Robert Fripp is an English musician, songwriter, producer and guitarist. He is best known as the guitarist and founder of the progressive rock band King Crimson. He has also worked with numerous other artists including David Bowie, Brian Eno, Daryl Hall, Blondie, Peter Gabriel and David Sylvian. Fripp’s distinctive guitar sound has been described as “icy shards of sound” and he is widely regarded as one of the most innovative and influential guitarists of the rock era. He has also branched out into new musical directions and his solo albums often feature a variety of musical styles. Fripp has earned numerous awards and accolades for his work, including being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
| Name | Robert Fripp |
| Genre | Rock, Progressive Rock, Experimental |
| Instruments | Guitar, Keyboards, Electronics |
| Date of Birth | May 16, 1946 |
| Labels | EG Records, Warner Bros. Records, Virgin Records, Atlantic Records |
| Associated Acts | King Crimson, Peter Gabriel, David Bowie, Brian Eno |
| Notable Albums | Exposure, The League of Gentlemen, God Save the Queen/Under Heavy Manners |
10 Best Robert Fripp Quotes
“If you don’t know what you’re doing, you can’t do what you don’t know.”
– Robert Fripp, from Guitar World
“You can make music and you can make noise. The difference between the two is intentionality.”
– Robert Fripp, from Guitar World
“I take responsibility for everything I do, and nothing I do is ever done by accident.”
– Robert Fripp, from Guitar World
“The relationship between the audience and the artist is always one of generosity. It’s not about taking. It’s about giving.”
– Robert Fripp, from Guitar World
“If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.”
– Robert Fripp, from All Music
“The most important thing is to find a way of working that works for you.”
– Robert Fripp, from All Music
“I don’t think there is any such thing as a wrong note; there are only unexpected notes.”
– Robert Fripp, from All Music
“The most important thing to do when playing music is to listen.”
– Robert Fripp, from Guitar Player
“Music is a spiritual practice, a way of life and a way of being.”
– Robert Fripp, from Guitar Player
“You can’t play music from the head; you have to play from the heart.”
– Robert Fripp, from Guitar Player
5 Robert Fripp Quotes About King Crimson
1.
“King Crimson is a way of doing things. It’s a way of thinking. It’s a way of being. It’s a way of living.”
– Robert Fripp, from Drastic Plastic
2.
“King Crimson has always been about change and about developing itself.”
– Robert Fripp, from DGM Live
3.
“King Crimson is a way of doing things. It’s a way of thinking. It’s a way of being. It’s a way of living.”
– Robert Fripp, from Guitar World
4.
“When I look at King Crimson, I always see a big experiment.”
– Robert Fripp, from Cleveland Scene
5.
“King Crimson has always been a band that is willing to take risks and that’s what makes us special.”
– Robert Fripp, from The Guardian
6 Inspirational Robert Fripp Quotes
“I think the most important thing is to learn to listen with your heart, not just your ears.”
– Robert Fripp, from Guitar World
“The discipline of practice is the willingness to be a beginner.”
– Robert Fripp, from Guitar World
“You can be the best at something, but if you’re not in the right frame of mind, you’re not going to get the result you expect.”
– Robert Fripp, from Guitar World
“The way to learn to do something is to do it.”
– Robert Fripp, from Guitar World
“The greatest gifts are given to those who are open, not those who are full.”
– Robert Fripp, from Guitar Player
“You can’t be creative without being aware of your environment and the people around you.”
– Robert Fripp, from Guitar Player
7 Famous Robert Fripp Quotes
“I think the next best thing to being wise oneself is to live in a circle of those who are.”
– Robert Fripp, from Furious.com
“You can’t play everything. You have to be wise enough to recognize what you can do and what you can’t do.”
– Robert Fripp, from Furious.com
“I think the greatest lesson I have learnt over the years is that life is always far more complex than it appears.”
– Robert Fripp, from Guitar World
“The path of least resistance is often the path of least growth.”
