Errors-To: admin at elephant-talk dot com Reply-To: newsletter at elephant-talk dot com Sender: moderator at elephant-talk dot com Precedence: bulk From: moderator at elephant-talk dot com To: newsletter at elephant-talk dot com Subject: Elephant Talk #1119 E L E P H A N T T A L K The Internet newsletter for Robert Fripp and King Crimson enthusiasts Number 1119 Thursday, 8 May 2003 Today's Topics: Fripp retiring! No! It can't be!!! Re: questioning the difference between the ProjeKct One recordings crimson crisis KC in Barcelona - Help Required Missing British Dates Re: Fripp's Diary/Marillion/TPTB/ITCOTCK Euro Tour Dates 21st Century Schizoid Band set lists Time to take a break? Curt & Crimson and final crimson album Re: Robert Fripp Retiring. Norbert Fragg Re: Bruford the greatest?/Who are Great drummers?/Kids & KC A thought about Fripp's recent diarism ISO Eric Johnson - Vortexan Sessions Possible impending retirement of Fripp from King Crimson Oh No Not AGAIN! Best way to purcahse CDs Re: The Lost Wages of Norbert Fragg ------------------ A D M I N I S T R I V I A --------------------- POSTS: Please send all posts to newsletter at elephant-talk dot com To UNSUBSCRIBE, or to CHANGE ADDRESS: Send a message with a body of HELP to admin at elephant-talk dot com or use the DIY list machine at http://www.elephant-talk.com/list/ To ASK FOR HELP about your ET subscription: Send a message to: help at elephant-talk dot com ET Web: http://www.elephant-talk.com/ Read the ET FAQ before you post a question at http://www.elephant-talk.com/faq.htm Current TOUR DATES info can always be found at http://www.elephant-talk.com/gigs/tourdates.shtml You can read the most recent ten editions of ET at http://www.elephant-talk.com/newsletter.htm THE ET TEAM: Toby Howard (Moderator), Dan Kirkdorffer (Webmaster) Mike Dickson (List Admin), and a cast of thousands. The views expressed herein are those of the individual authors. ET is produced using John Relph's Digest system v3.7b (relph at sgi dot com). ------------------ A I V I R T S I N I M D A --------------------- Date: Tue, 6 May 2003 19:19:28 EDT From: Stamperdanny at wmconnect dot com Subject: Fripp retiring! No! It can't be!!! Please do not tell me that my musical hero is giving up. I know he is rather head-strong, and once he makes a decision, that's it, but I wish he would reconsider. I realize it can be frustrating not being a mainstream success, but in the long run, isn't it the music that matters? Robert Fripp and Frank Zappa both changed the way I listened to and appreciated music. MTV used to be a forum for a lot of bands to receive recognition for their talent. I remember when King Crimson "Three of a Perfect Pair; Live in Japan was shown on the Saturday Night Concerts. Nowadays, they have transformed into Black Entertainment Television version 2. Decent white bands such as King Crimson can't get airplay while garbage such as the "Backdoor Boys" and "N-stink" get played up left and right. MTV2 used to play a lot of good music, but now the blacks have taken it over. MTV will never stand up to the black community, because they know if they do, they can be charged with racism. You can watch MTV all day long, and not see ANYthing of ANY musical value whatsoever! Robert Fripp with King Crimson's music has stood the test of time. Sounds Robert Fripp was making 25 or 30 years ago are popular now. King Crimson has outlived Every progressive band. The rest of them sound weak in comparison. Take a break from King Crimson for a while, but goddamn it don't quit! If Adrian, Trey, or Pat cannot handle the reins of power, then let THEM move on! There's a reason King Crimson has lasted as long as it has, while every one else has gone belly up. TALENT! If King Crimson ceases to exist, I will feel as though a part of me has been cut out. Robert Fripp is the past, present, and Future of Rock and Roll! Do not give up on that! ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 06 May 2003 10:07:15 +0200 From: Roderich von Detten Subject: Re: questioning the difference between the ProjeKct One recordings >Date: Sat, 19 Apr 2003 00:29:39 -0400 >From: "Dave & Joanna POLIDORO" >Subject: questioning the difference between the ProjeKct One recordings > >I'm a K.C. enthusiast, and a completeist (possibly verging on obsessive) >when it comes to all of the releases made available, whether it be catalog >re-masters or K.C. collector's club releases. I was about to order the >upcoming ProjeKct One live release but I already own the ProjeKct One live >at the Jazz Cafe disc from the ProjeKcts box set, and the newest KCCC >release is compiled from the same few shows during the first week of >December of 1997. I'm wondering if it is worth it to order this at all. Can >anyone shed any light on this dilema? What are the significant differences? > > Dave good evening hippies, hi dave, imho, the newest KCCC-release displays a kind of "improvised jazz