Editing King Crimson (section)

=== 2014–2021: The Seven-Headed Beast and Three Over Five lineups ===
Prior to Fripp's retirement announcement, a band called Jakszyk, Fripp and Collins (and subtitled "A King Crimson ProjeKct") had released an album called ''[[A Scarcity of Miracles]]'' in 2011. The band featured guitarist and singer [[Jakko Jakszyk]] (who'd previously performed King Crimson material with 21st Century Schizoid Band), Fripp and former Crimson saxophonist [[Mel Collins]] as the main players/composers, with Tony Levin playing bass and Gavin Harrison playing drums. At one point, Fripp referred to the band as "P7" (ProjeKct Seven).<ref name="PSEVEN">{{cite web |first=Robert |last=Fripp |url=https://www.dgmlive.com/diaries/Robert%20Fripp/marriot-downtown-west-street-nyc-3-210916 |title=Robert Fripp's Diary: Marriot Downtown, 85, West Street, NYC. |website=dgmlive.com |date=5 Dec 2010 |access-date=7 Mar 2021 |archive-date=7 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307183948/https://www.dgmlive.com/diaries/Robert%20Fripp/marriot-downtown-west-street-nyc-3-210916 |url-status=live }}</ref> Unusually for a ProjeKct, it was based around "finely crafted" and "mid-paced" original songs derived from improvised sessions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/a-scarcity-of-miracles-robert-fripp-panegyric-recordings-review-by-john-kelman.php |title=Jakszyk, Fripp & Collins: A Scarcity Of Miracles |first=John |last=Kelman |date=27 May 2011 |website=[[All About Jazz]] |access-date=7 Mar 2021 |archive-date=10 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210215808/http://www.allaboutjazz.com/a-scarcity-of-miracles-robert-fripp-panegyric-recordings-review-by-john-kelman.php |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/pxhf/ |title=Jakszyk, Fripp and Collins A Scarcity of Miracles Review |first=Sid |last=Smith |date=2011 |website=BBC |access-date=7 Mar 2021 |archive-date=16 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316155221/https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/pxhf/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In September 2013, Fripp announced King Crimson's return to activity with a "very different reformation to what has gone before: seven players, four English and three American, with three drummers".<ref name="cos2013" /> He cited several reasons to make a comeback, varying from the practical to the whimsical: "I was becoming too happy. Time for a pointed stick."<ref name="KCreturn">{{cite web|url=https://www.dgmlive.com/diaries/Robert%20Fripp/bredonborough-rising-with-devil-bug-210916|title=Bredonborough Rising with Devil Bug|publisher=Discipline Global Mobile|website=Robert Fripp's Diary|date=6 September 2013|access-date=26 July 2017|df=dmy-all|archive-date=15 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315001927/https://www.dgmlive.com/diaries/Robert%20Fripp/bredonborough-rising-with-devil-bug-210916|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=frippdiary24092013>{{Cite web |first=Robert |last=Fripp |url=https://www.dgmlive.com/diaries/Robert%20Fripp/bredonborough-the-minx-arrived-back-2-210916 |title=Robert Fripp's Diary: Bredonborough |date=24 September 2013 |access-date=7 Mar 2021 |archive-date=7 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307202029/https://www.dgmlive.com/diaries/Robert%20Fripp/bredonborough-the-minx-arrived-back-2-210916 |url-status=live }}</ref> The new line-up drew from both the previous lineup (retaining Fripp, Levin, Harrison and Mastelotto) and the ''Scarcity of Miracles'' project (Jakszyk and Collins), with [[Guitar Craft]] alumnus and former [[R.E.M.]]/[[Ministry (band)|Ministry]] drummer [[Bill Rieflin]] as the seventh member.<ref name=AMGBIO /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2011/09/29/140921003/talking-shop-with-bill-rieflin-journeyman-musician |title=Talking Shop With Bill Rieflin, Journeyman Musician |first=Ann |last=Powers |date=29 Sep 2011 |access-date=22 February 2021 |website=[[NPR]] |archive-date=28 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228195941/https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2011/09/29/140921003/talking-shop-with-bill-rieflin-journeyman-musician |url-status=live }}</ref> Adrian Belew was not asked to take part, thus ending his 32-year tenure in King Crimson: Jakszyk took his place as singer and second guitarist.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web |first=Sid |last=Smith |url=https://www.dgmlive.com/news/new-king-crimson-line-up-confirmed |title=New King Crimson Line-up Confirmed |publisher=Dgmlive.com |date=24 September 2013 |access-date=15 Mar 2021 |archive-date=14 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414073945/https://www.dgmlive.com/news/new-king-crimson-line-up-confirmed |url-status=live }}</ref> This version of the group took on the nickname of "the Seven-Headed Beast".<ref name="rskc2019">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/king-crimson-robert-fripp-press-conference-819254/ |title=King Crimson's 50th Anniversary Press Day: 15 Things We Learned |first=Hank |last=Shteamer |date=8 April 2019 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=15 Mar 2021 |archive-date=19 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119064638/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/king-crimson-robert-fripp-press-conference-819254/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