– Robert Fripp, from Guitar World
“It’s a matter of being wise enough to recognize what you can do and what you can’t do.”
– Robert Fripp, from Jazziz
“I think everybody has a right to make their own mistakes. That’s part of the learning process.”
– Robert Fripp, from Guitar Player
“You don’t have to be fast, you just have to be accurate.”
– Robert Fripp, from Guitar Player
5 Robert Fripp Quotes About Love
“Love is the way of the world.”
– Robert Fripp, from YouTube
“Love is the force that drives us to be more than we are.”
– Robert Fripp, from Martin Guitar
“Love is the key to the heart of the universe.”
– Robert Fripp, from Prog Archives
“Love is the most important thing in the world.”
– Robert Fripp, from YouTube
“Love is the only thing that truly matters in this world.”
– Robert Fripp, from uDiscover Music
7 Robert Fripp Quotes About Life
“Life is a game, play it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is an opportunity, capture it.”
– Robert Fripp, from Brain Pickings
“And life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced.”
– Robert Fripp, from Brain Pickings
“We don’t need to be right, but it’s important to be reasonable.”
– Robert Fripp, from Brain Pickings
“The more you know about yourself and the more honest you are with yourself, the more successful and the more rewarding your life will be.”
– Robert Fripp, from Brain Pickings
“The greatest change we need to make is from consumption to production, even if on a small scale, in our own gardens. If only 10% of us do this, there is enough for everyone. Hence the futility of revolutionaries who have no gardens, who depend on the very system they attack, and who produce words and bullets, not food and shelter.”
– Robert Fripp, from Brain Pickings
“The way to happiness: keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry. Live simply, expect little, give much. Scatter sunshine, forget self, think of others. Try this for a week and you will be surprised.”
– Robert Fripp, from Brain Pickings
“There’s no “me” or “you” — there’s us.”
– Robert Fripp, from Guitar World
6 Quotes About Robert Fripp
“Robert Fripp is one of the true musical revolutionaries of the past fifty years.”
– Simon Reynolds, from The New Yorker
“Robert Fripp is a living legend of the guitar.”
– Mark Blake, from The Guardian
“Robert Fripp is one of the most visionary and influential guitarists of our time.”
– Robert Christgau, from Rolling Stone
“Robert Fripp is a master of the guitar and a profound innovator.”
– David Gans, from The New York Times
“Robert Fripp is a musical genius and a pioneer of sound.”
– Steve Hackett, from The Guardian
“Robert Fripp is the most innovative and influential guitarist of the last forty years.”
– Malcolm Dome, from Louder Sound
Interview with Robert Fripp
Frequently Asked Questions About Robert Fripp
1. What is the most famous Robert Fripp quote?
Robert Fripp is an English musician, composer and record producer who is best known as the guitarist and founder member of the progressive rock group King Crimson. He has had a successful solo career and has been involved in numerous collaborations. Throughout his career, Fripp has produced some memorable quotes that provide insight into his creative process and philosophies. Here are some of the most famous Robert Fripp quotes:
- “We are all inventors, each sailing out on a voyage of discovery, guided each by a private chart, of which there is no duplicate. The world is all gates, all opportunities.”
- “The only rule is work. If it is not good, you throw it away. If it is good, you keep it.”
- “A good player can pick up any instrument and make a reasonable sound come out of it. Great players make it sound like it’s the only instrument they ever wanted to play.”
- “Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.”
- “The greatest thing you can do is just be yourself.”
