Music Is Our Friend premieres at 11:00 CEST on King Crimson's YouTube.
This official bootleg album derives its name from the tour during which the performances were recorded. It captures the entirety of King Crimson's last show in North America, which took place in Washington in September 2021. These recordings mark both the beginning and the end of a tour that persevered through numerous challenges.
Originally slated for 2020, the tour had to be postponed for an entire year due to the pandemic. It commenced in July in Florida, coinciding with the onset of a fresh wave of Covid cases. The band traversed the country in a tour bus "bubble." After a two-week hiatus caused by scheduling conflicts, they resumed their journey, with the Zappa Band preceding King Crimson each night.
Throughout the tour, the band encountered a series of daunting circumstances. They faced the need to relocate performances due to severe weather conditions, including one instance where a venue was flooded the day before a scheduled concert. Additionally, an open-air venue in New York was shifted to the more familiar Beacon Theatre. In a particularly worrisome incident, a band member had to be airlifted to the hospital via helicopter. Nevertheless, the band member made a full recovery, and despite these setbacks and obstacles, King Crimson managed to fulfil all their concert commitments without any cancellations.
By the time they reached Washington, King Crimson had reached a formidable peak, delivering a dynamic and energetic set. Certain arrangements had been reworked and differed from previous tours, showcasing the band's evolving prowess.
(Notes by Sid Smith)
