“I don't think Jimi Hendrix was a guitarist. Eric Clapton is excessively tedious.” Robert Fripp on the shortcomings of his 1960s contemporaries — and the one guitarist he thought was fun

Guitar Player ^ | 7/10 | Phil Weller

[nickcarraway]

With news that a new King Crimson album is in the works, Fripp's past comments highlight the left-field ideas that make him an original

News that King Crimson are at work on a new album has generated a wave of excitement as fans and guitarists thrill to the prospect of fresh music coming from guitarist Robert Fripp.

Rising to prominence in the late ‘60s, when Eric Clapton was deemed a deity and blues guitar was dominating the charts, Fripp separated himself from the pack with a left-field approach to songwriting and what could be achieved on guitar. His talents earned him praise from high-profile supporters, with no less than Jimi Hendrix once hailing King Crimson as the best band in the world.

It seems those feelings of adoration weren’t entirely reciprocated.

Mark Knopfler says it's “awkward” to be called a guitar god and tells who deserves the title A look into the influences that shaped the now 79-year-old Fripp's daring sound reveal how little he cared for his peers and his instrument of choice back in his heyday.

“I've never really listened to guitarists, because they've never really interested me,” he told Guitar Player in 1974.

It was a year that yielded Starless and Bible Black and Red, two of King Crimson's landmark albums. Fripp was at the top of his game.

At that time, Clapton was two albums into his solo career after the demise of Cream. Hendrix was four years gone, but a raft of stellar players had risen to take his place as guitar gods for the 1970s

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Still, the players that were getting raves left Fripp nonplussed.

“I think the guitar is a pretty feeble instrument,” he continued. “Virtually nothing interests me about the guitar.”

I saw Cream live once and I thought they were quite awful. Clapton's work since, I think, has been excessively tedious.”

— Robert Fripp

Fripp's contrarian views on the instrument were shaped in childhood, where he was seduced by “the early Sun records with Scotty Moore” before he discovered traditional jazz at the age of 15. By then, he was no longer going with the cultural currents, a bias that helped him forge an identity of his own rather than one based on earlier genres and players. .

“I haven't been influenced by Hendrix and Clapton in the way that most people would say it,” he explained. “I don't think Hendrix was a guitarist. I very much doubt if he was interested in guitar playing as such. He was just a person who had something to say and got on and said it.

“Clapton I think is mostly quite banal, although he did some exciting things earlier in his life with Mayall. I saw Cream live once and I thought they were quite awful. Clapton's work since, I think, has been excessively tedious.”

As guitarist/producer Steven Wilson observes, Fripp's against-the-grain nature often put him at odds with those around him. Having remixed King Crimson's back catalog, he's well informed of the guitarist's genius.

“Every single Crimson record that’s ever come out was a battle,” Wilson states. “A battle between Robert and the rest of the band in some cases, a battle between Robert and the record company or the management or finances or touring schedules. Everything was against them, like the press telling them they were washed up.”

Rather than buckle to the whims of mainstream audiences, Fripp doubled down on his unique approach.

“I learned that a lot of Crimson records were similar to jazz and avant-garde jazz in the British jazz movement in the early '70s,” Wilson continues. “You realize that what made those records thrilling is that fact that the band were flying by the seat of their pants a lot of the time. The music was on the verge of falling apart in some respects.”

It’s interesting, then, that the one guitarist who escaped Fripp’s crosshairs during his 1974 GP interview was a guitarist that similarly challenged the status quo with his music: Jeff Beck, who was making waves at the time with his album Blow by Blow.

“Jeff Beck's guitar playing I can appreciate as good fun,” Fripp said. “It's where the guitarist and ‘poser-cum-ego tripper-cum-rock star-cum entertainer’ becomes all involved in the package. It's good fun, it's quite enjoyable, very exciting. I wish him all the best of luck.”

As the sands of time shifted and the blues gave way to shred mania in the 1980s, Eddie Van Halen became the new Clapton, the new poster boy of the electric guitar, and the next player that every other guitarist aspired to be like.