This drastically revamped King Crimson had no plans to record in the studio, focussing instead on playing "reconfigured" versions of past material in live concerts.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!--Staff writer(s)--> |title=King Crimson unveil new-line up and 2014 tour plans |url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/news/king-crimson-unveil-new-line-up-and-2014-tour-plans-17728/ |website=Uncut |date=25 September 2013 |access-date=7 Mar 2021 |archive-date=7 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307135952/https://www.uncut.co.uk/news/king-crimson-unveil-new-line-up-and-2014-tour-plans-17728/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Looking back later at this King Crimson phase, Tony Levin would comment "we were instructed/advised by Robert Fripp to look at the older classic King Crimson material as if we had written it. And so we did that with a lot of older material that the band had done before the '80s. We didn't actually cover that much of the '80s material outside of a few songs."<ref>[https://sfsonic.com/interviews/interview-adrian-belew-tony-levin-talk-beat-and-their-legacy-with-king-crimson/ "Interview: Adrian Belew & Tony Levin Talk BEAT And Their Legacy With King Crimson"] - interview by Tyler King in ''SFSonic'', 29 July 2024</ref>

For the most part, this approach would remain consistent for the remainder of the band's lifetime. In early 2014, and for the first time since 1974, the band's repertoire included songs from the run of albums between ''In the Court of the Crimson King'' and ''Larks' Tongues in Aspic'' as well as reviving song material from ''Red''. No Adrian Belew-era songs were included in the setlist, although some instrumentals from the period were played (including items from ''THRAK'' and ''The Power to Believe''). Some material from ''A Scarcity of Miracles'' (the title track, plus "The Light of Day") was also incorporated into the band's repertoire.

After rehearsing in England, King Crimson toured North America from 9 September to 6 October.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Zivitz|first1=Jordan|title=King Crimson's Tony Levin and Gavin Harrison: the complete conversation|url=https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/king-crimsons-tony-levin-and-gavin-harrison-the-complete-conversation|website=[[Montreal Gazette]]|publisher=[[Postmedia Network]]|access-date=11 December 2015|date=9 November 2015|archive-date=13 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151213124918/http://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/king-crimsons-tony-levin-and-gavin-harrison-the-complete-conversation|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=2014Shows>{{cite magazine|last1=Reed|first1=Ryan|title=King Crimson Reunite for 17-Show Run This Fall|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/king-crimson-reunite-for-17-show-run-this-fall-94642/|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=7 Mar 2021|date=2 June 2014|archive-date=9 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309032158/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/king-crimson-reunite-for-17-show-run-this-fall-94642/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |first=David |last=Fricke |title=King Crimson in Albany: The Best New Band in Prog Begins a U.S Tour |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-live-reviews/king-crimson-in-albany-the-best-new-band-in-prog-begins-a-u-s-tour-96382/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=10 September 2014 |access-date=7 Mar 2021 |archive-date=9 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309000919/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-live-reviews/king-crimson-in-albany-the-best-new-band-in-prog-begins-a-u-s-tour-96382/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Recordings from the Los Angeles dates were released as ''[[Live at the Orpheum]]'': this included new King Crimson instrumental music in the shape of "Banshee Legs Bell Hassle" and "Walk On: Monk Morph Chamber Music".

