In 1980 Fripp began one of his most unusual associations, given his past work, with a band called 'The League of Gentlemen'. This was essentially a dance band. A new style of playing was evident, both fluid and rhythmic. The sound of the guitar had changed: the searing, fuzz-box solos were replaced by a warmer, more colorful guitar tone. But dissatisfaction with the LofG rhythm section prompted Fripp to proceed to the next incarnation of King Crimson. Adrian Belew's group, Gaga, had opened for the LofG on five occasions. After calling old Crimson colleague Bill Bruford, auditions for a bassist landed Tony Levin, a veteran bassist also proficient on a new ten-stringed instrument called the Chapman Stick. On April 30, 1981 the group Discipline made its first public appearance at a pub in Bath, England. Certainly Fripp had reservations about resurrecting the name King Crimson, especially in light of how deeply he buried it in 1974. After all, the music business was essentially the same monolith it had been, and now the King Crimson name had become almost synonymous with the 'Art Rock' and 'Dinosaur Rock' excesses rejected by the Punk generation.
 
 
 
  The Songs:
  Elephant Talk
  Frame By Frame
  Matte Kudasai
  Indiscipline
  Thela Hun Ginjeet
  The Sheltering Sky
  Discipline
 
The name was used, apparently, after a certain democratic agreement among all its members. Democracy is not the only unusual element of "Discipline". Not only was this the first time that Americans (Levin and Belew) had been members of KC, but this was the first KC with a guitarist other than Fripp. Belew also provided vocals and wrote the song lyrics. An added element to the band's sound involved the advent of the guitar synthesizer, and the guitar's newfound ability to sound virtually like anything. "The Sheltering Sky" features a soaring guitar phrase by Fripp that evolves into an almost orchestral effect (no more mellotrons!). In "Elephant Talk", Belew's guitar-synth screeches out a wail like...., well like an elephant talking. Belew uses a slide on "Matte Kudesai" to emulate the sounds of seagulls. And so on. From a musical standpoint, "Discipline" has a completely different sound than 70's-era Crimson. Many 'purists' partial to the old songs blasted this album, but the fact is, this is the most consistent album since "Lark's Tongues In Aspic", and perhaps the best. And it introduced a whole new generation to King Crimson.
 

 
 
 
 
  Musicians:
  Robert Fripp: Guitars and Frippertronics
  Adrian Belew:  Guitar and Lead Vocals
  Tony Levin:  Bass and Stick
  Bill Bruford:  Drums
 
Copyright 1980 by EG Records