Coliseum, Denver, CO

I attended this show. I purchased tickets for four friends and my little brother as I was so excited to finally see King Crimson. Golden Earring opened the show. One of my friends got up to have a wander around while King Crimson stage was being set up. King Crimson came on and opened with Easy Money. My friend's butt was not in its seat. Lament came and went, Paul still was not in his seat. Exiles started and soon after a guy with a Red Cross armband started waving his arms at me. I sighed, got up and followed him. My friend Paul had ingested some chemical substance that he had no business doing since this was a big night for me. I returned to my seat near the end of Starless. The Talking Drum started and it was building up to the big "climax" when the power to the stage was shut down. Robert, John and David unplugged and walked off while Bill was still up there pounding away for a few more seconds. Bill threw his sticks in the air over his head and left. There was mass confusion as to what had just happened. It became clear when the ZZ Top stage manager appeared and started a stupid statement about "so called guitarists and prima donas" ZZ Top had pulled the plug. For years I wondered what I has missed because the bits I did hear were sensational. Fast-forward decades later and I discover their is a ROAD TO RED boxset. I inquired here at DGM if I could purchase only the Denver show. Hooray! I got to hear the entire albeit disrupted set. Listening, it is VERY clear why ZZ Top pulled the plug. King Crimson were in ferocious form! I will be at the Chicago show on September 10 and hope to FINALLY see a full performance that will hopefully include the Lizard suite. BUY BUY BUY this blistering set from the Denver show in '74

"With ZZ Top opening the show and Golden Earring headlining". I am confused. Wasn't it ZZ Top headlining and Golden Earring opening? It really doesn't make sense for ZZ Top's roadies to pull the plug unless they wanted KC off the stage so that their band could go on. Unless their just couldn't take any more high-pitched models guitar-violin duetting? I wish that Tex and the boys had fed the ZZ Top jackasses their fuzz boxes, by the way. What an asinine maneuver.

Although this show is available in pretty short form, I am amazed at how it compensates that with incredible energy. I am particularly amazed at John Wetton's singing. This may just be his most passionate Lament. Not that other songs are any less, but I was particularly struck by that one. Unfortunately there is no improv here, but as much I love them, I absolutely felt no need for one, nor did I at any time start to think about it. The Talking Drum is interrupted, but incredibly powerful, one of the most unique performances by the band. I highly recommend this gig, but then again, I recommend anything by King Crimson. There is just no end to the amount of joy this group gives me.