The majority of King Crimson’s third album was recorded drum and bass first, with other contributions being overdubbed at a later stage. The parts were allocated to the players rather than being developed by them.
With only Fripp and Sinfield having any inkling of what the final track might sound like, both bassist Gordon Haskell and drummer Andy McCulloch were frustrated by this approach and the time taken to get what the producers regarded as the right drum sound.
Feeling they were effectively playing in the dark, the most short-lived rhythm section in Crimson’s history worked through the various segments and sequences that would eventually become Lizard.
Eliciting heated debate wherever KC fans gather, Lizard is known to be Fripp’s least favourite KC album and in this opinion, he is joined by Haskell.
“I get to the end and they say ‘that’s great’” says Haskell, “and I think ‘Well that’s probably as good as your drum sound. You don’t have a clue what you’re doing. Thank Christ that’s over!’ Eight minutes of a bloke wandering around up his own arse. Great. That’s art.”
This is probably the first take of Last Skirmish and whilst McCulloch’s parts sound fairly close to the finished version that appears on album, Haskell was required to add a few repair jobs and overdubs later in the sessions.
This track is also available for download as part of a bumper collection of Mr Stormy's Monday Selections - his first year of random romps through the murky, cavernous DGM archives, torch in hand, fedora upon his head.