ambient"-music, that is totally unique. to be honest, i was a little bit sceptical when i found the new disc in my letterbox, and since i am not the biggest friend of the jazz cafe disc from the box, i was very positively surprised from my first listening experiences: a great disc that i would rate among the five or six best releases from the KCCC-series. so: a recommendation from my side. greetings roderich ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 06 May 2003 11:17:12 +0200 From: Roderich von Detten Subject: crimson crisis dear fellow krimson enthusiasts, what is going on at the moment? i'm sure that i'm not the only one who is deeply concerned and worried - nearly depressed in respect of the thoughts in fripp's diary in mid-april. as far as i can remember, this is one of the most severe situations in the crim history, at least since the beginning of ET. there were moments like this before in the krimson history - but such harsh feelings in an actual situation, which at least externally seems to be not bad at all (... the constellation of the musicians' characters, a new widely acclaimed album, a successful tour... - but what do we know?), is something new - at least for me. what is going on at the moment? and what does it mean? the only quote that seems to fall on the other side of the scale is that one from april, 17th: "En passant, when I listen to TPTB, I do not hear the effort nor the distress that it caused me." and wouldn't it be a good reason for continuing? long live the king! (and may he have the power to believe!) roderich ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 06 May 2003 10:52:50 +0100 From: Iain Robertson Subject: KC in Barcelona - Help Required Hi, As KC aren't playing in the UK this summer, and as we've always fancied going there, my wife and I have decided we'd like to visit Barcelona and take in the gig on July 3rd. However, our web searching has failed to find any information about how to purchase tickets. I'm sure this hasn't been helped by our complete lack of Spanish language skills. All we know is pretty much what's on the tour dates page: 3rd July, Grec Festival 2003, Pueblo Espano, Barcelona. Are there any Spanish readers out there who could help us with an address/phone number/web site from which we could buy tickets? Thanks Iain Robertson ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 May 2003 12:33:32 +0100 From: john dot 3 dot douglas at bt dot com Subject: Missing British Dates Is there a reason why we are not seeing any British tour dates built into the current European schedule? I did hear somewhere on the grapevine, or did I read it in the King Crimson biography that RF did not like playing at home. (I hope that it is not true) I have been fortunate to see many great bands in the past. King Crimson would make my list complete. Regards John Douglas Edinburgh Scotland ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 May 2003 13:14:03 -0700 (PDT) From: Steven Munari Subject: Re: Fripp's Diary/Marillion/TPTB/ITCOTCK Hello Kcriminals! Someone(sorry I forget who)spoke of various KC albums & noted that ITCOTCK was a depressing, angst filled album, ect. Going way back to 1969 when my 17 & 18 year old friends, & I heard the album for the 1st time, (ESPECIALLY the LP Title song)about 80% of them came to the same agreement, and conclusion after a few listens. That conclusion was that the majority of them thought the song "In The Court of The Crimson King" was appropriate, & would be perfect to be BLASTED at their FUNERALS!! As this song more than ANY other, would ELICIT strong emotional responses amoung the people at the wake. I guess this could help make the point the poster refered to; however, I find it a 'joyous & extremely emotional' song, especially after the 'false finish' when the quiet pipe organ notes suddenly explode into a dynamic drum break, then the cacophony of the loud Mellotrons errupts, finally bringing the song to a tremendous, stirring end! The hair on the back of my neck STILL rises 33 yrs later, EVERYTIME I hear it! About Fripp's diary entry on April 16th. Perhaps he was having a horrible day, or week, or was refering to a series of less than 'perfect' performances? Whatever. Way back in Nov. or Dec. of 2000 when I wrote a "Gig Review" on KC at St. Louis' "Pageant" in ET, I was absolutely 'flamed' by ET'er's that didn't know me, & even got some razzing from friends I attended the show with. All because I gave my 'opinion' that I thought this might be the last time we saw KC 'live', as I thought Robert appeared as if he hated what he was doing & had the 'weight of the world' on his shoulders; even though it was a fabulous performance! Well KC is still playing, although they haven't been back here, so only time will tell wether my 'prediction' of 3 yrs ago comes true? Hope i'm wrong Concerning "Marillion" & 2 posts recently, I believe it was Sandy Starr whom agreed with what the band did to 'sidestep' their record company(EMI?)and rely on their fans to 'shell out $ for an album not yet produced'. Someone else denounced them for doing this & basically said 'they were pissing & moaning' about their treatment by EMI. I disagree at least partially. Well I have heard only a small amount of "Marillion" material, but I agree w/Starr, because the vast majority of record companies 'couldn't give a shit' about the artists that aren't raking in millions.