Peter Sinfield, co-founder of King Crimson and lyricist on their first four albums, has passed away, according to a post on the band’s website. He was 80. No cause of death has been revealed at this time. The announcement reads:
Peter Sinfield, King Crimson’s original roadie, lyricist, lights operator and live sound engineer passed away yesterday on the 14th of November 2024 aged 80.
Sinfield was responsible for naming the group, finding their first rehearsal space in the basement of the cafe on the Fulham Palace Road, and perhaps most significantly sourcing the artwork by his friend Barry Godber gracing the cover of King Crimson’s 1969 debut album, In The Court Of The Crimson King.
Sinfield, who entered the Crimson court through his friendship with Ian McDonald, initially contributed lyrics to I Talk To The Wind and Under The Sky, recorded by Giles, Giles and Fripp in 1968.
[…] In 2014, Fripp invited Sinfield to provide an updated take on the lyrics of 21st Century Schizoid Man, renewing their partnership, albeit briefly and at a distance, in line with Fripp’s mission to have the music, and in this instance, the lyrics reimagined for the new incarnation of King Crimson. A keen cook and gardener, living on the Suffolk coast in the town of Aldeburgh, famed for its international music festival, Peter, had been suffering from declining health for several years.
As stated above, Sinfield met fellow King Crimson co-founders Robert Fripp, Michael Giles, and Ian McDonald while they were playing in their pre-Crimson band Giles, Giles and Fripp and he was playing in Creation. According to a 2002 interview with Sinfield, McDonald said to him, “Peter I have to tell you that your band is hopeless; but you write some great words would you like to get together on a couple of songs…?” We did and he rewrote the tune for [‘In the Court of the Crimson King’]. The rest is er, as some would say, history.” After bringing in vocalist Greg Lake, the group rebranded to King Crimson, a name that Sinfield is credited with coming up with. Sinfield wrote lyrics and contributed production to their iconic 1969 debut album In the Court of the Crimson King, as well as their 1970 albums In the Wake of Poseidon and Lizard, and 1971’s Islands. He also contributed to the band’s artwork, worked as their lights operator and live sound engineer at live shows, and played analog synth on Lizard and at select live shows. During that time, Sinfield also contributed lyrics to the 1970 McDonald and Giles album by his bandmates Ian McDonald and Michael Giles. Amidst a lineup shakeup that took place after the making of Islands, Sinfield exited the band.
Sinfield produced Roxy Music’s self-titled debut album in 1972, and he teamed back up with Greg Lake to contribute lyrics to two songs on Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s classic 1973 album Brain Salad Surgery. He also released his only solo album in 1973, titled Still. Sinfield wrote lyrics for other ELP songs here and there over the years, and began writing lyrics for other artists as wel, including Cher and Celine Dion in the late 1980s and mid 1990s, respectively. As quoted above, Sinfield reconnected with Robert Fripp in 2014 for an updated take on King Crimson’s classic “21st Century Schizoid Man.” Read more at King Crimson’s website.
Rest in peace, Peter.