The journey began very well: an unexpected upgrade for this United Premier Executive 100K. Quality champagne in flight is a rare treat, and served well to accompany the Financial Times, read in a large seat.
Toyah & I have just spoken. I was unable to call her yesterday to report a safe landing because of adventures in traveling.
We landed in Washington. My connection to Nashville allowed for a nominal 80 minutes to pass through immigration and customs. This means, a traveler connecting to anywhere else in the world (including the US) has to pass through US Customs with their suitcase. Which means, if you're going to continue traveling you are reliant upon a speedy delivery of your baggage. A group of passengers, of whom I was one, converged upon the United desk in the baggage claim hall to enquire as to the fate of our suitcases. An elderly Australian lady in tears; an elderly Yugoslavian man hoping to get to Los Angeles and without any facility in the English language; an American man with wife & tennage son, exceptionally pissed; a mother and teenage daughter unable to make their connection. Apparently, someone at Heathrow had put the connecting baggage in the hold reserved for Washington as final destination; this routes the baggage to another building. But not the building for ongoing connections. Some baggage was located, some was not. After some 90 minutes mine arrived, allowing me to pass go.
So, at 19.30 I flew to Atlanta; at 22.10 I flew Delta to Nashville; at 23.55 my suitcase arrived on the next Delta flight from Atlanta; at 00.30 I arrived Chez Belewbeloid; at 01.30 a dribbling psyche dribbled into bed.
How astonishing, that one small mistake made by a player within a Team carries all manner of repercussions. Inevitably, the little & vulnerable people get hurt.
This morning, at Alex's command, I've been checking the Summit Studio CD. Alex has made a good job of this. The last blow (i.e. jam), beginning with "The Creator Has A Master Plan", Alex has edited down from a meandering 35 minutes to a meandering 15 minutes. Probably of historic more than musical interest. The guitarist airs themes from "Larks' Tongues In Aspic, Part One" over the blow, probably for the first time, to see how they fit. They don't fit this band.
13.01
Ken is in. Adrian popped down. Trey & Pat & Bill Munyon are due in soon. Adrian reports exciting developments of the album.
15.22
The Team have arrived. A fat cheesecake of tasty status has just been acquired from the local Kroger's and is nestling in the fridge. "It's the only reason we're here," commented Trey.
Also this morning:
A call to Richard Chadwick to confirm the first dates of KC in Europe. These cover Copenhagen, Germany, Poland, Italy & The Olympia in Paris.
An opportunity to catch up on the Guestbook. Neal Fitzpatrick recently asked: "Speaking of rumors, we have a nasty one going around the Yes newsgroup. Apparently, one of the members of Yes told some people that there is a plan for a Crimson/Yes summer tour. I know Robert has already said this would not take place, but that was some time ago. Robert, is there any truth to this rumor?"
None. The story, reported in this Diary, concerned my conversation (on another subject) with an American businessman involved in the Yes tour. He told me that ELP were touring with Yes, and King Crimson were being considered. I suggested that Crimson would not be a good choice, because our upcoming work would not be including repertoire from before 1994. "Why's that?" he asked. How to answer that if someone needs to ask it?
If you remember the posting to the Guestbook a couple of months ago in which a correspondent of Peter Sinfield reported Peter's plan to form an "orchestra", perhaps Peter is planning something for the package (this is purely speculation on my part)? Would Peter like to comment?
Sid Smith's Diary refers to recent communications with Ian Wallace & Peter, and their views of Crimson history, both of which are welcome.
17.49
We've been through-listening to most of the album, focusing on Adrian's overdubs. "I Have A Dream", otherwise the Coda to "Larks' IV", is a litany of 20th. century horrors from an American perspective. Unrelenting doom. Adrian was unable to find a balancing verse of the good things in life with the given accompaniment. Brief impressions: rock music for adults. Uncompromising. High information. Overwhelming.
