Starless and Bible Black
In July 1972, after "Close to the Edge" had been recorded, Bruford quit to join King Crimson, later explaining: "King Crimson was one of the only gigs for a rock drummer where you could play in 17/16 and still stay in decent hotels". Rehearsals began in September 1972, followed by an extensive UK tour. His instinct to remember complicated drum parts was shown when he learned how to play the long percussion and guitar part in the middle of "21st Century Schizoid Man", "by listening to it and just learning it." Bruford cites the six months free jazz percussionist Jamie Muir was in the band as highly influential on him as a player. Bruford is featured on "Larks' Tongues in Aspic" (1973), "Starless and Bible Black" (1974), "Red" (1974) and the live album USA (1975). Robert Fripp disbanded King Crimson in September 1974.