(Like examples I give below) My man Frank Zappa encountered bad situations with almost every BIG label he was affiliated with, & he really got 'screwed, but FINALLY before his untimely death(Lord do I wish he was still here!)he decided to take his music, & video's(& everything else)into 'his own hands', and produce & distribute his own material. Now his wife Gail oversee's a huge operation & it is run by 'the family' & friends & shovels in the cash.(IMO Gail isn't that good at business however! FZ had it running like a machine, and everything was top notch. Quality stuff & you didn't have to wait forever to receive it!) My point is, more & more artists that don't sell Brittney, or 50 Cent or Nelly type 'unit numbers', are having to be 'creative' in producing & marketing & even distributing their OWN product, and I respect that. "Marillion" isn't the only band or artist that actually sold a product before their fans could hold the item...Steve Vai is doing pretty good with his "Secret Box Set", & there are many more examples. My personal experience with producers, managers & labels has all been BAD, so as the adage goes, "If you want something done right, do it yourself." Lastly.(I can hear the sighs of relief)I've had "The Power To Believe" cd for close to a month now, & my opinion is, it's the best KC album to come out in many years. I think the virtouso abilities of all four shine through, & that the playing level is at it's highest in years. However; it does make me think the four 'broke into a huge cachet of "Effects"' & used them all. Not that doing this is a BAD thing, but... I guess what bothers me the most about "TPTB" is something 'I Feel' has been lacking for a long time now & that is songs or melodies, that you just can hum along to after a few listens. Melodies that stay in your head. I know this "ain't Pop music", but for this old geezar the albums that MY King Crimson USED to produce on a regular basis,(ITCOTCK-ITWOP-ISLANDS-LIZARD-LTIA-S&BB- RED & DISCIPLINE, ect.)just aren't 'flowing from the band anymore. Being a musician for 34 yrs I KNOW it was never easy, but the King's used to sure make it feel that way! Don't think i'm just looking for "OLD" or classic King Crimson, because that's not the case. I guess that no matter how great the musicians you put together are; almost NO ONE can sustain the highest level of writing & playing forever, & while I get every KC release I possibly can(sometimes it takes awhile)I just don't get the same OOMPH, or feel like i've been shot by a gun anymore from the King who could once, 'do no wrong'!! Each release would floor me! Maybe I need to listen to "TPTB" more? Sure there ARE a couple of tunes on it who's melody, or phrasing I can hum or sing or remember the words of, it's just NOT THE SAME. I'll keep giving "TPTB" more chances, but perhaps(Blasphemy I KNOW)it's time for a change of 'some sort' for the KING? Stay tuned, I know I will. "And the pantalooned duck, white goose neck quacked.... Webcor...Webcor." From Don Van Vliet's "Golden Birdies" Which is on the brilliant "Clear Spot" album. I wish more Kcriminals would give the Captain's material their attention! Anyone else like CB? ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 May 2003 21:20:28 +0100 From: "Alan Gent" Subject: Euro Tour Dates Further to the last post on this I have just received a mailing from the Inner Knot to confirm these dates. So, 7 (that's SEVEN) dates in Italy, 4 in Spain and in the UK? Nil, zero, and all those other irritating options on none. No tour dates in the UK AT ALL? Is this it? Anybody in the know have a good explanation for this bizarre tour schedule, or is it the archetypal "well, they're very big in Verona" On the strength of this, I could very well have purchased my last KC album Alan ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 06 May 2003 17:29:09 -0400 From: "Louis Sormany" Subject: 21st Century Schizoid Band set lists In an email exchange with Ian Wallace, he gave me some precisions about the set lists of the concerts of the 21st Century Schizoid Band during their last tour. This is an extract of that exchange which, I hope, will interest all the fans of the 21st Century Schizoid Band. MY REQUEST: "(...) But, from the last tour, we didn't get that kind of information except for one concert in Russia. This is that set list, given on ET by a fan and copied on the site King Crimson Live: Pictures of a City Cat Food Let There Be Light ?? In the Court of the Crimson King Formentera Lady Sailor's Tale The Letters If I Was Ladies of the Road I Talk to the Wind Epitaph Islands' theme ? (Birdman ?) 