Paris Shows

Paris and the last shows of the 2016 King Crimson Radical Action Tour.

Above is, finally, a photo of the whole touring group. Taken by Andi Turco-Levin, it shows: Pat Mastelotto: (drums). Chris Porter: FOH engineer. Mel Collins: (flute/sax). Michele Russotto: drums/bass. Biff Blumfumgagnge: Drums/Sax/Flute. Tony Levin: (bass). Adrian Holmes: merchandise. Natasha De Sampayo: prod. asst/ wardrobe. Jeremy Stacey: (drums). Dave Salt: tour mgr. Jakko Jakszyk: (guitar/vocals). Jason Birnie: stage mgr/ drums. John Armitage: guitars/backline. Russ Wilson: monitors/audio tech. Robert Fripp: (guitar). Dave Taylor: audio tech. Gavin Harrison: (drums).

Not pictured: Ian ‘Elvis’ Moore: truck driver. Mark Vreeken: FOH engineer. David Singleton: mgmt. Bill Rieflin: drums.

We had a great stand of shows in Paris last year, and it’s a fitting place to end this tour. This time, the venue is Salle Pleyel, quite an unusual place, with a very cool backstage atmosphere.

Rooms each have the theme of a musical artist, with their album covers adorning the walls.

Slight drawback: the elevator’s out, and some of us have 5 flights to climb every time we need something…

The view from my dressing room, church right next door, is well worth the climb

And here we go. A very nice show, very nice audience

When I see Jeremy’s derby hat, I’m impressed with not only how nice it is, but how perfectly it fits him. Just between us, I discovered his secret when I saw him, in the Vienna airport, trying on hats in his own special way.

Okay, back to after the show…

Dave, our tour mgr, catches a shot of our 'aftershow fists', by light of his flashlight!

And, on to the next day.

Show two: the last one of our tour, and a special night in many ways

There we are huddled around the setlist, and foolishly, I didn’t take a picture of it…

I thought it was a pretty unusual setlist, and kind of historic… so here it is:

Paris 2nd Show - Dec 4th

TUNING UP

HELL HOUNDS

PICTURES OF A CITY

DAWN SONG

SUITABLE GROUNDS FOR THE BLUES

RED

The CONSTRUCTION of LIGHT

IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING

LETTERS

INTERLUDE

RADICAL 1

MELTDOWN

RADICAL TWO

LEVEL FIVE

--------------------INTERMISSION

PEACE

CIRKUS

INDISCIPLINE

EPITAPH

EASY MONEY

DEVIL DOGS

LARKS TONGUES ONE

TALKING DRUM

LARKS TONGUES II

STARLESS

--------------------

HEROES

21st CENTURY SCHIZOID MAN

Midway through the show, during the 20 min. intermission, we're backstage, in the Bowie room(!) thinking about having an end of tour toast afterwards.

Great show. And here we are, afterwards, indeed having that toast in the Bowie room... Dave Salt grabs my camera so I can be in the shot

(There's always a price to pay when you let someone borrow your camera!)

It’s been a wonderful tour.

I’m very grateful to the crew, whose hard work made the shows happen each night.

And, most of all, to the audiences, and to you who’ve followed the tour online, for your support of our music.

There will be more from King Crimson next year. And from me, after about a month, the Stick Men U.S. tour will start and the Road Diary will continue then.

King Crimson 2016 Tour pt2

4th December, 2016