"Discipline" is the eighth studio album by English progressive rock band King Crimson, released on October 2, 1981. This marked the band's return after a seven-year hiatus, featuring only co-founder and guitarist Robert Fripp and drummer Bill Bruford from the previous lineup. They were joined by American musicians Adrian Belew, a versatile vocalist and guitarist with a background in Frank Zappa's and David Bowie's bands, and Tony Levin, a bassist and Chapman Stick player known for his session work with Peter Gabriel.
The album showcased a fresh sound for King Crimson, blending influences from new wave, post-punk, minimalism, and Indonesian gamelan music while maintaining an experimental edge. This innovative approach helped establish the groundwork for what would later be recognized as post-progressive rock, marking a significant evolution in the band's musical direction.
Discipline showcases a diverse musical style, often described as art rock, progressive rock, new wave, post-progressive, and dance-rock.
The ballad "Matte Kudasai," meaning “please wait” in Japanese, originally featured a guitar part by Robert Fripp that was removed from later editions, although both versions are included in the 30th and 35th anniversary releases.
The lyrics for "Indiscipline" were adapted from a letter by Adrian Belew's then-wife, Margaret, about one of her paintings, with all direct references removed. "Thela Hun Ginjeet," an anagram for "heat in the jungle," was inspired by a tumultuous recording Fripp made of his neighbors arguing in New York. During its recording, Belew faced a chaotic encounter in Notting Hill Gate, which Fripp secretly recorded and later included in the track.
"The Sheltering Sky," prominently featuring Belew and Fripp on the Roland GR-300 guitar synthesizer, is named after Paul Bowles' 1949 novel, reflecting the Beat generation's influence on the band.
The album cover originally featured a Celtic knot design by George Bain, which was later replaced due to copyright issues with a design by Steve Ball. This new design became the logo for Fripp's label, Discipline Global Mobile. The back cover includes the thought-provoking statement, "Discipline is never an end in itself, only a means to an end."
