KING CRIMSON’S ROBERT FRIPP QUITS MUSIC BUSINESS, SAYING IT HAS BECOME ‘AN EXERCISE IN FUTILITY’
by: Dave Swanson Yesterday

http://wac.450F.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/ultimateclassicrock.com/files/2012/09/fripp3.jpg
YouTube

King Crimson‘s Robert Fripp has granted a rare interview with the UK Financial Times to explain why he has given up on the music business. “I couldn’t concentrate on music, so I made the choice to give up my career as a musician in the front line to deal with the business.”

Apparently, this all stems from a recent altercation with music giant the Universal Group, who recently bought up a series of independent labels that own parts of his back catalog. Fripp believes this action has led to the release of unauthorized releases under his name.

He cites other examples of his music being used without his consent, notably in the Kanye West single ‘Power,’ which freely sampled the King Crimson classic ’21st Century Schizoid Man.’ The video scored one million plays on YouTube before Fripp was reportedly consulted. Fripp has been in a tangled legal dispute with Universal for the past five years, and now refers to his life as a professional musician as “a joyless exercise in futility.”

Over the last few years, the King Crimson catalog has been getting the royal treatment with expanded and deluxe editions. In thinking on his past endeavors, Fripp said “Going back to early King Crimson, the remarkable explosion of the creative impulse came from these young men who didn’t know what they were doing, yet were able to do it.” However, the legendary guitarist and musical visionary thinks this spirit is certainly lacking in the current climate. “What has changed in 40 years? It’s very simple: 40 years ago there was a market economy. Today there is a market society – today everything, including ethics, has a price.”

It shouldn’t all be about money, says Fripp. “Do you believe that Rostropovich was playing a cello just for a living? Do you believe that Hendrix was playing for money? Music is a language in which we can express our struggle with what it is to be a human being. This is at the center of what created King Crimson. Today I remain responsible for that… how can I lie to that? If I do, I cease to be human.”

A multi-disc deluxe edition of the 1973 Crimson classic ‘Larks’ Tongues in Aspic’ is set for release in October and will include 13 CD’s, a DVD and a Blu-Ray disc.

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/king-crimson-robert-fripp-quits-music-business/

I ,FOR ONE, WILL MISS HIM.
MAYBE JOEY COULD FOLLOW HIS LEAD.

BILL PERKS wrote on Sep 8^th, 2012 at 10:25am:

I ,FOR ONE, WILL MISS HIM. MAYBE JOEY COULD FOLLOW HIS LEAD.

http://ionehellobeautiful.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/shannon_price_and_gary_coleman.jpg!!!!!

he should take the lead from stones inc. and release his inner GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!. been a big fan of his work over the years from my first show at the orpheum in boston in 84 to my last at the nokia times square in 08.


hyde park 69

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfTzdHCyP9w

Robert Fripp is one of the best musicians in rock history, creative, innovative, great player, great leader and King Crimson is one of the best bands to see live if you wanna feel the music, but as a person, Robert  is very special, he is even nasty with the fans

Not happy with the news

Fripp is an asshole. I wish I had the money to decide to leave my "gig" and venture off into other areas. I have no respect or sympathy for him. Fuck him.

Well I for one have a lot of respect for Robert Fripp, he's never bought into the media bullshit that goes on, he's just into music period, & one of the finest musicians around, with the industry today I don't blame talented people to just pack it up & play in some club somewhere.

He's Fripping out over getting screwed by a record company? Gee wonder if thats ever happened before. Bye Bye

Fripp  worked with Bowie,no?

Factory Girl wrote on Sep 8^th, 2012 at 3:06pm:

Fripp  worked with Bowie,no?

Yes, he's the lead guitar on "Heroes", and based on the style I think it was Fripp contribution so the proper credit must be "Bowie-Fripp", he also has played it live with Blondie and his own band King Crimson. Fripp has colaborations in many of Bowie's albums

WHAT MANY OF THESE OLD DUDES DONT UNDERSTAND IS THAT NOBODY PAYS FOR MUSIC ANYMORE..
ROCK IS AS DEAD AS JOEY'S SOCIAL LIFE.

