Unlike most of the intended audience of this doc, I am not a fan. However I have experienced this band live after being given a free ticket. Reading up on the band it seems they have a cult following, particularly from those who were in their teens during the 1970s. They are one of the most well known bands from the Prog Rock era so wonderfully sent up in Brian Pern.

In concert I found them a difficult listen not knowing any of their tracks. Its obvious that some and by this I mean a small minority seem to get something from this band most do not. And that is kind of the problem. I have no difficulty with difficult music as I love artists such as Autechre who would leave your average KC fan in confusion. The problem with this band is it seems to be about reaching a peak experience through virtuoso playing of what are now quite arcane instruments. There is no progress in terms of sonic palate.

This doc aims to shed some light on what goes on behind the scenes in terms of the functioning of the band, the bands relationships, its history and live experience. It manages to explore some of these better than others. What it does not do however is delve particularly deeply into the psychology of Robert Fripp. Using my background however its clear that Fripp displays many traits of obsessive compulsive personality. Which appears to drive his unfulfilled drive towards perfection, his rigid rules and anger when these aims are frustrated. Of course perfection doesn't exist so its always a mission deemed to fail. There is also a need for control over others so its no surprise that relationships with band members have fractured. This doc however does not seem to ask the question of Fripp of whether he is actually aware of his personality flaws or whether he has made any attempts to change these, for the better of his emotional life and those around him. Which was baffling. Particularly when its so obvious what the issues are and that they are easily addressed. It seems this documentary was more keen to maintain the image of Fripp as some type of troubled genius that nobody can fathom. Is that because the film maker is too much of a fan?

If anything its the other band members past and present who make the biggest contribution, although it also seems they do not have a basic grasp of Fripps personality, some appeared damaged as a result.

Thankfully there was not much in the way of music, its a mainly talking heads affair which will suit non-fans more, as the music tends to sound like the soundtrack of a European low budget horror movie. I am thinking Goblin and Suspiria of course.

As for the KC peak experience, I doubt too many will get that watching this doc. While fans may initially warm to it, its actually quite surface level, there aren't many stand out moments, apart from one scene I had to actually check the video I was watching hadn't frozen. This one scene however explains why an in depth or revealing doc about Fripp will never be made. Its because he exerts so much control, particularly over himself, that at no point will he allow others to see below the surface. It would take a doc in which others who know him and free to talk will he be revealed. Talking of which, where was Toyah?

I'm a King Crimson fan but I'm also a documentary film fan, and I was wondering exactly what this film would be like. We hardly need a sober, sensible, narrative history of the band because there are already enough of them, and sure enough, this film doesn't offer one--to the considerable annoyance of one of the other reviewers.

What Toby Amies has come up with is a film which is in large part about his effort to make a film about King Crimson. There's no attempt to gloss over the difficulties: Robert Fripp has said many times in print and in person that King Crimson has a kind of existence that's independent of any one group of people, and anyone who knows the history of the band will know of the moment in 1969 when half the band told Fripp they were leaving, and he offered to leave himself rather than have the band come to an end, only to be told that the band was more him than them.

So there are intangible things about this band (perhaps about any good band) which are hard if not impossible to capture on film. So what use is a documentary about something that only the people involved have first-hand experience of?

Well, it illustrates one of Fripp's other often-repeated sayings: that music often chooses unlikely characters to manifest itself. Fripp comes across as extremely focused on getting the music right, and impatient with anything that gets in the way of that: at one point he expresses his annoyance that talking to Amies has taken time away from his guitar practice, with the result that he's just played what he regards as a subpar show.

But in interviews with fans and bandmembers, people express appreciation for the music which shows you why people value this band so much. One fan, a nun, says that she likes KC's music so much because it's 'grown-up'. Another cheerfully recalls being hustled out of a KC show in the 90s because he ignored the no-camera rule, and yet here he is over 20 years later, still turning up.

One thing that puzzled me on first viewing was the ending, where Amies encounters Fripp in a backstage area and asks him what he missed. Fripp, in his most voice-from-the-mountaintop manner, informs that he missed 'everything'--that there was a 'pivotal scene' in which the band's history and future was presented, but Amies wasn't there, and so the film is a waste of time. He then strides off, with Amies offering a rather meek 'Thanks'. At first I thought that this was Fripp expressing lordly impatience with the whole process, but on a second viewing there's a mischievous twinkle in Fripp's eye that makes me regard this scene as emblematic of Fripp's whole attitude to the project: try as Amies might, he may make an interesting and entertaining film but he'll never get to the heart of the matter. I think Fripp is deliberately trolling Amies in this moment, giving him a suitably slam-bang final scene for the film.

I could have done with hearing more from previous members. The focus of the film is very much its final lineup, with the history being sketched in as we go. It's not the film to watch if you want to know more about this band's music and exactly what happened over the years, but it is a vivid portrait of creative people being creative. And to say a film is too short is surely a compliment. Good job, Mr Amies.

Greetings again from the darkness. King Crimson was founded in 1969 and to this day, no one can properly describe their music. Even co-founder and band leader Robert Fripp avoids labeling the music and instead states, "King Crimson is a way of doing things". Documentarian Toby Amies takes on the challenge of examining the band after 50 years.

While most associate guitarist Fripp as being the face of the band, he himself claims that it's an ensemble and always has been. But then he also describes the years 1969 through 2013 as "wretched", and that only with this most recent iteration has found satisfaction. At a minimum, Fripp is a perfectionist, and it's likely he is also a tortured genius who constantly strives for different, more, and better. He makes for a frustrating interview, and director Armies shows him mostly in various short clips, while letting current and former band members offer their opinions.

Co-founder Ian McDonald's zoom interview is the most touching. Taking place shortly before McDonald's passing in 2022, he breaks down and says, "I'm sorry Robert", for leaving Fripp and King Crimson after only a year. Obviously, there was some bad blood between the two men, even after so many years. McDonald went on to co-found the band Foreigner in the 1970's before taking on a solo career. Fripp remained with King Crimson and pursued his idea of what a band should be.

Former King Crimson bassist Trey Gunn explained being in the band was like "a low-grade infection", while current drummer/keyboardist Bill Rieflin thrived with the band. Rieflin was performing with Stage four colon cancer and countless other health issues, yet viewed making music as what he was meant to do, right up until his passing during filming of this documentary. Numerous other former members are interviewed and the comments range from annoyance to reverence. Current singer/guitarist Jakko is cautious about what he says so as not to cross Fripp. He cracks, "you're irreplaceable ... like the last bloke." It's a unique band playing unique music - a style where each world class musician plays their part based on what fellow band members (usually 8 including 3 drummers) are playing. The result is often a peak experience for the audience, even those who have attended many shows over the years. There is an interesting segment featuring a nun who is also a devoted fan of the band. She compares it to religion, and between the immersive music and Fripp's commentary, we can't help but put this in terms of philosophy, psychology, religion, and even a cult-like atmosphere. Always impeccably dressed like a British gentleman, Fripp's obsessive discipline and demanding ways, leave us with a better feel for the band, while being no closer to offering a label of description. This is not your parents' music documentary ... even if it happens to be your parents' favorite band.

In theaters November 3, 2023 and VOD beginning December 1, 2023.