PHOTO GALLERY: BEAT: The Music of KING CRIMSON

Adrian Belew and Tony Levin of King Crimson are touring once again this year, with Steve Vai shredding in the "Robert Fripp" guitar slot, and this time with Terry Bozzio on drums (replacing Tool's Danny Carey). The second night of their tour was at the Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa. It was a weird night, to be honest. Belew slipped and fell on stage early on, and he had repeated frustrations with his guitar tunings and FX pedals for much of the show. He stopped playing during within the first minute of at least three or fours songs to complain, futz with his axe, and start over. He also walked offstage to discuss with / vent at his guitar tech several times. Vai seemed to be upset by all this too. 

Bozzio, still learning the songs apparently, was spotty at times too. Levin had to turn toward the drum kit several times to coach the former Missing Persons / Frank Zappa drummer. (Notably, three of those four musicians have also toured as part of Frank Zappa's band.)

After about forty minutes of veering between stupendous and "train wreck,", the band took an unplanned break – which seems to have fixed most of Belew's issues (and he even acknowledged to the crowd that he, not his equipment, may have been the issue.) But the break time meant the band hit their curfew before getting to play an encore.     

Even so, where it was good, it was fucking awesome. Oh, and I sat three seats away from Belew's "Remain in Light" bandmate Jerry Harrison of the Talking Heads for half the show.

All content and photographs © 2026 Gabriel David Barkin, unless otherwise noted.

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