So my copy of the Crimson Chronicle arrived today. To recap, this is a 208-page softback book detailing the band King Crimson from its inception as Discipline to the recording of Three of a Perfect Pair.
So how to do you review a book made up of pictures? Hmmm…well there are lots and lots of pictures and they are of the band and band members so that’s a good thing right? Anyway, some of these pics we’ve seen before in the Frame by Frame booklet or on the KCCC releases that cover this period. But there are an awful lot of new photos that I haven’t seen, which is good.
Like you get to see more of the band during its initial rehearsal phase and if you are an equipment junkie, you get to see all their luvverly guitar equipment. The book follows the band chronologically and so you see them perform as Discipline, record the album and then play as King Crimson. OK – some of the shots are repetitive, because it’s just four guys playing in a rock and roll band night after night, but if you are a fan-boy this will tickle your fancy no end.
The book is divided into sections and there are some captions with the photos but most often the images are presented as is with a separate caption list at the back of the book. This is a niggle because you have to keep turning to the back of the book to see where the photos were taken, but this is just a niggle on my part because I don’t want to crease up my nice new book.
There are clever quotes at the beginning of each section and each band member even gets their own separate chapter. For the completist or those of you who didn’t see the band during the 80s (like me) then this is a great purchase. If you don’t get much from photo books like this then this ain’t gonna float your boat either.
I was going to scan some of the pics but this seems like a defeatist action when I can send you to:
http://www.tonylevin.com/crimchron.htm
Because I was an early buyer Tony Levin even signed my copy, which means when I finally do hit the breadline, I’ll recoup some of my losses on eBay. I jest, of course! Now what would be really nice is if someone would put together a similar photobook of the 1969-74, a bit like the YPG scrapbook but without all the words. That would make a lovely companion piece to this.
Anyway, I’ll catch up with you all in 2024, by which time Tony Levin will have compiled volume two of this particular tome.

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