Peter Sinfield, author of the lyrics for King Crimson (and not only), but also producer, roadie and sound engineer, has died. He was 80 years old. Robert Fripp's band's label, Discipline Global Mobile, confirmed his death yesterday. The cause of death is not clear, it is known that he had health problems for many years.
Sinfield was central to the birth and success of the first King Crimson of which he was lyricist and artistic director, and also a bit of a jack of all trades. It was he who found the first rehearsal space, in the basement of a London café, and who gave the band its name. «I wanted something arrogant, something regal, hence the King in the name, and that's because it was a really arrogant band», he said five years ago. «Crimson was instead the color used to paint strange scenes, flames, violent creatures».
Sinfield was part of the band that preceded King Crimson, namely Giles, Giles and Fripp and this thanks to his friendship with keyboardist Ian McDonald (the lyrics of I Talk to the Wind And Under the Sky). He was then involved in the creation of the debut In the Court of the Crimson King contributing to the lyrics of the five pieces and finding the perfect cover, thanks to his friend Barry Godber.
For example, the text of 21st Century Schizoid Manalthough he confessed years later that at the time he had no idea of the precise origin of the word “schizoid,” nor did he have “any knowledge of schizophrenia.” The term simply “seemed to me to indicate a collective of madmen.” When it came to the 21st century, “I don't know why, but it sounded better than 20th century.” That song, he said, was a prophecy: “The world was going in that direction.”
Sinfield wrote the lyrics, commissioned the graphics and co-produced with Fripp King Crimson's next three albums, namely In the Wake of Poseidon And Lizard from 1970 and Islands of 1971. He was around with them as a roadie, lighting operator and sound engineer. Differences with Fripp, who had a much more disciplined character and wanted to make harder music, distanced him from the group. «When he got rightly tired, he told me: “One of us has to leave and it's not me”.
After King Crimson, Sinfield participated in the launch of Roxy Music, producing the first single Virginia Plain and the eponymous debut album. His first and only solo album, Stillis from 1973. The following year he published the collection of poems and lyrics Under the Sky.
Sinfield has not broken ties with Greg Lake, formerly of King Crimson, and has collaborated on writing the lyrics for various albums by Emerson, Lake and Palmer (Brain Salad Surgery, Works Volumes 1 & 2 And Love Beach). He collaborated with Premiata Forneria Marconi, which at the time was signed to ELP's label, Manticore. His signature can also be found on the records of Bucks Fizz, Leo Sayer, Cher, David Cross and Celine Dion. In 2014 he collaborated again with Fripp contributing to an updated version of 21st Century Schizoid Man by King Crimson.