Jeff Beck's guitar playing I can appreciate as good fun. It's quite enjoyable, very exciting. I wish him all the best of luck.”

— Robert Fripp

Reflecting on the impact that had on the guitar scene last year, Wolfgang Van Halen theorized that his Dad “kind of ruined the musical landscape” during that period.

“Because,” he explains, “instead of everybody wanting to find out who they are, they wanted to be that.”

Today, it's easy to point to players like Tosin Abasi as the guiding light for imitators. Fripp has never succumbed to such worship, and the fact that he didn't allow his unique, timeless voice on the instrument to sustain.

News of a new King Crimson album, their 14th in total and their first since 2002, brings light relief following Robert Fripp’s recent heart attack. Jakszyk believes that might hinder any future touring plans, but Fripp is at least taking his feeble Fernandes Goldtop into the studio at least one more time.

[AppyPappy]

Chattanooga? Is that a suburb of Ringgold? I used to work for Salem Carpets

[P.O.E.]

“Lark’s Tongues in Aspic” is one of my top ten favorite albums. Not good party-tape material - but still ahead of its time 50 years on.

To go from the serenity of the “Islands” album to LTIA is a testament to Fripp’s self-reinvention over time.

That being said, “Lizard” is my most-played King Crimson album (especially “Prince Rupert Laments” with vocals by Jon Anderson)

[mad_as_he$$]

😁

[newfreep]

My favorite version of “Layla”...and with Steve Gadd on drums.

[LittleBillyInfidel]

. I saw Cream live once and I thought they were quite awful. Clapton's work since, I think, has been excessively tedious.

Back in the early 90's, my cousin got me a two year gig being Ginger Baker's private videographer for his jazz band. I had no idea who Cream was, but this old effete Denglish cat was one hell of a drummer.

[Vaduz]

You know what’s next someone will make a AI a guitar tune to end the question.

Tech has spoiles a lot of things.

[CrimsonTidegirl]

You’re very welcome. They may not be your cup of tea, but I can listen to them on repeat.

I apologize for not posting links, but I was short on time whilst posting.

[1Old Pro]

KC Blocked Rick Beato’s analysis of one of their songs.

https://www.youtube.com/live/RqvuEal2P2E?feature=shared

[pepsi_junkie]

I was a huge Clapton in high school/college and saw him live in the early 90s. Layla was my favorite song over that stretch. But this is the stuff that got him labeled "God" in 1966. The tone, the aggressive attack, the phrasing.... so good.

Youtube: John Mayall's Bluesbeakers with Eric Clapton, Steppin Out

John Mayall's Bluesbeakers with Eric Clapton, Hideaway

[Nervous Tick]

Starless: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfR6_V91fG8

Epitaph: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jir4GXxUJao

and of course there are many others to choose from :-)

Both are musically and poetically excellent; epitaph sounds vaguely familiar, but not starless. My own rock-n-roll period ran from about ‘72 to early 80’s, after that more folk and country. King Crimson perhaps was at their peak a few years earlier?

Funny thing is, I appreciate that sound and style now, more than I would have in my teens and twenties!

Thanks and FRegards

[wardaddy]

I think I’ll shrimp tonite lol

[CrimsonTidegirl]

Glad you liked them:)

I was born in December of 1970, so I was late to the party, lol.

Growing up in the late 70’s and 80’s (mostly 80’s), I missed the best era of Rock. A few years ago, I discovered King Crimson and Prog Rock and I have enjoyed discovering music that I missed. I enjoy 80’a music but, IMO, the seventies were the best.

I’m similar to you in that as I get older, my tastes have shifted a bit.

I have always loved Supertramp, ELO, Queen and the Alan Parsons Project. I also loved Pop bands such as ABBA and The Bee Gees. My older sister introduced me to much of 70’s music.

A few years ago, I discovered Deep Purple and fell in love. What I wouldn’t give to go back in time and attend a Deep Purple or Supertramp show.

Thanks and FRegards to you. Have a great weekend.

[Svartalfiar]

Meh. None of them come close to Roy Clark