalty and I've never been rich I can say that I am a progressive rock snob
Ah yes the Double Trio!!
Siempre me sono a algo de AIC este temazo. Larga vida al Rey
King Crimson is BIG !! Big as Adrian's vest !! 🤩
Ruddy marvellous!
What a great performance!
Spectacular 👏 👏 👏 👏
❤❤❤❤❤
Love Adrian Bellew, these king crimson albums with him are very similar to his solo stuff,brilliant
if you love him so much.. at the very least.. learn to spell his name correctly.
@@lornestein7248 My apologies, from one pedant to another.
@@spikeybaby1735 No apology was necessary. Correcting your error was (which you didn't) ..And using obscure words like "pedant" doesn't make you more intelligent.. just obtuse.
@@lornestein7248 If the first part of your comment made sense I might respond. Pedant certainly isn’t an obscure word, you’re just showing your ignorance by having to look it up, and “ obtuse “ ? 🤣🤣
Amazing
Utterly brilliant :)
Great video.
I think the first King Crimson i heard was the double trio live in Japan so this would be the second or third KC i ever heard
Then I got the Frame by Frame boxed set which has album highlights and abridged versions
One day i realized I hadn't ever heard any of the 70s records start to finish!
I like the abridged versions better.
To wrap up my pointless story, my friend lost my king crimson vhs while moving after his divorce
fresher than air
That Adrian is everywhere......
I was there!!!
I miss these days, and these marvelous musicians…… unrivaled since.
Bill !!!
Belew's voice definetly has some Lennon vibes.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHM A DINOSAURRR
👏🎵👏🎵👏🎵🙂👍
Love his solo albums Check them out sometime
1995, where are you?
Adrian Belew, gitardan klavye sesi mi çıkarıyor?!
Dude plaing keyboard using guitar
Beatlesic vibes
Lennon delivery, beatlesque chords..... but definitely Bruford on drums!!!😊
the Beatles influence is pretty strong in Belew. It's pretty evident on much of the music on his "Mr. Music Head" album, particularly.
I like his Power Trio version better, followed by his acoustic version, then this one.
UFFFFFFFFFF
i hear a lot of The Beatles in this one
Adrian's been mainlining John Lennon his whole life. I reckon if John had lived, there would have been a session in New York in the early-to-mid '80's with Lennon, Levin & Belew.
yo mellotron on guitar someone tell me how they did that in 1995
Midi pickups and a gigantic rig.