Starless

"Starless" is a composition by English progressive rock band King Crimson. It is the final track on their seventh studio album, Red, released on 1 October 1974.

Background
The original chords and melody for "Starless" were written by King Crimson bassist John Wetton, who had intended for the song to be the title track of Starless and Bible Black. Guitarist Robert Fripp and drummer Bill Bruford initially disliked the song and declined to record it for that album; instead, the group chose an instrumental improvisation as the title track. However, the song was revived during subsequent touring between March and May 1974, with its lyrics altered and a long instrumental section based on a bass riff written by Bruford added to it. For the Red recording sessions, the lyrics were again altered by lyricist Richard Palmer-James, and the introductory theme originally played by violinist David Cross, who had since left the band, was instead played by Fripp with some alterations. As the title "Starless and Bible Black" had already been used, the original title was shortened to "Starless".

Composition
The piece is 12 minutes and 18 seconds in length, the longest on the Red album. It starts with mellotron strings, electric guitar, bass, and a saxophone. These introduce a vocal segment in conventional verse-chorus structure.

The middle section of the song builds, in 13/8. Starting with John Wetton's bass, shortly after joined by Bill Bruford on percussion. Robert Fripp's guitar repeats a single note theme on two adjacent guitar strings. Bruford's drumming maintains its irregularity.

The song's final section begins with an abrupt transition to a fast, jazzy saxophone solo with distorted guitars and bass, expressive tribal drumming, and the tempo doubling up to a time signature of 13/16. Variations of the middle section's bassline are played under Fripp's layered and overdriven guitar parts. The saxophone returns to play a reprise of the vocal melody, then the final section is repeated with more overdubs from Fripp. Finally, the song ends with a reprise of the opening melody, removing the guitar in favour of a deeper bass.

Personnel

 * Robert Fripp – electric guitar, Mellotron
 * John Wetton – vocals, bass guitar
 * Bill Bruford – drums, percussion

with:


 * Mel Collins – soprano saxophone
 * Ian McDonald – alto saxophone
 * uncredited – double bass, cello

Cover versions
Artists who have covered "Starless" include Neal Morse, Mike Portnoy, and Randy George; Craig Armstrong, on his album As If to Nothing as "Starless II"; Banco de Gaia, on their album Memories Dreams Reflections; The Unthanks, on their 2011 album Last; the Crimson Jazz Trio, on their album King Crimson Songbook Volume One (2005).

The song has been covered live by Asia, a supergroup of which John Wetton was a founding member; 21st Century Schizoid Band, a group made up of former and future members of King Crimson; After Crying, a Hungarian symphonic rock band, with guest vocals by Wetton; U.K., one of whose members was Wetton; and District 97 with Wetton.

FM performed a live version of "Starless" in 1977 which was released on the compilation Lost in Space in 2001.

In other media
The first part of "Starless" is used in the opening of the 2018 film Mandy.