Tours across Europe, Canada, and Japan followed in the later half of 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dgmlive.com/news/king-crimson-in-japan-2015 |title=King Crimson In Japan 2015 |first=Sid |last=Smith |date=1 July 2015 |website=dgmlive.com |access-date=7 Mar 2021 |archive-date=7 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307152531/https://www.dgmlive.com/news/king-crimson-in-japan-2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Brand-new songs mainly written by Fripp and Jakszyk were debuted at the concerts, as well as drum showcases. A live recording from the Canadian leg of the tour was released at the end of February 2016 as ''[[Live In Toronto (King Crimson album)|Live In Toronto]]'', which included new songs "Radical Action (To Unseat the Hold of Monkey Mind)" and "Meltdown". A European tour was planned for 2016. Following Rieflin's decision to take a break from music, drummer [[Jeremy Stacey]] of [[Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds]] was called in place for dates from September.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/king-crimson-call-up-drummer-jeremy-stacey |title=King Crimson call up drummer Jeremy Stacey |first=Scott |last=Munro |date=7 March 2016 |website=loudersound.com |access-date=9 February 2021 |archive-date=21 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210621194156/https://www.loudersound.com/news/king-crimson-call-up-drummer-jeremy-stacey |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Uncertain Times Japan Tour 2018 Photo 2 (cropped).jpg|left|thumb|280px|The band with its "Three Over Five" line-up following a show in [[Takamatsu]], Japan on 7 December 2018.

Top L–R: Collins, Levin, Rieflin, Jakszyk, Fripp. Bottom L–R: Mastelotto, Stacey, Harrison.]]
A further live album, ''[[Radical Action to Unseat the Hold of Monkey Mind]]'', was released in September 2016, drawing from 2015 concert dates of Japan, Canada and France preceding Rieflin's departure and Stacey's arrival. A 4-disc set aimed at documenting the band's shuffling and evolving live setlist, it included one performance of every song the band presented onstage during the tour, and concert footage mostly recorded in Takamatsu, on 19 December 2015.