I don't think he's "fripping" over, and I never met him so I don't know if he's an asshole. Anyway, I couldn't care less what he is. He was partially responsable for some remarkable albums. In The Court Of The Crimson King, Red, Discipline, Absent Lovers, etc.


"Kanye West"? Isn't he the guy standing next to Austin Powers?

http://www.wildsound-filmmaking-feedback-events.com/images/mike_myers_kanye_west.jpg

Here's the link to the Financial Times interview with Fripp: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/f588e100-d7ee-11e1-9980-00144feabdc0.html#axzz25ucBQb1X

Not a fan of quitters. Better to try and fix the problems instead of giving up and quitting. The best ideas are due to a necessity to change and offer a solution.

Edith Grove wrote on Sep 8^th, 2012 at 3:51pm:

Here's the link to the Financial Times interview with Fripp: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/f588e100-d7ee-11e1-9980-00144feabdc0.html#axzz25ucBQb1X

Thanks EG, in the earlier posts yes, Bowie used Fripp on a lot of those Eno period albums, from that picture in that article he looks like a business man then a Rock guy, but then again Bowie did that too in the latter years when he was performing.

A guy I know went to one of Fripp's guitar camps back in the 90s...it sounded like a cult. It was in Costa Rica or someplace, and the new students had to serve the older ones...on the first day you were only allowed to play one note...it sounded kinda retarded.

http://youtu.be/skBJ4UazDaw

Voodoo Chile in Wonderland wrote on Sep 8^th, 2012 at 3:07pm:

Factory Girl wrote on Sep 8th, 2012 at 3:06pm: Fripp  worked with Bowie,no? Yes, he's the lead guitarr on "Heroes", and based on the style I think it was Fripp contribution so the proper credit must be "Bowie-Fripp", he also has played it live with Blondie and his own band King Crimson. Fripp has colaborations in many of Bowie's albums

He also plays much of the lead guitar on the 'Scary Monsters' album. Some of the most incredible playing on any album ever.

Bitch wrote on Sep 8^th, 2012 at 4:32pm:

Not a fan of quitters. Better to try and fix the problems instead of giving up and quitting. The best ideas are due to a necessity to change and offer a solution.

How can you fix a problem like this? Its like banging your head off a brick wall.

Not a fan of how the music industry - run by people with little interest in music and dominated by the combined anti-christs of Clear Channel, Simon Cowell, Reality Shows and the like - has killed rock music as an art form.

As a 'consumer', the public reaps what it sows. No wonder proper artists give up when confronted with what the industry has become.

Christ knows what its going to be like in 10-20 years when the current generation of veteran artists, who established themselves before the rot set in, have gone.

Gazza wrote on Sep 8^th, 2012 at 5:28pm:

Bitch wrote on Sep 8th, 2012 at 4:32pm: Not a fan of quitters. Better to try and fix the problems instead of giving up and quitting. The best ideas are due to a necessity to change and offer a solution. How can you fix a problem like this? Its like banging your head off a brick wall. Not a fan of how the music industry - run by people with little interest in music and dominated by the combined anti-christs of Clear Channel, Simon Cowell, Reality Shows and the like - has killed rock music as an art form. As a 'consumer', the public reaps what it sows. No wonder proper artists give up when confronted with what the industry has become. Christ knows what its going to be like in 10-20 years when the current generation of veteran artists, who established themselves before the rot set in, have gone.

IT'S GONNA SUCK WHEN KID ROCK THROWS IN THE TOWEL.

BILL PERKS wrote on Sep 8^th, 2012 at 6:50pm:

Gazza wrote on Sep 8th, 2012 at 5:28pm: Bitch wrote on Sep 8th, 2012 at 4:32pm: Not a fan of quitters. Better to try and fix the problems instead of giving up and quitting. The best ideas are due to a necessity to change and offer a solution. How can you fix a problem like this? Its like banging your head off a brick wall. Not a fan of how the music industry - run by people with little interest in music and dominated by the combined anti-christs of Clear Channel, Simon Cowell, Reality Shows and the like - has killed rock music as an art form. As a 'consumer', the public reaps what it sows. No wonder proper artists give up when confronted with what the industry has become. Christ knows what its going to be like in 10-20 years when the current generation of veteran artists, who established themselves before the rot set in, have gone. IT'S GONNA SUCK WHEN KID ROCK THROWS IN THE TOWEL.

http://www.brighthand.com/assets/23010.jpg

I have never heard a King Crimson song.
Before you have a technicolor yawn, I have never watched Seinfeld either.
There are some things in life which my radar is blocked from.

