The guitarist that Robert Fripp aspires to be: “Sets a standard”
With King Crimson, Robert Fripp proved himself to be a technically gifted wizard capable of accomplishing the unthinkable when armed with a guitar.
To be an icon is to, in a lot of people’s eyes, have completed the journey of learning an instrument. However, despite his immense ability, even Fripp still greatly admires the talents of his peers, including one who he said “sets a standard” that he hopes to reach.
Competition is a healthy part of artistry; without it, many acts wouldn’t have gone on to create their best work. The most notable example of this phenomenon is The Beatles, who were pushed to new heights following the release of Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys, which forced the Fab Four to up their game if they wanted to keep their seat as the head of the table, resulting in the birth of Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
While, in some circumstances, it can be damaging when artists become so fixated on what everybody else is doing that they lose sight of their own voice, that doesn’t always need to be the case.
When King Crimson arrived with their debut album in 1969, they were immediately revered, especially Fripp. In the decade that followed, Pink Floyd evolved from their initial brand of psychedelia into blues-infused progressive rock territory, and despite them stepping onto his toes, Fripp couldn’t help but admire the work of guitarist David Gilmour.
During a Q&A with fans on social media, Fripp was asked whether he felt there was a rivalry between him and Gilmour. Furthermore, the former King Crimson member was probed on whether he felt upset by Gilmour’s status in the industry.
Rather than stoke a feud, Fripp’s response oozed with class, and he expressed his endless admiration for Gilmour. He wrote: “No. I discussed David’s approach with him over dinner when he was visiting mutual chums in Middle England a little while ago. The quality of David’s sound sets a standard to which I aspire.”
Would Gilmour be happy with Fripp noting a desire to replicate some of his style? Absolutely. Gilmour famously came out to exclaim the only way for a young guitarist to truly learn their own style was to, at first, copy the work of others. “So many players inspired me,” he explained. “I learned from Pete Seeger, Hank Marvin, Lead Belly, Joni Mitchell, John Fahey, Roy Buchanon, Jeff [Beck] and Eric [Clapton] and dozens more. I copied – don’t be afraid to copy – and eventually something that I suppose that I would call my own appeared.”
While Gilmour hasn’t talked extensively publicly about his love of King Crimson, during an interview with readers of Q in 1999, the Pink Floyd guitarist revealed he preferred them to Yes, Genesis and Emerson, Lake & Palmer when asked to rank the acts.
Although they have their differences musically, the duo helped Nick Cave realise his artistry, and the Australian singer still places them both on a pedestal. In an edition of his Red Hand Files newsletter in 2019, Cave said when asked about his favourite guitarists: “King Crimson were masters of the sudden violent eruption. Bill Bruford, their drummer was simply off the planet and Robert Fripp was my favourite guitarist at the time, along with, of course, David Gilmour.”
“To this day, Robert Fripp and David Gilmour are giants to me, and remain among my favourite guitarists. Fripp and Gilmour are very different players but there is something about the tone of their instruments that touches me in a very deep place,” he continued.
Fripp may believe Gilmour operates on a level that he’s yet to attain; Cave’s comments prove otherwise, and his view is shared by many. Nevertheless, Fripp’s humble attitude to his own success makes a refreshing change in the ego-centric music business and is an admirable attribute.