On 7 December 2016, founding King Crimson member [[Greg Lake]] died of cancer.<ref>{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Savage |date=8 December 2016 |title=Greg Lake: King Crimson and ELP star dies aged 69 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-38251936 |work=BBC |access-date=9 February 2021 |archive-date=8 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161208134841/http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-38251936 |url-status=live }}</ref> Another former King Crimson member, [[John Wetton]], died of [[colon cancer]] on 31 January 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Andrew|last=Trendell|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/asia-forntman-ex-king-crimson-bassist-john-wetton-dies-1964154|title=Asia frontman, ex-King Crimson bassist John Wetton dies – NME|date=2017-01-31|newspaper=NME|language=en-US|access-date=2017-01-31|archive-date=6 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406151646/https://www.nme.com/news/music/asia-forntman-ex-king-crimson-bassist-john-wetton-dies-1964154|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 3 January 2017, Bill Rieflin returned to King Crimson.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dgmlive.com/diaries/Robert+Fripp/RF_diary_2017_Jan_03|title=Bredonborough|date=3 January 2017|website=Dgmlive.com|access-date=19 May 2018|archive-date=20 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180520054120/https://www.dgmlive.com/diaries/Robert+Fripp/RF_diary_2017_Jan_03|url-status=live}}</ref> Since the band wished to retain Jeremy Stacey, King Crimson became an octet with four drummers, which Fripp initially referred to as the "Double Quartet Formation".<ref>{{cite web |first=Alex |last=Young |url=https://consequence.net/2017/01/king-crimson-to-tour-the-us-in-2017-and-theyre-bringing-along-four-drummers/ |title=King Crimson to tour the US in 2017, and they're bringing along four drummers |work=Consequence of Sound |date=9 Jan 2017 |access-date=11 Mar 2021 |archive-date=25 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925113127/https://consequence.net/2017/01/king-crimson-to-tour-the-us-in-2017-and-theyre-bringing-along-four-drummers/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Later on, Rieflin shifted his group role and became King Crimson's first full-time keyboard player, with Fripp rechristening the lineup the "Three Over Five" (or "Five Over Three") Formation.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/king-crimsons-bill-rieflin-on-new-tour-david-bowie-cover-w482835 |title=King Crimson's Bill Rieflin on Summer Tour, Bowie Cover, Band's Future |author1-first=Steve |author1-last=Smith |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=22 May 2017 |access-date=11 Mar 2021 |archive-date=16 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616154239/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/king-crimsons-bill-rieflin-on-new-tour-david-bowie-cover-w482835 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Robert|last=Fripp|url=https://www.dgmlive.com/diaries/Robert%20Fripp/RF_diary_2017_April_21|title=Robert Fripp's Diary: Breakfasting Trough, Hotel Acceptable, Bedford.|date=21 April 2017|website=Dgmlive.com|access-date=25 April 2020|archive-date=12 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812073026/https://www.dgmlive.com/diaries/Robert%20Fripp/RF_diary_2017_April_21|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 2 June 2017, King Crimson released a new live EP named ''Heroes'', featuring a cover of the [[David Bowie]] [["Heroes" (David Bowie song)|song of the same name]]. The EP was intended as a tribute to Bowie, for whom Fripp had provided distinctive guitar work on the albums ''[["Heroes" (David Bowie album)|"Heroes"]]'' (1977) and ''[[Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)]]'' (1980).<ref>{{cite web|first=Sid|last=Smith|url=https://www.dgmlive.com/news/Crimson%20release%20Heroes%20EP|title=Crimson Release Heroes Ep|website=Dgmlive.com|access-date=19 May 2018|date=27 April 2017|archive-date=16 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916052812/https://www.dgmlive.com/news/Crimson%20release%20Heroes%20EP|url-status=live}}</ref> The video to King Crimson's version of "Heroes" won "Video of the Year" at the 2017 [[Prog (magazine)|Progressive Music Awards]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Scott |last=Munro |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/marillion-anathema-steve-hackett-among-progressive-music-award-winners |title=Marillion, Anathema, Steve Hackett among Progressive Music Award winners |work=loudersound.com |date=15 September 2017 |access-date=15 Mar 2021 |archive-date=22 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322173853/http://teamrock.com/news/2017-09-15/marillion-anathema-steve-hackett-among-progressive-music-award-winners |url-status=live }}</ref> Shortly afterwards, King Crimson embarked on the first leg of a North American tour, from 11 June until 19 July.<ref>{{cite web |first=Alex |last=Young |title=King Crimson announce full details of 2017 tour, plus David Bowie tribute EP |url=https://consequence.net/2017/05/king-crimson-announce-full-details-of-2017-tour-plus-david-bowie-tribute-ep/ |website=Consequence of Sound |date=11 May 2017 |access-date=16 Mar 2021 |archive-date=25 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925133544/https://consequence.net/2017/05/king-crimson-announce-full-details-of-2017-tour-plus-david-bowie-tribute-ep/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)--> |title=King Crimson to release "Official Bootleg" and more |url=https://www.goldminemag.com/news/king-crimson-release-official-bootleg |website=[[Goldmine (magazine)|Goldmine]] |date=9 Oct 2017 |access-date=16 Mar 2021 |archive-date=27 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227124823/https://www.goldminemag.com/news/king-crimson-release-official-bootleg |url-status=live }}</ref> On 3 September, Robert Fripp said that his differences with Adrian Belew had been resolved and that there were "no current plans for (him) to come out with the current formation" but "the doors to the future are open." Belew confirmed this, adding "it means I may be back in the band in the future at some point."<ref name="New Court" /><ref name="Belew9thMan">{{cite web|last1=Smith|first1=Sid|title=Peace – a new beginning?|url=https://www.dgmlive.com/news/Belew%20now%209th%20Man|work=DGM Live|date=4 September 2017|access-date=5 September 2017|archive-date=5 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905182631/https://www.dgmlive.com/news/Belew%20now%209th%20Man|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 14 October 2017, King Crimson released another contemporary live album, ''[[Live in Chicago (King Crimson album)|Live in Chicago]]'', recorded on tour in June of the same year. As had been the case with its two predecessors, it included new music in the absence of a new studio album (in this case "Bellscape & Orchestral Werning", "The Errors" and "Interlude"). It also documented the return to the live set of material from the long-neglected 1970 album ''Lizard'' (in the form of "Cirkus", which the band had begun adding to their sets in 2016, and the second half of the title suite), as well as new arrangements of some Belew-era songs.

