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 #1181 E L E P H A N T T A L K The Internet newsletter for Robert Fripp and King Crimson enthusiasts Number 1181 Sunday, 18 July 2004 Today's Topics: Obscure Fripp album? KC Recording Equipment? My miserable body Soundscapes and obstructed views Re: G3 Shock KC at Poplar Creek, Chicago 1982 - Did It Happen?? new festival - 21C Fripp on Bravewords.com Steve Vai and Robert Fripp RF on UK reality TV show Vai about Fripp debate part.MCMXIII KC at Poplar Creek, Chicago 1982 - Did It Happen?? Nope!! Radio debut of Riptyde with Allan Holdsworth - KC Influenced? G3 in Warsaw Re: Help me find this band ------------------ 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 ** Posts intended for the newsletter should have a subject prefix of ETPOST ** Posts intended for an individual newsletter contributor should have a subject prefix of their ET 'Ticket Number', shown at ETxxxxx in their 'From:' line in the newsletter. 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If you'd like to donate to the upkeep of ET, please press the "Donate" button at ETWeb. ------------------ A I V I R T S I N I M D A --------------------- Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 23:52:09 -0400 From: Mike Fergus Subject: Obscure Fripp album? In the mid-70s, I came upon an album that, if my memory serves me, included Robert Fripp and an all-star lineup of musicians. (My father worked for a newspaper that did not have a record reviewer, so albums sent to the publication came to me, including this one.) The album was labelled: Seventh Wave Sci Fi I was never sure which line was the group's name and which was the album title. I seem to think it was a European release. . It was, however, a mind-blowing album. A friend of mine who fronted a Crimson-inspired band borrowed the disc around 1977 and I have not seen or heard of it (or him) since. Did this recording exist, or is the mental haze that epitomized the progressive rock era obscuring my memory? I did not see the album mentioned in Mr. Fripp's discography. I would love to find a copy again. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2004 21:43:50 +0000 From: Dave Allen Subject: KC Recording Equipment? Does anyone know what kind of recording equipment KC uses? Especially for the ProjeKct X "Heaven and Earth" CD and "The Power to Believe" (two GREAT sounding albums!)? Any specific gear? Thank you, Dave ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2004 05:20:54 -0700 (PDT) From: Raymond Raupers Subject: My miserable body Dragging and dripping. The basement never forgets. Basement questions. The court dissolves after one album? Adrian the freshest amazing finger fret thing has to be sacrificed to a paycheck? Fuck. Wave yer finger at the basement in fear. And the mind drift of angst waited how long for live USA to be handed nothing but the same vinyl album? Shit fusk. Is this not the basement? King crimson lacks lyrical content. [ My hovercraft is full of eels. -- Toby ] ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Jul 2004 22:56:59 EDT From: Wilcox660 Subject: Soundscapes and obstructed views Back in the late 90s, I went to see RF at the Bottom Line in NYC. It was a Soundscapes performance. I had a belly full of yummy Japanese food and a very poor seat. The crowd were intolerable and impatient - as if somehow expecting Fripp to break out into "Fracture" and pose for photos. I have never understood that. It's like biting into an apple and expecting it to taste like an orange. The view was obstructed where I sat & I basically saw the back of Fripp's right hand and the headstock of his guitar. I half closed my eyes and surrendered to the music being created fresh at that very moment, never to be heard again. Inspired and inspiring, a night I will never forget. We all listen to music for different reasons. All those reasons are valid. For those listeners intolerant of Soundscapes - listen to something else. For those looking for RF to play what they want when & where & how they want it - you ARE kidding, right? ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Jul 2004 13:01:37 +0100 (BST) From: Bryce Sutherland Subject: Re: G3 Shock All I have to say regarding the Steve Vai comment that A.J. Cole told MY GOOD FRIEND is this: Don't shoot the messenger. Bryce ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Jul 2004 09:00:31 -0500 From: William Loring Subject: KC at Poplar Creek, Chicago 1982 - Did It Happen?? Patrick asks "KC at Poplar Creek, Chicago 1982 - Did It Happen??" I was there, and I can tell you that it did NOT happen, although I did get to buy a Discipline T-shirt. Poplar Creek is/was a large outdoor amphitheater with a covered roof over traditional seating, and "festival" grass seating farther out. I saw Peter Gabriel there during the "So" tour. But I digress. The show was "rained out" in essence, due to a large thunderstorm which caused a power failure. IIRC, this is actually documented in Tony Levin's "Road Photos" book. There's a pic of Bruford, I think... Sitting dejectedly in the audience seating, with the caption "Rained Out!" or something similar. Personally, I would have stuck around for an acoustic set. :) I can also tell you that I and my friends were stiffed on my ticket refund by the crooked South Bend, Indiana promoter who sold tickets locally for the show. Jackass. Regards, William Loring ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Jul 2004 13:08:43 +0100 From: the.narrowboat Subject: new festival - 21C I didn't manage to sign the 21C band to play in August at the 2004 Rockinbeerfest - the fact that this is our first festival was a turn off for their management. We have this years event well under way with the Stranglers, Caravan, Wishbone Ash, Dr Feelgood, Pete Brown, Stray, Ezio, Eddie and the Hotrods to mention a few. I hope they will now be more interested in 2005. You have to start somewhere and whilst as organisers we are new to festivals - we have all the technical functions subbed out Villa Audio, with Midas desks and EAW PA CDHS providing 35 kWatts of Lighting and 18 moving heads per stage with Avolites Pearl lighting desks these are industry standard at festivals. We have a stage manager with 25yrs plus experience in the industry - he did a very high profile televised event for the millenium celebrations from central London. We as organisers may be on our first event our team is very experienced. I would like to register this little festival now as one to seriously look at in 2005 for a 21C date. www.rockinbeerfest.co.uk a great little festival of Rock, Blues & Folk-Rock, with a real ale bar and weekend camping. Dave Roberts ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Jul 2004 09:37:35 -0400 From: vze6n8vs Subject: Fripp on Bravewords.com A friend of mine sent me this link, which seems legit enough. It's a blurb written by Steve Vai regarding Robert Fripp, and the only = adjective I can come up with to describe it is 'positive.' So much for "crappy film scores." http://www.bravewords.com/news.html?id=3D15555 Ryan ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Jul 2004 14:00:46 -0400 From: Randall.Hammill Subject: Steve Vai and Robert Fripp Here's what Steve has posted on his website about Robert: http://www.vai.com/News/index.html Robert, in the past, has had equally complimentary postings about Steve and Joe (and from recent postings seems to genuinely enjoy working with the other members of their bands). He also had kind comments about Billy Sheehan, and Billy has apparently been playing bass solos over Robert's soundscapes for some of the shows (including a quote from Fracture I hear!). I would love to see some recordings of their duos, as well as the performances with Mike Keneally from the last G3 tour that Robert performed Soundscapes. There are a few interesting threads from the Vai fans regarding Robert as well. I don't have much of Steve's material myself. Mostly because I have limited time and money for music and KC and Yes and their many related projects are almost too much to keep up with on their own. I find it interesting myself that the same types of comments that many of the Vai fans have towards Robert are echoed in the comments that Fripp fans have towards Vai. I first found Steve's playing through Zappa, then of course the David Lee Roth stuff (as well as Alcatrazz - my next door neighbor was really into all of the new heavy metal coming out at that time). I've always found him interesting because he was different. There were so many Van Halen imitators at the time, and although it's easy to lump anybody doing two-handed tapping as a Van Halen wannabe, Vai did his own thing. He takes his technique seriously, but as a vehicle for playing the music he wants to hear, regardless of commercial restraints. Sound like anybody else we might like? I can't think of any more common ground than that. I can't really say that Bach, Beethoven or Bartok have much in common, other than being lumped under 'classical.' Robert and Steve both play guitar. They