It was 25 years ago today Tony, Billy, Bobby and Belew took the stage (I use the term loosely) at Moles Club in Bath. “It was basically just a room and it was tiny” recalled Discipline / KC manager Paddy Spinks when I spoke to him 2001. “My impression at the time was ’what on earth are these monstrous musicians doing ion this tiny room?’. It was a ridiculously small venue for a supergroup.”
After rehearsing in the church hall at Holdenhurst for less than a month, Discipline (as they were still called) created an almighty racket. Welding Reichian minimalism, gamelan and the kind of urban sophistication that Talking Heads had gouged out of the walls of CBGB’s, that groundbreaking set in Moles all those years ago still resonates in Crimson a quarter of a century later.
An audience recording of the gig was released on KCCC 11 after many years of circulating on the boot and tape-trading circuit. Some fans were shocked at the poor audio quality of the album whilst others celebrated it as a valuable documentary of a band still finding their way.
Writing on Elephant Talk at the time of its release, Erich O’ Dell was disappointed at the overall sound quality, vowing to return his copy to the makers such was his ire at the sound quality.
Herve Marchetti took a more philosophical view arguing “The historic content of these cds are far more important than the sound quality.” Adopting the same tack, Michel Champagne described the album as “a great fly-on-the-wall view of King Crimson coming back to life after a seven year hiatus.” Steve Branda agreed, adding “I do consider it to be an essential touchstone in my continuing Crimson education.”
As rough as a badger’s behind, the smoky, sweaty atmosphere of the tiny club is tangible. The ambition of what’s being attempted, let alone achieved, makes for extraordinary listening. No wonder an excited RF noted in his dairy after the gig “For me, this is the band I’ve spent four years getting ready for.”
Material that would form a staple part of King Crimson repertoire for the next twenty-odd years is lifted sizzling hot and startlingly new from the creative forge that was Moles.
In addition to these new songs, the concert witnessed the live debut of Red and LTIApt.2 made a welcome reappearance on a live stage seven years after closing their gig in the now legendary concert in New York’s Central Park.
