The League Of Gentlemen - Eye Needles

Stormy Mundy Selection (Occasional Series - Acts of Random Archive Rummaging)

Described by Fripp as a “second wave dance band with the emphasis on spirit rather than competence”, The League Of Gentlemen formed in March 1980 and for seven months toured the clubs and colleges of Europe and the States. Fripp recruited keyboard player Barry Andrews (who had recently departed XTC and who had also played on Exposure, bassist Sarah Lee, and drummer Johnny Toobad, both of whom had been playing in a punk group called Baby And The Black Spots which Fripp had seen in concert.
Immediately before the recording of the album, Toobad was sacked and Kevin Wilkinson stepped in at short notice just as he had done in concert when Toobad went AWOL due to his problems with substance abuse. Here the band goes through another version of Eye Needle. Taken at a faster tempo Andrews' keyboard lines are slightly different as are some of Fripp's pointillistic fretboard runs. Blessed with a bristling energy it's also possible to see the genesis of Frame By Frame in this piece.

#KingCrimson
#RobertFripp

[BeesWaxMinder]

I absolutely love this band!

So little material of theirs available…

[danopticon]

w00t!! 🤘

I know it probably won’t happen, but this is a reunion tour I’d love to hear!!

[lapoelepoepoele]

These gentlemen are brilliant! We must show them to the king
Dear sir let us take you forth to our royal for we are but squires and vassals!

[crashfan]

finally, some league of gentlemen love

[davidvasquez]

Very creative keyboards. Signature Fripp riffing. I love it.

[ikkenhisatsu]

Robert Fripp did a huge service to the young musicians who played in The League and his creations like this. They learned precision and dare I say it...? Discipline. They might not ever play this again, but the lessons they learned will serve them well.

[richardhawkins]

Please put The League Of Gentlemen on Tridal etc., it is one of my favourite albums. It is still so good to listen to 43 years later.

[michaelmaffett]

Absolutely Short, sweet and title fully fits!

[hazeonstacks]

king crimson should definitely make a comeback, they have lots of potential to become popular again

[Starclimber]

Thanks, loved the original and love this rendition as well.

[plashe]

I love the part that sounds like the microwave is done heating up my food

[janewells]

Saw this at Bogarts, Cincinnati! Still have the T-shirt!!!

[texasfreedomlover]

Unfortunately for me the only time that I saw KC live was a while back in Dallas at the Fair Park Music Hall. Great intimate size venue but I couldn’t believe that their security allowed a crazed fan to literally bark and cry at loud volume levels throughout the entire show. Definitely ruined it for the band if they made a room recording of the show.

[RiffRaffish]

Wow I haven't heard this one and I actually prefer it a lot over the original

[derangeddiligence]

This has got to be the single, weirdest thing I've ever listened to.