play what they want, on their own terms. They have booth been in the position to reach mass popularity, but have passed on the opportunity in order to continue to grow and change, and follow the music rather than the money. For that matter, depending on your perspective, King Crimson '69 and Robert's Soundscapes don't share a lot in common, other than the guitarist. The bottom line is - enjoy the music if it moves you. If it doesn't, that's fine too. But one person's dislike doesn't mean the music or musician is not deserving of respect. Randy ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Jul 2004 21:30:14 +0200 From: Martin Wilson Subject: RF on UK reality TV show A couple of months ago RF & Toyah appeared in an episode of a reality TV type show called Gordon Ramsey's Hells Kitchen on UK TV. The show involves Gordon Ramsey (a famous chef) take around 8 distinctively "C" list celebrities (including Belinda Carlisle) and making them train to be chefs in a top London restaurant. The series would film the celebs cooking meals for other celebs who would be dining that night in the restaurant. One episode of the show had Toyah and a distinctively uncomfortable looking RF having a meal in the restaurant with a couple of friends. Whilst I suspect the restaurant was no smoking I presume RF could not impose the no cameras rule. Martin Wilson Dorset UK ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 Jul 2004 12:22:19 +0200 From: danilo_galli Subject: Vai about Fripp debate part.MCMXIII In order to stop the Vai bashing caused by his supposed speaking against Mr.Fripp I think that the text that follows ,taken from the official Vai= website ,will dissipate any doubt: "A Note From Steve Greetings All, So sorry I have not sent more updates. I?m working on a big one that cove rs the Metropole project, the new CD and the G3 tour but at this time I want to tell you a little bit about the influence that Robert Fripp has had on me. As a youth I used to hear a lot about this guy but wasn't introduced to his music until I went out and bought ?Exposure? when I was about 18 years old. This record had a profound impact on me. It was completely dif ferent from anything else that was going on at the time. I felt I was hearing a real musician that was using his guitar as a tool to create his art. His music was unique. It was obvious to me that he could play just about anything on the instrument but playing the guitar was not the only thing he was doing. He was creating sounds and atmospheres that sounded like no thing else. There was such an aggressive edge and yet at other times it was pro foundly beautiful. It was also obvious that he was a guy who was doing EXACTLY what he wanted and what he was hearing in his head, regardless of what any genre or trend was dictating. That is the epitome of musical integrity. This was inspiring to me and gave me the courage to make a firm resolve that I wou ld do the same thing with my own ideas. Then I finally was introduced to Kin g Crimson and?. Game over! If you try to consider the coolest band that you have in your collections right now, that?s what King Crimson has been since the 70?s to many. It?s impossible to quantify the effect that this band (Robert's vision) has ha d on contemporary rock musicians. There would be no bands like Tool, Dream Theater, Mudvayne, Rush and so many others including Steve Vai the way yo u know him. There are treasures beyond measure in Robert's catalog and I si ncerely suggest you take the time to discover these jewels.There are not many mus icians I consider a true genius of the art and he is one of them. His musical in tuition is real without any excuses. We can only hope to have that kind of honest y in our art.Now, G3 is a celebration of the guitar in all its permeations, and it will continue to be so, with or without me. I believe that what Ro bert is doing with his Soundscapes is cathartic Divinity. It?s about restraint and patience. If you attend one of the G3 concerts with Robert, I suggest you open your mind and let go of what you may be expecting and let the be auty of this man's sonic tapestries just wash over you. Joe and I will fill th e air with all the violent Mongolian string abuse you can possibly handle for one evening. By the way, If you are fortunate enough to dive into Robert's catalog for his guitar playing, you may discover that the man can shred Joe and I if he wanted to.Robert is a total gentleman, a lovely man and all of us have bonded nicely on this tour and Joe and I feel a reverent