21st Century Schizoid Man As you can see, the information is not complete. That's why I would appreciate it if you could send me the list of the pieces performed by the group during that tour." THE ANSWER FROM IAN WALLACE: "The order of the set list is correct. The ??? is a new tune written by Jakko called; Catley's Ashes We do not play the Letters. the first encore is Birdman from M&G" ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 May 2003 13:18:42 +0100 From: "Russell Whitworth" Subject: Time to take a break? I'm glad I'm not the only one who is becoming increasingly irritated by Mr Fripp's diary postings. Let's summarise: - he doesn't want to tour - he especially doesn't want to play in the UK - he doesn't want to record another studio album - he doesn't want to talk to journalists The conclusion that he is in the wrong business is hard to disagree with - at least as long as he holds these views! For my part, I don't particularly want to see someone on stage that I know doesn't want to be there. Fripp may feel that the performance is compromised by unwanted photography, but surely that is a small concern compared to a performer who doesn't want to perform - and who has quite clearly told his audience that he doesn't want to perform. What sort of atmosphere does that generate? Fortunately, there are plenty of bands out there who seem more than willing to play for a London audience. This year I've already greatly enjoyed Bruford's Earthworks, and I'm looking forward to Peter Gabriel, Yes, and perhaps even Madness. None can substitute King Crimson, but at least I've heard no grumbles from any of them. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 May 2003 14:09:10 EDT From: GORTAY at aol dot com Subject: Curt & Crimson and final crimson album In ET 1118 David refers to comments by Curt Cobain about the Crim. There was a rumour that Curt Cobain nominated "Red" as hs favourite ever album. Of course people's 'favourite ever' album can change from day to day and I've never actually seen the comment for myself but it is supposed to be out there somewhere. If, as is suggested, the Crim is about to implode it would be interesting for them to get together and record/release a proper final goodbye album. Even though this isn't going to happen what would ETers like as a final album? Let's have something different from just another KC album. Possibilities could be: Re-recording the whole of ITCOCK with the current line up. Re-recording tunes from various KC albums with assorted KC alumni. (Should make for interesting 'phone calls. RF: "Is that Gordon Haskell? Do you want to come and sing 'Fallen Angel' on our final album?" GH: "%*!@ off you *&!ker") A remix album. An album of covers. This is my favourite idea and would be a hoot. Suggestions for songs they could cover please. If the Crim does go - well some of us have seen the band finish before and I'm sure we'll live with it if it happens again. It would be a shame but they have lasted longer than most other bands so I don't think we can have any complaints. Gordy. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 May 2003 14:25:51 EDT From: IanSharwood at aol dot com Subject: Re: Robert Fripp Retiring. Dear Folk It's not often I post these days. I don't suppose my view will be very popular, but it's interesting that for the first time in months I checked Robert's diary the other day. He sounds depressed, unhappy (not the same thing) and dissatisfied. This doesn't surprise me. If you had been a sensitive, dedicated and innovative musician in the public eye for nigh on 40 years; with a yearning to break new ground in the face of opposition from every financially orientated element of the music industry wouldn't you feel like a break! My views on current material are well known (unfortunately) as I communicated with one individual (privately), to avoid any discouragement to Robert; but the individual concerned subsequently published my comments to every major search engine on the web. In the circumstances I may as well admit that I don't like the output from current line up. Unfortunately for every one else that does, it would appear Robert doesn't feel that confident either. Give the man a rest and let him enjoy some time with his wife at home. Art is not like a normal job and a "normal job" is hard enough. I am sure he will be back even if he does take a long break; if not, the majority of what he has produced so far has been one of the greatest blessings of my life time. Ian Sharwood ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 May 2003 13:27:12 -0500 From: "Brower, John" Subject: Norbert Fragg In Elephant Talk #1118, Bill Kent (as Norbert Fragg) wrote: "For music to come into the world, it is sometimes necessary for it to be despised by married females as a loud, dissonant, polyrhythmically hopeless preoccupation of their aging mates. In addition, in Eastern musical traditions, which are far superior to the West, the quality of music that causes feline species to vomit spontaneously is considered to be inherently superior." Words to live by, say I. You are a treasure, Bill Kent! Best regards, John B. MailFiler [BJ-JTAEDP] ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 May 2003 11:34:49 -0700 (PDT) From: Steven Munari Subject: Re: Bruford the greatest?