Press Handout
Adrian Belew, who plays Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida on Sept. 28, 2024.
In 1981, following a seven-year hiatus, main creative force Robert Fripp put together a new lineup featuring himself, drummer Bill Bruford, American guitarist Adrian Belew and bassist Tony Levin. That lineup—which lasted three years—released three albums: Discipline, Beat, and Three of a Perfect Pair.
Now, 40 years later, Belew and Levin, along with
renowned guitarist Steve Vai and Tool drummer Danny Carey have formed Beat (stylized in all caps) to highlight that era of Crimson. Later this month, the band arrives at Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall, where the final incarnation of Fripp’s band kicked off its last tour in 2021.
Belew started the process of putting Beat together in 2019 when he realized that 2021 was the 40th anniversary of Discipline. Fripp and Buford declined to join him, so collaborating with producer Angelo Bundini of the “Celebrating David Bowie” tour (on which the 74-year-old has performed) to enlist the musical services of Vai and Carey was the way to go.
“I thought of who would be able to fill Robert’s seat and that was probably the most important thing to find for me,” Belew told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay from his home in Tennessee.
Belew added how he had read an interview with Vai in which the guitarist said how much he enjoyed both Fripp’s style and the three records, and ultimately thought, “Well, I’ll shoot for the top,” and called Steve and found out he was really excited by the idea.”
After finishing his at-the-time tour, Vai—who along with Belew are graduates of what the latter calls “The School of Zappa”—signed into the Beat.
“I don’t want Steve Vai to be Robert Fripp, but there are essential things that need to come through at some points. But Steve Vai should be Steve Vai playing King Crimson. That’s what I think the fans would want, too,” Belew explained.
Levin was added once he finished touring with Peter Gabriel last year, and the addition of Carey (who was in Tool when King Crimson opened for it in August 2001) completed the lineup.
“[Carey] was absolutely thrilled. He had a long couple of days to confirm and then he said yes,” Belew recalled. On this tour, he said the “essentials” from the core three ‘80s albums will be played during the approximately one-hour 45-minute performance, along with a few songs not often played (“Model Man,” “Dig Me” “Industry”). Three instrumental pieces are also in the setlist.
“I didn’t want to go too far with that, that’s really more [Fripp’s] territory. You can’t really demonstrate the whole power and scope of King Crimson without having some of those things in there,” said Belew.
Outside of the core three, Belew said that the title track from 1974’s Red is also in the set, as the 1980s King Crimson lineup played it regularly. He expects there will be enough time in the show—with an intermission—to play 16-18 songs, too. “It’s high-information music, so I think that’s about the right amount. I don’t want to wear people out; I want to give them exactly what they want and more,” he added.
As for the ongoing popularity and legacy of King Crimson, Belew said it’s a generational phenomenon, with today’s fans hearing about the band from their fathers or big brothers.
“This is for all the people, the people who never got to see it and for people that want to relive it again,” said Belew, who expects a good amount of Tool and Vai fans to attend the shows. “The songs are timeless. These songs sound like they could’ve been released yesterday. We’ve always tried to be ahead of everything and try to
reinvent the wheel every time.”
Tickets to see Beat play Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall on Saturday, Sept. 28 are still available and start at $43.25.
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