honor in having him with us." Enough said.Sorry for the lenght but I thought both Vai and Mr.Fripp dese rve ,for opposite reasons,this. A true King Crimson but also a Steve Vai fan. Best to you all,Danilo. Ps. I saw G3 in Rome last week.only one word:AWESOME! Red performed by G3 was truly amazing ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 Jul 2004 22:09:34 -0500 From: Fermier World HQ Subject: KC at Poplar Creek, Chicago 1982 - Did It Happen?? Nope!! In reply to a post dated Sat, 3 Jul 2004 06:32:06 EDT >From Mister "Bassdude007" About the whether the King Crimson concert at Poplar Creek on August 7, 1982 actually happened.20 The short answer is "No, It didn't happen." Poplar Creek was a very large, outdoor theater located in Hoffman Estates, a suburb northwest of Chicago. The stage and the seating area is covered and there is a large grassy hill behind the seated area (lawn seats). The whole theater was demolished several years ago to make way for a corporate office complex. But, I digress. The reason the show was canceled was that there were very violent thunder storms in the Chicago area that day and lightening had struck one of the electrical transformers for the venue. There wasn't any power for the show. My date and I had arrived early and were kept waiting at the parking lot entrance while repair people tried in vain to salvage the transformer. After a very long wait, the show was canceled and everyone was sent home. I believe that Tony Levin's Road Pictures book has a photo of Bill Bruford and others sitting in the front row of the empty theater, looking dejected. Refunds were offered. Of course now a days, you can only catch the band ar the Park West in Chicago. It is a small venue which the band seems to prefer. And I do too! Rex ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Jul 2004 19:35:01 -0700 (PDT) From: Chris Hoard Subject: Radio debut of Riptyde with Allan Holdsworth - KC Influenced? Join the GAGLIARCHIVES this Saturday night at 10pm Eastern Time, for program 857, as we feature interview highlights of Nearfest 2004. In particular, we will feature an in depth interview with guitarist Mike Keneally, along with music from the new Dog CD. We'll also feature the new Glass Hammer CD Live At Nearfest 2003. Chuck Oken JR and Gayle Ellet of Djam Karet join us to discuss the new 2CD re-release of Djam Karet's 1985 recording No Commercial Potential featuring unreleased recordings from 2002. We also feature a world premier of the powerful new release from Riptyde titled Sonic Undertow, featuring Chris Hoard on Keyboards, Amon Freon on Drums, and Allan Holdsworh on guitars. New music from the Laser's Edge label and the excellent Polish group Riverside and the new disc Out Of Myself. To Quote Amonius Freonius: Riptyde in part is music inspired by KC. Enjoy--CH ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2004 09:32:44 +0200 From: Dr.Juergen Joachimsthaler Subject: G3 in Warsaw Being (from Germany) in Warsaw that time, I used the chance to see Fripp again. First: His openenig set lasted only 20 minutes, but it was most the astonishing and in some way greatest and most complexe combination of soundscape-sounds I4ve ever heard: dark, angry, sometimes violent, angel choirs mixed with hardrock-riffs. Second: The audience was friendly to Fripp, there are many KC-Fans in Poland, Fripp got before beginning demonstrative applause. But why he stopped so fast? Some people photographed, - or was he frustrated about the tour before? Third: Vai gave us a great show. I knew before he can play very fast, he4s a Virtuoso, but it4s a show without greater musical complexitiy. Fourth: Satriani in the contrast to Vai seemed to be a simple earth-standing rock-n-roller with sympathy for nu metal. Sixth: The jamming: Fripp was hardly to hear, music was an alibi for solos and show of Vai and Satriani, "Red" was destroyed. Is that kind auf jamming not that kind of misuse of music on which broke the second KC-line with Mel Collins? Summa: I hope, I wish, that strange kind of soundscapes, Fripp produced here, some day will available on recording. It was too short, but it was very great. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2004 13:38:59 -0400 From: John Pederson Subject: Re: Help me find this band it's the SHAGGS dude!!! absolutely the worst- I love 'em. my pal's name is footfoot is without a doubt one of the greatest unsung rock tunes of our time. ------------------------------ End of Elephant Talk Digest #1181 *********************************