Sid Smith

Sid's feature articles and reviews have appeared in numerous publications including Prog, Classic Rock, Record Collector, Q, Mojo and Uncut.

A full-time freelance writer with hundreds of sleevenotes and essays for both indie and major record labels to his credit, his book, In The Court Of King Crimson, an acclaimed biography of King Crimson, was substantially revised and expanded in 2019 to coincide with the band’s 50th Anniversary. Alongside appearances on radio and TV, he has lectured on jazz and progressive music in the UK and Europe.

A resident of Whitley Bay in north-east England, he spends far too much time posting photographs of LPs he's listening to on Twitter and Facebook.

Articles by: Sid Smith

Ten great King Crimson songs from the 90s

By Sid Smith published 21 May 22

Robert Fripp conceived the idea of King Crimson in the 90s as the double trio with two drummers. This is some of their best music

Stravinsky, flame throwers and King Crimson: A Formal Horse on their debut album, Here Comes A Man From The Council...

By Sid Smith published 20 April 22

A Formal Horse released their first EP in 2014, and in 2019 the avant-rockers returned with their long-awaited debut album. They’ve faced plenty of challenges but, as Prog discovers, their perseverance has paid off

Yes guitarist Steve Howe on cruises, Close To The Edge and the secrets behind Relayer's sound

By Sid Smith published 8 April 22

Now in their sixth decade, Yes show no signs of slowing down. In 2022, they'll be revisiting Close To The Edge with a fresh batch of dates. Long-serving guitarist Steve Howe looks ahead to a busy future

Ian McDonald: a tribute

By Sid Smith published 11 February 22

Prog writer Sid Smith pays tribute to King Crimson founding member Ian McDonald, who has has sadly died, aged 75

What next for King Crimson?

By Sid Smith published 9 December 21

After Robert Fripp's comments after the band's final show in Japan, Sid Smith ponders what the band might do next

King Crimson and the making of Islands

By Sid Smith published 5 December 21

How King Crimson fractured, regrouped and fractured again as they created 1971's Islands album

Button badges of albums released in 1969

The 40 best albums of 1969, the year rock got real

By Max Bell, Ian Fortnam, Hugh Fielder, Sid Smith, Tommy Udo, Scott Rowley published 2 December 21

1969 heralded the end of the 60s and the birth of real rock. Here we look at some of the gilt-edged albums from a pivotal year in rock history

Yes: the journey from The Yes Album to Fragile

By Sid Smith published 26 November 21

The amazing story of how Yes recorded two classic prog albums in just one year!

Matt Berry and friends launch new instrumental prog outfit Milkbone

By Sid Smith published 11 November 21

Milkbone inspired by Canterbury era prog mixed with European electronica and electric period Miles Davis...

The Grid/Fripp – Leviathan review

By Sid Smith published 13 August 21

Not yet rated

King Crimson's Robert Fripp and The Grid reunite on ambient masterclass for head and heart

How King Crimson resurrected themselves with Islands

By Sid Smith published 1 August 21

King Crimson were staring into the abyss in 1970, but somehow managed to regroup to record Islands with a one-off line-up

Chick Corea: A tribute

By Sid Smith published 11 June 21

Sid Smith reflects on the marvellous musical career of fusion maestro Chick Corea

Peter Hammill - In Translation review

By Sid Smith published 7 May 21

Not yet rated

A collection of cover songs made new and bold

"Yes has been a very important part of my life". Time and a word with Tony Kaye

By Sid Smith published 20 March 21

The former Yes, Badger and David Bowie keyboard player Tony Kaye reflects on his time with the prog legends

Roger Dean with paintings in the Trading Boundaries art gallery

Yes artist Roger Dean talks about his career so far

By Sid Smith published 31 August 20

He’s the artist whose otherworldly visions have became synonymous with Yes, but Roger Dean’s career had humble beginnings. Prog finds out the stories behind his most iconic album covers

Frank Zappa: The Mothers 1970

By Sid Smith, Prog published 8 August 20

Not yet rated

Hardcore fun for Frank Zappa fans

The making of Chris Squire's Fish Out Of Water

By Sid Smith published 27 June 20

The late Yes bass player Chris Squire's 1975 album Fish Out Of Water is regarded as one of the best solo albums by the band

Roxy Music: the story behind their debut album

By Sid Smith published 16 June 20

Roxy Music's debut album would set the blueprint for 70s glamour. This is the story of how it came about.

King Crimson collaborator Keith Tippett remembered

By Sid Smith published 15 June 20

Sid Smith looks at the impact on progressive music of Keith Tippett, who died yesterday aged 72

12 of the best books about prog for you to read

By Grant Moon, Sid Smith, David West, Mike Barnes, Natasha Scharf, Rachel Mann, Joe Banks, Chris Roberts published 4 April 20

Want to catch up on some reading? Here are 12 of the best books about progressive music

The making of King Crimson's Starless And Bible Black

By Sid Smith published 29 March 20

King Crimson's 1974 album Starless And Bible Black was one of the finest live albums of all time – and one nobody knew was actually live

Anthony Phillips recalls his time in Genesis

By Sid Smith published 23 October 19

Back in 2011 Prog first put Genesis on the cover. These were Phillips' recollections...

Andy Mackay on Roxy Music and his proggy new solo album

By Sid Smith published 23 July 19

The Roxy Music saxophonist reflects back on an eclectic career...

With a bit of help from Robert Fripp, Daryl Hall once went prog!

By Sid Smith published 11 May 19

But the record company were less than happy with 1980's Sacred Songs...

King Crimson: How we made In The Court Of The Crimson King

By Sid Smith published 5 April 19

Recorded in just 10 days in 1969, King Crimson’s iconic In The Court Of The Crimson King has been called “the true point at which progressive rock was born”. We look at the making of a landmark album

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