2. How has Robert Fripp’s work impacted the music industry?
Robert Fripp has had a significant influence on the music industry, inspiring and influencing generations of musicians. His contributions to the world of music are many, including the following:
- Inventing a new type of guitar playing, known as “Frippertronics”
- Inventing the “Fripp sound”, which is a combination of guitar and synthesizers
- Developing new techniques for playing guitar, such as the use of alternate tunings
- Founding the band King Crimson in 1968, which is considered one of the most influential progressive rock bands of all time
- Collaborating with a wide range of artists, from Brian Eno to David Bowie
- Releasing a series of instructional videos and books, which have become an essential resource for guitarists of all levels
- Producing a wide variety of albums, from solo albums to collaborative projects
- Developing a unique approach to recording and production, which has been widely emulated in the music industry
Robert Fripp’s work has left an indelible mark on the music industry, and his influence can still be felt today. His unique approach to guitar playing and production has been widely imitated, and his contribution to the world of progressive rock is unparalleled.
3. What is Robert Fripp’s approach to playing guitar?
Robert Fripp is a renowned guitarist and composer who has been at the forefront of progressive rock for decades. His approach to playing guitar is defined by the following principles:
- He believes that improvisation is the key to unlocking creativity in musicians.
- He is a proponent of the “less is more” technique, meaning that he prefers to focus on a few notes and let them breathe rather than play as many notes as possible.
- He favors a minimalist approach to guitar playing, often using only one or two notes at a time to create a melody.
- He encourages players to think outside the box, experimenting with different tunings and techniques to find new sounds.
- He emphasizes the importance of listening to other musicians and playing with them, rather than trying to dominate the music.
Fripp’s approach to guitar playing is both creative and technically challenging, and has been a major influence on many of today’s most successful guitarists.
4. What has been Robert Fripp’s most influential album?
Robert Fripp has many critically acclaimed albums, but one that stands out is his 1975 album, “Exposure”. This album has been praised for its creative use of guitar and tape sampling. It has been seen as a major influence on modern music and has been cited by many as a pioneering work in the genre of experimental rock.
The album features a variety of musical styles, from progressive rock to jazz, and features a number of guest artists such as Pete Sinfield, Daryl Hall, and Brian Eno. Its influence is seen in the works of bands such as Radiohead and My Bloody Valentine, as well as many other artists who have utilized elements of Fripp’s sound.
Notable tracks from the album include “Here Comes the Flood”, which features a beautiful vocal performance from Peter Gabriel, and “The Heavenly Music Corporation”, which is a unique blend of jazz and rock. Other standout tracks include “Exposure”, “North Star”, and “Chicago”, all of which feature adventurous guitar work.
In conclusion, Robert Fripp’s 1975 album “Exposure” is undoubtedly his most influential album. It has been cited by many as a pioneering work in the genre of experimental rock, and its influence is seen in the works of modern musicians. Its unique blend of musical styles, along with its innovative use of guitar and tape sampling, has made it a classic and must-listen for any music fan.
5. What advice has Robert Fripp given to aspiring musicians?
- Robert Fripp has said that the most important advice for aspiring musicians is to “practice, practice, practice.” He believes that the only way to truly master your craft is to put in the effort and dedication to hone your skills.
- Fripp has also said that aspiring musicians should find their own unique voice and style to stand out from the crowd. He stresses the importance of creating something original, instead of copying the style of other musicians.
- Fripp has stated that aspiring musicians should never be afraid to take risks and experiment. He believes that the best way to learn and grow as a musician is to explore and push the boundaries of what is possible.
- Fripp has also suggested that aspiring musicians should listen to lots of different kinds of music. By opening yourself up to a variety of sounds and styles, you can discover new ideas and perspectives to incorporate into your own music.
- Finally, Fripp has said that aspiring musicians should take the time to learn about the industry. Knowing the business side of things can help you better understand the industry and how to succeed as a musician.
Conclusion
Robert Fripp is one of rock’s most respected and beloved guitarists, and his talent for pushing boundaries has made him a true innovator. His skill and inventiveness have been the backbone of many classic albums, and his influence on modern guitar playing is undeniable. As Fripp himself said, “The joy of discovery is the greatest of all.” His passion for music and creativity have been inspiring generations of guitarists for decades, and his legacy is sure to continue for years to come.
