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Author Topic: Fripps Diary
jeremy

Posts: 48
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Post Fripps Diary
on: January 2, 2013, 04:39
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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.

mwseniff

Posts: 149
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Post Re: Fripps Diary
on: January 3, 2013, 10:10
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He probably got tired of listening to Adrian Belew wank right next to him. 🙂
I love Fripp tho' and have been very lucky to see him in multiple incarnations since the early 70's. I was very lucky to see his Frippertronics tour in 1979 about 4 feet away from him and his rig. He is a very sweet guy and we got to hang out and have coffee and cookies it was a very informal gig. I also met him in the 80's when he was recording in Champaign IL. I was at the coffee and bagel shop he buttonholed me an asked about my Welsh Corgi dog that was in my car out front. It's too bad about the record company.. Hopefully he will be like many other artists that also got burnt out on the music scene and came back eventually (usually to actually make a living). I suppose he could do Guitar Craft teaching like back in the 80's I missed going to that in order to raise my kid solo. The Guitar Craft stuff was brilliant I saw to of the recital performances and they were very inspiring and entertaining. I'll be reading the diary and buying some old live stuff to kick him some cash.

jeremy

Posts: 48
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Post Re: Fripps Diary
on: January 4, 2013, 01:48
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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!

jeremy

Posts: 48
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Post Re: Fripps Diary
on: January 4, 2013, 04:52
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seems bootlegging must be an ongoing concern to Fripp, as this is not the documentary I was thinking, but nonetheless the subject comes up (though jokingly this time) in this documentary too...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtK_YBZBEQA

Digital-
Larry

Posts: 192
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Post Re: Fripps Diary
on: January 4, 2013, 08:35
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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.

mwseniff

Posts: 149
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Post Re: Fripps Diary
on: January 4, 2013, 08:55
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Quote from jeremy on January 4, 2013, 01:48
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.

!

Exposure was a cool album but when it was rereleased on CD Fripp remixed and changed things unfortunately. The alternate versions are the original vinyl tracks IIRC.

When he played on all the Eno and many other albums he laid down his leads refusing to hear the tracks before playing on them to make the leads sound more dangerous.

jeremy

Posts: 48
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Post Re: Fripps Diary
on: January 4, 2013, 11:34
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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.

jeremy

Posts: 48
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Post Re: Fripps Diary
on: January 4, 2013, 11:38
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Quote from Digital Larry on January 4, 2013, 08:35
This shows him to be rather down to earth. Thanks!

yeah, the odd thing is that even having heard of his sense of humour and playfulness, it's still easy to think of him as a very serious guy when not reminded about his fun side. it's probably safe to say he's kind of eccentric. 🙂

Oinkus

Posts: 236
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Post Re: Fripps Diary
on: January 5, 2013, 05:36
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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.

Digital-
Larry

Posts: 192
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Post Re: Fripps Diary
on: January 5, 2013, 07:41
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If I'd never heard anything other than "Baby's on Fire", I'd still put Fripp at the top of the rock guitar heap. Spine tingling!

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