/Who are Great drummers?/Kids & KC Hello again fellow Kcriminals! A LONG post ahead but I feel worthwhile. I havn't been able to read(until now)the last dozen Et's, so i'd like to comment on 2 subjects I found most interesting. In ET 1109 Avraham Stoler states that "Bill Bruford is the greatest drummer ever!"(I'm paraphrasing)Mr. Stoler; everyone is entitled to his own 'opinion' & I respect your's, however calling anyone "the Greatest" is just not reality. If you were trying to say BB was the greatest drummer KC ever had, & many would concur. May I point out in a minute some other drummers you should consider? Again on the subject of great drummers, in ET 1109 Dr.Bant(maybe it was someone else too?)seems to suggest that the incredible Vinnie Colaiuta is the "greatest drummer" & goes on to talk about his versatility on different cd's like FZ's "Joe's Garage" (in which Vinnie certainly plays what can only be called 'nearly impossible' patterns & time signatures!) On the brilliant Warren Cuccurullo cd, "Thanx 2 Frank" Vinnie again shows his versatiltiy and complete control on his instrument. Btw, this is a brilliant cd for anyone that loves to hear 3(sometimes 4 as 2 different bassists were used)virtouso musicians all playing at the height of their musicial brilliance. Cuccurullo guitar & either Pino Palladino or the great Nick Beggs bass. Many will recall Beggs playing w/John Paul Jones whom opened for KC on the, what was it, 2000(?) tour. This cd was recorded "Live in the studio" except 1 track, has NO OVERDUBS, & every song was recorded on the 1st take except maybe 4 songs, of which 2 took 2 takes the other two 3 takes. Simply unbelievable. Because this is some intense, complicated guitar driven music! As someone pointed out Vinnie can play "any style" & groove or simply floor you with his technique. 1 last item on Cuccurullo. He has another cd that is great featuring Joe Travers drums & Wes Wehmiller & Beggs bass, called, "Road Rage". WC does 2 A quote from "Guitar World" on "Thanks 2 Frank": "Worthy of eventual inclusion on some uber-guitarists Mount Rushmore along with Satriani, Vai & Van Halen." FZ tunes on it. I suggest Mr. Stoler seek out "Thanks 2 Frank"(For FZ his mentor)or any "Karzima" cd or anything else Vinnie is on, & he probably plays drums on more cd's than anyone else currently! Now, drummers I think EVERYONE should seek out & listen to(including Mr. Stoler)are Colaiuta, the incredible Dennis Chambers who's most recent work has been w/"CAB" as CAB has released 3 or 4 cd's. Chambers also does some of his best work w/"Niacin" a 3 peice w/Billy Sheehan bass & John Novello B-3, keys.(They've done about 5 cd's & 1 GREAT dvd, called "Blood Sweat & Beer's" & it's by far the finest looking & sounding music dvd I own, & I own ALOT)Trilok Gurtu-too many other drum GREATS. Their latest cd features a cover of "RED" which w/o a guitarist is unbelieveable! Niacin is all instrumental. Chambers most recent gig is w/Santana, but he can be found on probably 100 cd's! Now the drummer I feel has outshone everyone in the past 8 yrs. and is doing things with the drums that NO ONE else can do, & is constantly improving & even tho he's seemingly always on tour, he STILL practices 6 hrs a day! This is the 'alien'(as not from this planet not because he's an Aussie living in the states now)VIRGIL DONATI! His contemporaries like Chambers, and Terry Bozzio who admits he'll never be able to do what Virg does, to Dave Weckl who's stated, "Imagine how much he'd have to practice to be that good?", to guys like Portnoy who's amazed by Donati & many other top of the list drummers! This man is the best drummer(IMO)playing today! He can do it all, groove like with "Southern Son's" or Tina Arena or plays balls to the wall on songs that feature unreal time signature changes from 13/16 to 7/16 to playing these in 1/2 time, or from 7/8 to 5/8 as with "Planet X" my favorite 'new' band.(they've been around since 99)Or his own band called "On The Virg". Donati is currently touring w/"Cab 4" and is amazing people every night. He's also just done a cd with a band called "Freakhouse"(Tho he's not a member) whom i'd have to call a "Metal" band tho they're much more than that. He also has a bunch of incredible solo cd's definitely worth checking out. He just finished his 2nd cd for the great guitarist Joel Hoekstra, has done a cd w/Scott Henderson of "Tribal Tech' fame & Ricc Fierabracci on bass. Also a cd w/guitarist Bret Garsed. If you can find(try mp3 sites)the unbelievable boot of "Tribal Tech" in Australia 94(They played at a "Travelodge" of all places!)you'll be amazed, & "TT" never sounded this good!