For example, after developing a sound similar to an elephant trumpeting, I wrote the song Elephant Talk which gave my elephant sound an appropriate place to live.

Among his best-known guitar playing is the riff to Tom Tom Club's "Genius of Love" the overdriven solos on Talking Heads' "The Great Curve" the wild slide melodies on his own Top 10 hit "Oh Daddy" and the careening elephant impressions on King Crimson's "Elephant Talk". Once the formal invitation came Belew flew out to Los Angeles and found himself auditioning alongside more formally trained musicians. This band featured on the 2007 live recording Side Four and the 2009 download-only (Live Overseas).

Belew has recently moved into instrument design collaborating with Parker Guitars to help design his own Parker Fly signature guitar. His 2005 single "Beat Box Guitar" was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Rock Instrumental Performance category. In addition to being a member of King Crimson he is also in the more straightforward pop band The Bears and fronted his own band "Gaga" in the late 1970s and early 1980s.