“This band will be colossal – it’s that good…”

Significant moments in musical history sometimes happen in the most humble of locations. Moles club in the city of Bath was the unlikely crucible from which an entirely new King Crimson poured forth. Robert Fripp had previously performed in the tiny basement dive with his most recent outfit, The League Of Gentlemen, and decided that the postage-stamp-sized performance area would be the perfect launchpad.

Though they would change their name to King Crimson a couple of months later, Discipline, as they were then known, were scheduled for two gigs in April/May 1981. Capacity audiences cheered Fripp, Adrian Belew, Tony Levin and Bill Bruford as they made their way to their instruments. Levin had played there before with Peter Gabriel as a low-key, pre-tour warm-up show.

“I guess we were sure to have no press present there, as they wouldn’t fit. Trouble is, the audience don’t fit too well either,” the bassist recalled. “Only those in the front rowlocated behind the band, so during the set people would constantly squeeze between me and Bill to get to the loo. But hey, no place is perfect.”