King Crimson songwriter and lyricist Peter Sinfield dies, aged 80

15 November, 2024

King Crimson lyricist Pete Sinfield

Peter Sinfield, songwriter and lyricist for King Crimson, has died aged 80.

The band’s original roadie, lyricist, lights operator and live sound engineer passed away yesterday (November 14).

The news was shared by King Crimson and the band’s Robert Fripp on social media.

Although no cause of death was announced, Sinfield was said to have been suffering from declining health for several years.

He was instrumental in King Crimson’s success, he co-founded the band and was responsible for naming them and finding their first rehearsal space in the cafe basement on Fulham Palace Road.

He also sourced the artwork by his friend Barry Godber for the front the cover of King Crimson’s 1969 debut album, ‘In The Court Of The Crimson King’.

From 1969 until 1971, he provided the group’s lyrics and took on the role of art director commissioning the covers of the albums ‘Court’, ‘In The Wake Of Poseidon’, ‘Lizard’ and ‘Islands’, which he also co-produced with Fripp.

Sinfield departed from the band a year later, after Fripp asked him to leave, but he went on to produce Roxy Music‘s self-titled debut album before releasing his own solo album ‘Still’ in 1973.

That same year he was recruited by fellow prog pioneers Emerson, Lake & Palmer, with whom he contributed lyrics for ‘Benny The Bouncer’ and ‘Karn Evil 9 3rd Impression’ for their fourth studio album ‘Brain Salad Surgery‘.

(L-R) Guitarist Robert Fripp, drummer Michael Giles, singer and guitarist Greg Lake, multi-instrumental Ian McDonald and lyricist Peter Sinfield which consisted of the first lineup of King Crimson in 1969 CREDIT: Willie Christie/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

He contributed further lyrics to their albums ‘Works Volume 1’, ‘Works Volume 2′ and ‘Love Beach’. In 1975, he also co-wrote the UK Number Two hit, ‘I Believe in Father Christmas’, with Greg Lake.

During the ’80s and the ’90s, he was responsible for co-writing successful hit singles for the likes of Cher, Bucks Fizz, Five Star, Cliff Richard and Celine Dion.

In 2014, Fripp invited Sinfield to provide an updated take on the lyrics of ’21st Century’ Schizoid Man’.

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