Robert Fripp facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Robert Fripp
Fripp in 2024
Background information
Born	(1946-05-16) 16 May 1946 (age 79) Wimborne Minster, Dorset, England
Genres	Art rock progressive rock post-progressive ambient experimental
Occupation(s)	Musician songwriter producer
Instruments	Guitar keyboards synthesizers
Years active	1967–present
Labels	E.G. Virgin Discipline Global Mobile
Associated acts	Giles, Giles & Fripp Fripp & Eno Brian Eno David Bowie Daryl Hall Peter Gabriel Blondie David Sylvian League of Gentlemen Van der Graaf Generator Peter Hammill The Roches No-Man G3 Porcupine Tree Toyah Willcox the Damned Talking Heads Andy Summers Trey Gunn Theo Travis Judy Dyble Slow Music Project

Robert Fripp (born 16 May 1946) is an English guitarist, composer, and record producer. He is most famous for being the founder and only constant member of the progressive rock band King Crimson. Progressive rock is a style of music that mixes rock with other types, like classical and jazz.

Fripp has worked with many famous musicians, including David Bowie, Brian Eno, and Peter Gabriel. He is known for his unique and experimental guitar playing. He even invented a special tape delay system called "Frippertronics" to create looping soundscapes. He also created a new way of tuning a guitar called New Standard Tuning.

Fripp is married to the singer and actress Toyah Willcox. Together, they became very popular on YouTube for their "Sunday Lunch" video series.

Early Life and First Bands

Robert Fripp was born in Wimborne Minster, a town in Dorset, England. He received his first guitar for Christmas when he was eleven years old. He said, "Almost immediately I knew that this guitar was going to be my life." He took lessons and was inspired by early rock and roll, but soon became interested in jazz.

In 1961, when he was fifteen, Fripp joined his first band, the Ravens. After a few years playing in different local bands, he decided to become a professional musician. He played in a hotel orchestra where he met other musicians he would later work with, like Greg Lake.

At 21, Fripp was inspired by music from artists like the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix. He realized that even though their music sounded different, they were all expressing something powerful. This pushed him to create his own unique musical path.

Career

Founding King Crimson

In 1967, Fripp moved to London and formed a band called Giles, Giles and Fripp. This group didn't last long, but it led to the creation of King Crimson in 1968. The first lineup included Fripp, Greg Lake, Ian McDonald, Michael Giles, and lyricist Peter Sinfield.

Fripp on tour with King Crimson in 1974.

King Crimson's first album, In the Court of the Crimson King, was a huge success in 1969. It is now seen as one of the most important albums in progressive rock history. However, the band's lineup changed many times over the years. Fripp was the only member to stay through all its different versions.

The band's music was often complex, mixing rock with jazz and classical ideas. After a few more albums, Fripp became the leader of King Crimson. He guided the band through many changes in style, from powerful rock to more experimental sounds. He broke up the group in 1974, but it would return in different forms later on.

Solo Work and Famous Collaborations

During breaks from King Crimson, Fripp worked on other projects. He collaborated with musician Brian Eno on two albums, (No Pussyfooting) and Evening Star. On these albums, they experimented with a technique using two tape recorders to create repeating loops of sound. This became known as "Frippertronics."

In 1977, Fripp was invited by Brian Eno to play guitar on David Bowie's famous album "Heroes". He also worked with Peter Gabriel on his first two solo albums and toured with him. He later played on albums by bands like Blondie and Talking Heads.

In 1979, Fripp released his first solo album, Exposure, which featured many of his famous friends, including Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins.

Reforming King Crimson in the 1980s

This design by Steve Ball was used on later versions of the album Discipline.

In 1981, Fripp formed a new version of King Crimson. This lineup included drummer Bill Bruford and two American musicians, bassist Tony Levin and guitarist Adrian Belew. This band had a new sound, influenced by new wave and Indonesian gamelan music.

They released three albums: Discipline, Beat, and Three of a Perfect Pair. Both Fripp and Belew used new guitar synthesizer technology to create sounds that had never been heard before. Fripp broke up this version of the band in 1984.

Guitar Craft and Soundscapes

In 1985, Fripp started a guitar school called Guitar Craft. He taught students his unique playing style, including a special technique called crosspicking and his New Standard Tuning. The school's students sometimes performed together as "The League of Crafty Guitarists."

The first Guitar Craft course was held at Claymont Court in West Virginia.

In the 1990s, Fripp began creating solo music he called "Soundscapes." He used an updated, digital version of his Frippertronics system to build complex layers of sound live on stage. He released several Soundscapes albums, such as 1999 and A Blessing of Tears.

Later King Crimson and Other Projects

Fripp brought King Crimson back again in 1994. This time, the band had six members, including two guitarists, two bassists, and two drummers. They called it a "double trio." This lineup released the album THRAK in 1995.

Trey Gunn, Adrian Belew, and Fripp playing with King Crimson in 2003.

The band continued to change, and in 2000, a four-piece version released the construKction of light. King Crimson went on another break but returned in 2013 with a seven-piece lineup that included three drummers. This version of the band toured until 2021, playing music from all across the band's long history.

Fripp also worked on many other projects. He toured with guitarists Joe Satriani and Steve Vai on their G3 tour. He also composed the startup sound for the Windows Vista operating system.

Guitar Technique

The symbol for Guitar Craft.

Fripp is known for his highly technical and unusual guitar style. He does not play blues-based rock like many other guitarists. Instead, his playing is influenced by classical music and jazz. He developed a technique called crosspicking, which involves picking across multiple strings in a rapid pattern.

He also invented his own guitar tuning, called New Standard Tuning (NST). This tuning is different from the standard tuning used on most guitars and allows for new types of chords and melodies.

When he performs, Fripp almost always sits on a stool. This is unusual for a rock guitarist but allows him to focus on his complex playing style.

Personal Life

Fripp married singer and actress Toyah Willcox in 1986. They live in Worcestershire, England. The couple has no children.

During the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020 and 2021, Fripp and Willcox started a YouTube series called Toyah and Robert's Sunday Lunch. In these short, fun videos, they performed cover versions of famous rock songs in their kitchen. The videos became extremely popular and showed a more playful side of Fripp. The duo later toured with the "Sunday Lunch" show.

Discography

Fripp has appeared on over 700 official releases. This includes his work with King Crimson, his solo albums, and his many collaborations.

Solo Studio Albums

• Exposure (1979)
• God Save the Queen/Under Heavy Manners (1980)
• Let the Power Fall: An Album of Frippertronics (1981)
• The Gates of Paradise (1998)

With Brian Eno

• (No Pussyfooting) (1973)
• Evening Star (1975)
• The Equatorial Stars (2004)

With David Sylvian

• The First Day (1993)
• Damage: Live (1994)

With Andy Summers

• I Advance Masked (1982)
• Bewitched (1984)

See also

In Spanish: Robert Fripp para niños

• List of ambient music artists