On 13 October 2017, it was announced that Bill Rieflin would be unable to join the Three Over Five Formation on the 2017 Autumn tour in the U.S. He was temporarily replaced by Seattle-based [[Guitar Craft|Crafty Guitarist]] Chris Gibson.<ref name="GibsonJoins">{{cite web|last1=Smith|first1=Sid|title=Chris Gibson joins Crim|url=https://www.dgmlive.com/news/Chris%20Gibson%20joins%20Crim|website=DGM Live|date=13 October 2017|access-date=13 October 2017|archive-date=13 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013225242/https://www.dgmlive.com/news/Chris%20Gibson%20joins%20Crim|url-status=live}}</ref> During 2018, King Crimson performed the extensive 33-date Uncertain Times tour through the UK and Europe between 13 June and 16 November.<ref name="Uncertain Times tour">{{cite web |first=Scott |last=Munro |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/king-crimson-announce-uncertain-times-uk-and-european-tour |title=King Crimson announce Uncertain Times UK and European tour |date=22 Nov 2017 |website=loudersound.com |access-date=15 Mar 2021 |archive-date=7 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307194358/https://www.loudersound.com/news/king-crimson-announce-uncertain-times-uk-and-european-tour |url-status=live }}</ref>

Although the band continued their "no new studio album" policy, April 2018 saw the full release of another live album, ''[[Live in Vienna (King Crimson album)|Live in Vienna]]'', presenting the complete concert in Vienna on 1 December 2016. The album was originally scheduled for worldwide release in 2017, but was postponed in lieu of ''Live in Chicago''; however, it was only released in Japan in September 2017, with a bonus disc with recordings from the band's tour there in December 2015. The worldwide release added a performance of "Fracture", plus three pieces drawn from the nightly Fripp-composed introductory soundscapes with improvisations by Collins and Levin: these pieces were arranged and realised by David Singleton, reflecting similar work he'd performed for '' THRaKaTTaK'' twenty years earlier.<ref name="DGM1">{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Sid|title=Live in Vienna|newspaper=DGM Live |date=19 February 2018 |url=https://www.dgmlive.com/news/Live%20In%20Vienna|publisher=[[Discipline Global Mobile]]|access-date=19 February 2018}}</ref> On 20 October 2018, a further live album/video was released, ''[[Meltdown: Live in Mexico City]]'', recorded during dates in July 2017.

