21st Century Schizoid Band
Encyclopedia
21st Century Schizoid Band are a King Crimson
alumnus group formed in 2002.
The name derives from the famous song "21st Century Schizoid Man
" from the first King Crimson album, In the Court of the Crimson King
. The initial band featured Mel Collins
on saxophone
s, flute
and keyboards
, Michael Giles
on drums
, Peter Giles on bass
, Ian McDonald
on saxophones, flute and keyboards, and Jakko Jakszyk
on guitar
and vocals
.
The band has played live with sets concentrating on compositions from King Crimson's first four albums and other works from the band members' back catalogues. They have released three albums, mostly of live work, but including newer and/or recent compositions, such as Ian McDonald's "Let There Be Light" (from his solo album Driver's Eyes) and "Catley's Ashes", a Jakszyk instrumental which later appeared on the latter's solo album The Bruised Romantic Glee Club in 2006.
Ian Wallace
, another former Crimson member, replaced Mike Giles in early 2003, after the band's Japanese tour. Further international touring followed in 2003/04.
The band has been inactive since 2004. Touring proved logistically complex, with members based in different countries, and financially unrewarding. The possibility of performing again in 2005 was considered following offers from festivals, possibly with Guy Evans (of Van der Graaf Generator) on drums to replace Wallace who had other commitments, but the idea was abandoned. Wallace's death in February 2007 would seem to have closed the lid on the band for good.
Jakszyk and Collins have gone on to work as a trio with Robert Fripp (and rhythmic support from Crimson members Tony Levin and Gavin Harrison) on the Scarcity Of Miracles
album.
King Crimson
King Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
alumnus group formed in 2002.
The name derives from the famous song "21st Century Schizoid Man
21st Century Schizoid Man
"21st Century Schizoid Man" is a song by progressive rock band King Crimson from their debut album In the Court of the Crimson King.-Personnel:* Greg Lake – Vocals, bass guitar* Ian McDonald – saxophone* Robert Fripp – guitars* Michael Giles – drums...
" from the first King Crimson album, In the Court of the Crimson King
In the Court of the Crimson King
In the Court of the Crimson King is the 1969 debut album by the British progressive rock group King Crimson. The album reached No. 5 on the British charts, and is certified gold in the United States....
. The initial band featured Mel Collins
Mel Collins
Mel Collins is a British saxophonist and flautist and session musician.He has worked in a wide variety of contexts ranging from R&B and blues rock to jazz, but is perhaps known for his work in progressive rock, as with King Crimson, Camel and the Alan Parsons Project.-Career:Collins has worked...
on saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
s, flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
and keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, Michael Giles
Michael Giles
Michael Giles is an English drummer, best known as a co-founder of King Crimson in 1969...
on drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, Peter Giles on bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Ian McDonald
Ian McDonald (musician)
Ian McDonald is an English multi-instrumental musician, best known as a founding member of progressive rock group King Crimson, formed in 1969, and of the hard rock band Foreigner in 1976. He is well-known as a rock session musician, predominantly as a saxophonist...
on saxophones, flute and keyboards, and Jakko Jakszyk
Jakko Jakszyk
Jakko M. Jakszyk is an English guitarist, singer-songwriter , multi-instrumentalist and producer...
on guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
.
The band has played live with sets concentrating on compositions from King Crimson's first four albums and other works from the band members' back catalogues. They have released three albums, mostly of live work, but including newer and/or recent compositions, such as Ian McDonald's "Let There Be Light" (from his solo album Driver's Eyes) and "Catley's Ashes", a Jakszyk instrumental which later appeared on the latter's solo album The Bruised Romantic Glee Club in 2006.
Ian Wallace
Ian Wallace (drummer)
Ian Russell Wallace was a rock and jazz drummer, most visible as a member of progressive rock band, King Crimson from 1971 to 1972; but known best in the musical community with his contributions as a session musician on his drum kit.-Early years:Wallace formed his first band, The Jaguars, at...
, another former Crimson member, replaced Mike Giles in early 2003, after the band's Japanese tour. Further international touring followed in 2003/04.
The band has been inactive since 2004. Touring proved logistically complex, with members based in different countries, and financially unrewarding. The possibility of performing again in 2005 was considered following offers from festivals, possibly with Guy Evans (of Van der Graaf Generator) on drums to replace Wallace who had other commitments, but the idea was abandoned. Wallace's death in February 2007 would seem to have closed the lid on the band for good.
Jakszyk and Collins have gone on to work as a trio with Robert Fripp (and rhythmic support from Crimson members Tony Levin and Gavin Harrison) on the Scarcity Of Miracles
A Scarcity of Miracles
A Scarcity of Miracles is an album by Jakszyk, Fripp and Collins. It unites current/former King Crimson musicians Robert Fripp and Mel Collins with singer-songwriter and guitarist Jakko Jakszyk A Scarcity of Miracles is an album by Jakszyk, Fripp and Collins. It unites current/former King Crimson...
album.
Discography
- Official Bootleg V.1Official Bootleg V.1Official Bootleg V.1 is the first CD release by the 21st Century Schizoid Band. It features the band playing in the studio songs they had previously performed in King Crimson.-Track list:...
(2002) - In The Wake Of Schizoid Men (2003)
- Live in JapanLive in Japan (21st Century Schizoid Band album)Live in Japan is the second "Official Bootleg" release by the 21st Century Schizoid Band. It was released on CD and DVD, the DVD containing the extra tracks "Tomorrow's People" and "If I Was", as well as bonus features.-Track listing:...
(2003, CD and DVD) - Live in Italy (2003)
- Pictures Of A City — Live in New York (2006)