Tonefiend Forum

Interesting article in the current edition of Mojo magazine (Johnny Marr cover) about Robert Fripp, who apparently no longer gives interviews (he made an exception for Mojo).

I didn't know that he'd given up his life as a working musician - no more gigs or recordings to come, so he said - especially as it's due to him feeling screwed by his record company - but the article also referred to his meticulous online diary, and indeed it's quite an interesting journal to peruse...

https://www.dgmlive.com/diaries.htm?diarist=3

I've only skimmed it so far, but I think more recent entries than the August one that mentions the Mojo interview taking place, seem to suggest that he's not totally given up on music, but the diary has a search function which is a handy way of cherry picking interesting entries.

I can't say I appreciate everything he does, but what I do like of his, I like a lot; I only just found out that there's an extended version of Exposure available, with a disc of alternate versions, so I'll certainly be searching that out.

hidden away in a cupboard somewhere, I still have my collection of the NME Teach Yourself Guitar series, one of which featured Fripp - so next time I encounter it, I'll scan it and share it here. also from the NME, I can remember a kind of ongoing dialogue between Fripp and Eno in respective interviews, where Fripp would only agree to play on the next Eno record if Eno provided him with a giant dildo - both guys seemingly sex obsessed.

on the money/label thing, I guess Fripp has always been very alert to being ripped off; I recall a TV documentary about him - maybe late 70s/early 80s - and one poor fan made the mistake of trying to get him to sign a King Crimson bootleg... it didn't go down too well with Fripp!

I just watched that whole video over my morning coffee. I've heard Crimson over the years but never really followed them. Always thought of Fripp as way technical and what I'd read of his writing (some Guitar Player articles?) thought he was off into some super intellectual stratosphere. This shows him to be rather down to earth. Thanks!

I still find Summers' guitar-synth (wow a Roland 707!?!?!) a bit cheezy and you can tell he is hindered by its tracking limitations. I think the bit in the church where Robert is playing some guitar synth in a Frippertronic setup is better as he appears to have successfully incorporated its weirdness to give off a Japanese vibe. I still have a hard time appreciating guitar synth stuff though. Lot you can accomplish with a guitar, eBow, fx, etc. without going into the triggering realm.

ah, well I had the vinyl and not heard the CD version, so it will still be something new to me, for better or worse.

Bowie's "Heroes" was famously another of his flying-blind appearances; I'm sure you've heard the story of him arriving at the studio in Berlin, jetlagged as he'd come directly from the plane from New York, and did his part without previously hearing anything.

actually the story I've most often heard tells that story in reference to the title track, but in the Mojo interview I think he said it was Beauty and the Beast.

Quote from Digital Larry on January 4, 2013, 08:35
I still find Summers' guitar-synth (wow a Roland 707!?!?!) a bit cheezy and you can tell he is hindered by its tracking limitations. Lot you can accomplish with a guitar, eBow, fx, etc. without going into the triggering realm.

Actually have access to 707 down at the studio , think it would be worthwhile to update it with a newer/better pickup ? Think the whole issue with it is lack of cable and footswitch ? I can't remember things , but you guys are pretty sharp about most of this stuff.