(All due respects to reg drummer Kirk Covington)So many other cd's, Frank Gambale/Virgil/Fierabracci, ect. ect. If you can see him live, you must, as you have to experience Donati to believe what you hear on cd! If you can't see him w/"Cab 4" or "Planet X" live, you CAN see him solo on either the amazing "The Ultimate Drummers Weekend" held ea yr in Australia(a 4 hr dvd featuring many)or the vhs Modern Drummer Fest 1997. Just do a search & you'll find where to buy these! Donati does the most complex dbl bass work you'll ever hear, plus he was asked in an interview "Can you really play 1000 beats per min?" He responded by saying "Don't get hung up on speed. It's within the context of the music your playing thats important. But on a good day SURE, which foot?" For non drummers, 1000 bpm is an 'impossible' number for us 'mere mortals'! Everyone owes it to themselves to check out Virgil Donati! He's been turning even the most 'jaded' drummers heads for years! Quickly, as again i've rambled on, to Greg Amann who took his 9 & 11 yr. olds to a recent KC gig & one of them did a great gig reveiw. Mr. Amann. I applaude you & your children. You for exposing such young children(but surely mature enough!) to such diverse music, and NOT allowing them to think & believe that the only good music is what probably the majority of their friends think is, great. Brittney-Madonna, or 50 Cent or the rest of the rubbish children are 'bombarded' with via MTV & the crap that passes for Radio these days! Also, I wouldn't be that concerned with your "9 year old smelling marijuana & knowing what it was." Parents are usually very unaware of what their children are exposed to in Elementary or Jr. High Schools. I know I was & I have a 22 yr old son & he turned out to be a great person! While I don't know you, it seems as tho you are doing right by your kids, by providing them the right environment, & hopefully setting a good example as i'm sure you are. That's all a parent can do. Just make sure you point out how utterly idiotic the behavior of those smoking the pot at the KC concert was, & IN PUBLIC at that! These kids(taking piano lessons & I assume enjoying them)seem to be very smart & headed in the right direction. Lastly.(I swear) In my last post to ET, I meant to point out that with so many of KC's latest releases of new material, these compositions just don't stick in MY HEAD, the way years of KC albums have. I mentioned not being able to 'hum' along with the melody or choruses from "TPTB", except maybe 2 songs.I just finished listening to "TPTB" again, & while I still feel it's their best album in many years, it just hasn't effected me the way the other albums by the King has! Still, if they DO decide to continue playing, i'll continue to listen as I have since late 1969! Thanks. Hope you readers made it this far? Steven "With the proper budget, anything is possible. FZ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 May 2003 13:35:55 -0500 (CDT) From: Todd Madson Subject: A thought about Fripp's recent diarism Thought: Robert Fripp has said in the past that music has chosen unlikely individuals to give it voice. Recently, he states he feels he is in the wrong vocation altogether. Music also has a strange sense of humor in sometimes picking those who may or may not want to deal with the grueling world of business travel, odd hours, lack of sleep, brutally loud venues with questionable audio quality, dodgy food, etc. Robert is no doubt frustrated by the seemingly endless toil in putting recordings together, touring behind them, interviews which all are exhaustive, expensive in energy and time. What becomes more clear is that the man is not a young person anymore and the effort involved must be colossal. Nearly every diary entry I read at DGM states how much he misses his wife and how little he gets to see her. Though I love Crimson music and Fripp solo works, I'm almost to the point of thinking that Robert and Toyah (a busy bee herself) should take a vacation to a quiet place for six months and let the future present itself. You don't HAVE to create Crimson music - usually it picks you to be the one who makes it happen in this sphere. Though I think its voice is an important one, you might consider taking some time off after current tour obligations are completed to decompress and see what the future will bring. Sometimes the pressure is financial - I'd like six months to do nothing but write music but having bills that need paying I'll work my IT job and do music when time permits (or it calls me, whichever comes first). Though I love the recent Crimson, part of me hopes Robert can enjoy some time off to reinvent/renew/recharge himself. -t -- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 May 2003 13:38:52 -0500 From: "Steve M" Subject: ISO Eric Johnson - Vortexan Sessions I'm looking for any/all of the 4 dates played with Trey Gunn and Jerry Marotta awhile back. I've got the last one, but there are some major dropouts in Your Sweet Eyes. Lots to trade. Please contact me offlist if you can help.. Thanks! Steve Steve Marshall Editor - The Night Owl stevem at thenightowl dot com The best place on the web for music reviews Member - National Music Critics Association Now online - the all request edition of Night Owl Radio!! ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 07 May 2003 12:28:03 -0700 From: "Scott Steele" Subject: Possible impending retirement of Fripp from King Crimson >>1) The bulk of the work falls to me, at the beginning and at the end, to Crimsonise a Crimson album. >Well, isn't that the way it's always been? Wouldn't it be a great relief to him if it were not that way? >>5) Those who see RF as Crimson Dictator, even Bandleader, or He Who Must Be Obeyed... >You are. Everyone knows it, acknowledges it, accepts it. Your bandmates do, and listeners assume it to be true, based on everything we've seen and read. This is an amazing leap of deduction, based on everything we've seen and read. >I was at the KC concert in Portland, I know there were some equipment problems, but after the encore, the whole band looked happy. Yes the WHOLE band. Have you ever smiled because it was the right thing to do, what people expected, etc even though you weren't very happy at that moment? >It is our hope that he continues to make his music available to those who will pay to hear it, and that he develops other, less dubiously psychic abilities, that will remind him of the abundant richness that has been given to him to share, and that gratitude is its own reward. Case dismissed! As always Mr. Kent you have hit the nail on the head. I share your hope. Continued thanks for the Fragg diaries, they are a thing of wonder. >I'd do all the interviews and promotion I had to make an even average living to play the music I liked professionally. Would Mr. Fripp? Would Joni Mitchell? That would be a good choice for you - but not for everyone. >If he is a true musician he will not quit playing out. Perhaps the nature of his "playing out" will change, so that he can continue to be a "true musician". >I'm not sure about Fripp possibly retiring, because I have not been a fan for too long.... But when I look at the amazon.com sales ranking (currently at 821 as I write this), you have to remember that this is out of millions and millions of products! And during pre-order and the first couple of weeks, the album saw sales rankings on amazon.com of 40-100!!! But would this level of success make you remain in a job that makes you upset? - S. np: Joni Mitchell, Ladies of the Canyon scottst at ohsu dot edu ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 May 2003 20:36:09 +0100 From: "Alan Gent" Subject: Oh No Not AGAIN! Joe de Gregorio's response to RF's diary is a heartfelt one and one that is maybe he finds difficult to understand in the first instance. It reminded me of Frank Zappa's stance when, after having to cancel a tour because the band had a downer on the bassist, he set in train a massive plan to a) organise future tours in his terms b) record music on his own if needs be but mainly using "friendly" session men. c) he acquired the rights to all his music (past then and future) I saw a lot of Frank's frustrations in Robert's diary entry and it appears that, if he still wished to make music he feels he is not doing it on the best of terms i.e his own. Maybe Frank was lucky and he "got out" before "BootlegTV" came along. Fripp has not undertaken a tour of this magnitude for some time and there is no doubt it is a debilitating experience that is not necessarily a money spinner (Different thread). If he decides to draw a line under it and say, no more, then who are we to argue. He will no doubt remain his own man and feel better for it. Alan ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 May 2003 20:38:47 +0100 From: "Alan Gent" Subject: Best way to purcahse CDs Dear Josh, not sure, but the best way to post on ET is not to do it all on one line!!! Alan ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 07 May 2003 15:55:24 -0400 From: bruce higgins Subject: Re: The Lost Wages of Norbert Fragg ET TEAM: I request that you exercise your Moderative Powers and suppress any further writings from Mr. Bill Kent. I can barely see through the coffee encrusting my monitor to type this, and I can no longer afford to replace my keyboard each time he channels the elusive spirit of Mr. Fragg. Thank you for your kind and immediate attention. p.s., are the Fragg posts archived anywhere? ;-) ------------------------------ End of Elephant Talk Digest #1119 *********************************