“If he felt the bass parts while he was singing, it could only be a matter of time before it crept down from his head into his fingers”: How Boz Burrell saved King Crimson when Robert Fripp had lost hope
In 1970, Robert Fripp was close to ending King Crimson as the line-up behind the band’s third album, Lizard, fell apart. The arrival of singer Boz Burrell helped keep the group alive, and he later became its bassist despite initially having no experience on the instrument; this unexpected change proved crucial to the next phase of the band.
Burrell had already attracted music-industry attention after being linked with a possible move to The Who in 1965. He joined King Crimson during a period of upheaval, when Fripp had already rebuilt the group once and found the latest collapse emotionally draining. The article recalls how Burrell’s singing experience and ability to feel bass parts helped him develop into the role, contributing to the line-up behind 1971’s Islands.
- Boz Burrell helped prevent King Crimson from collapsing in 1970.
- Hired as singer, he unexpectedly became the band’s bassist.
- His arrival supported Robert Fripp during a difficult rebuild.
New here? Start with this
King Crimson were a British progressive rock band formed in London in 1968, led by guitarist Robert Fripp. The group became known for changing its line-up and musical approach frequently, combining rock with elements of jazz, classical music and experimental sounds.
By 1970, the band had already gone through several personnel changes, including the departure of key early members. Fripp was the remaining central figure and faced the task of finding musicians for a new version of the group while recording and touring commitments continued.
Boz Burrell was a singer who had worked in London’s music scene and had previously been considered for other prominent bands. He joined King Crimson as a vocalist, then learned bass guitar for the group’s next line-up, which recorded the 1971 album Islands.