To this very day, i have not even heard 1 second of any King Crimson song (to the best of my knowledge).

corgi37 wrote on Sep 8^th, 2012 at 8:15pm:

To this very day, i have not even heard 1 second of any King Crimson song (to the best of my knowledge).

ME NEITHER,I JUST KNOW THEY WERE AT HYDE PARK 69.
BILL PERKS WYMAN TOLD ME.

I've been drinking tonight. Fuck this guy. This is a god damned Rolling Stones messageboard. I could give two flying fucks about any other musician. I see there's a god damned Springsteen thread here too. I'm here for the Rolling Stones.

Let this jerk off retire and nobody will care. Its not like he's B.B. King or Eric Clapton. Name me one riff this guy does that compares to Keef's Tumblin' Dice or those sexy as hell riffs he plays in Love is Strong.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Te6VBiRjhqA

This is the kind of stuff women like. I'm not listening to a science book. You can't get laid to King Crimson. At all. Panties are not pulled down during a Robert Fripp performance.

Robert Fripp is a superb guitarist--maybe the greatest living player--and to declare otherwise is either ignorant or churlish or both.

corgi37 wrote on Sep 8^th, 2012 at 8:15pm:

To this very day, i have not even heard 1 second of any King Crimson song (to the best of my knowledge).

How about this one?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlNantlznCA

Gazza wrote on Sep 8^th, 2012 at 5:28pm:

Bitch wrote on Sep 8th, 2012 at 4:32pm: Not a fan of quitters. Better to try and fix the problems instead of giving up and quitting. The best ideas are due to a necessity to change and offer a solution. How can you fix a problem like this? Its like banging your head off a brick wall. Not a fan of how the music industry - run by people with little interest in music and dominated by the combined anti-christs of Clear Channel, Simon Cowell, Reality Shows and the like - has killed rock music as an art form. As a 'consumer', the public reaps what it sows. No wonder proper artists give up when confronted with what the industry has become. Christ knows what its going to be like in 10-20 years when the current generation of veteran artists, who established themselves before the rot set in, have gone.

Well then he can try creating a new way, his own label and signing up the old acts that have fallen through the cracks. Lots of excellent material that is old isnt being distributed at all anymore. People like Ian Mac Lagan, his old stuff cant be bought new,and there must be hundreds of others just like him out there that the industry lost interest in because its not new and fresh, pop hip-hop crap. Maybe not big money makers but important overall. Someone should do it!

Good for him!!!

He owes nothing to anybody.
The current business model is something he wants no part of...
His music is being used legally, without his consent...i am sorry for that...It sucks...it really does...
He could try to pull a Michael Jackson and buy all the rights to his stuff...but that is a whole other game entirely.

Love Fripp...Belew, Levin, Pat M, Bruford, LOVE KC...Love The Sunshine Band too!!

VOO...were you at the Crimson shows on Pier 84 in NYC 1981 and 1982??

I was at the Savoy shows, NYC November 1981... what a great band it was

Later in 1982 I missed some shows from the next tour ("Beat"), I still lived in NYC but didn't know about the shows until a guy on a record store in Greenwich Village asked me if I attended them and I didn't

Then later I attended all the shows in Mexico City since the first three in 1996

I saw that latter tour, Voo!  The 'double trio' lineup kicked ass!!

Well maybe he should just fade away, unlike The Rolling Stones who will NOT FADE AWAY, and our love for them will never fade away. His fans love may fade away with him.

lotsajizz wrote on Sep 11^th, 2012 at 11:36am:

I saw that latter tour, Voo!  The 'double trio' lineup kicked ass!!

AGREED...THAT was amazing...

I wish the same thing could be said for the pojeKt2 thing...that was very self indulgent, IMO and rather boring