On 6 April 2019, it was announced at a press conference that Rieflin would take another break from King Crimson to attend to family matters, his place on keyboards for the 2019 50th anniversary tour taken by [[Theo Travis]], better known as a saxophonist, [[Soft Machine]] member and occasional duo collaborator with Robert Fripp.<ref name="rskc2019" /><ref name="innerviewskc1">{{cite interview |first=Robert |last=Fripp |interviewer1=Anil Prasad |interviewer2=Sid Smith |title=King Crimson - Sheer Visceral Power |url=https://www.innerviews.org/inner/king-crimson |date=6 April 2019 |work=Innerviews |access-date=7 Mar 2021 |archive-date=28 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228152014/https://www.innerviews.org/inner/king-crimson |url-status=live }}</ref> Although Travis joined the band for rehearsals, Fripp said on 2 May that the band had decided that it was no longer possible to have other musicians deputising for Rieflin and for this reason were "proceed(ing) as a Seven-Headed Beast" without Travis.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dgmlive.com/news/irreplaceable-billness |title=Irreplaceable Billness |first=Mariana |last=Scaravilli |date=2 May 2019 |website=dgmlive.com |access-date=7 February 2021 |archive-date=3 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503134840/https://www.dgmlive.com/news/irreplaceable-billness |url-status=live }}</ref> Rieflin's parts were divided among other band members, with Fripp, Stacey, Jakszyk and Collins adding keyboards to their on-stage rigs, and Levin once again using the synthesizer he used during the '80s tours.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.westword.com/music/tony-levin-on-fifty-years-of-king-crimson-11471833 |title=Fifty Years of Prog-Rock Wizardry With King Crimson |first=Jon |last=Solomon |date=6 Sep 2019 |website=Westword |access-date=11 Mar 2021 |archive-date=8 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808123955/https://www.westword.com/music/tony-levin-on-fifty-years-of-king-crimson-11471833 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="2019-keyboards">{{cite web |url=https://tonylevin.com/road-diaries/king-crimson-2019-europe-tour/leipzig-warmup |title=Tony Levin's Road Diary: Leipzig Warmup |last=Levin |first=Tony |author-link=Tony Levin |date=9 June 2019 |access-date=15 July 2019 |archive-date=13 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713190539/https://tonylevin.com/road-diaries/king-crimson-2019-europe-tour/leipzig-warmup |url-status=live }}</ref> Soon after on 11 June, King Crimson's entire discography was made available to stream online on all the major streaming platforms, as part of the band's 50th anniversary celebration.<ref>{{cite web |first=Alex |last=Young |url=https://consequence.net/2019/06/king-crimson-spotify/ |title=King Crimson's catalog now available on Spotify |publisher=Consequence of Sound |access-date=9 August 2019 |date=11 June 2019 |archive-date=20 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920022112/https://consequence.net/2019/06/king-crimson-spotify/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 24 March 2020, Bill Rieflin died of cancer.<ref name="rsit">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bill-rieflin-king-crimson-r-e-m-ministry-dummer-dead-obituary-972751/ |title=Bill Rieflin, Drummer for King Crimson, R.E.M., Ministry, Dead at 59 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=24 March 2020 |access-date=April 25, 2020 |archive-date=25 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325041223/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bill-rieflin-king-crimson-r-e-m-ministry-dummer-dead-obituary-972751/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In the same year, King Crimson collaborator [[Keith Tippett]] died after several years of illness on 14 June,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/keith-tippett-king-crimson-dies/|title=Keith Tippett, King Crimson Collaborator, Dies at 72|first=Dave|last=Lifton|date=15 June 2020|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|access-date=3 December 2024}}</ref> and former bassist and singer [[Gordon Haskell]] died from lung cancer on 15 October.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/9468313/gordon-haskell-dead-king-crimson-bassist-singer-dies/ |author=<!--Staff writer(s)--> |title=Former King Crimson Bassist and Singer Gordon Haskell Dies at 74 |magazine=Billboard |date=18 Oct 2020 |access-date=7 Mar 2021 |archive-date=20 October 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201020111707/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/9468313/gordon-haskell-dead-king-crimson-bassist-singer-dies/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

King Crimson toured North America and then Japan in 2021.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theoaklandpress.com/2021/08/26/king-crimson-to-visit-on-latest-final-north-american-tour |title=King Crimson to visit on latest — final? — North American tour |first=Gary |last=Graff |work=[[The Oakland Press]] |date=2021-08-26 |access-date=2022-08-26 |archive-date=26 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826172556/https://www.theoaklandpress.com/2021/08/26/king-crimson-to-visit-on-latest-final-north-american-tour/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Recordings from dates on the American leg of the tour were released as the "official bootleg" live album ''[[Music Is Our Friend: Live in Washington and Albany]]'', featuring music from across the band's lifetime plus two new Tony Levin cadenzas.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/king-crimson-announce-new-2021-live-album |title=King Crimson announce new 2021 live album |first=Jerry |last=Ewing |date=2021-10-20 |website=loudersound.com |access-date=2022-08-26 |archive-date=26 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826172555/https://www.loudersound.com/news/king-crimson-announce-new-2021-live-album |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/music-is-our-friend-live-in-washington-dc-albany--mw0003607611|title=Music Is Our Friend [Live in Washington D.C. & Albany]|website=AllMusic|access-date=2022-08-26|archive-date=26 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826172555/https://www.allmusic.com/album/music-is-our-friend-live-in-washington-dc-albany--mw0003607611|url-status=live}}</ref>