King Crimson chief Robert Fripp has shrugged off a bit of the band’s followers who’ve vocally criticized the prog-rocker for his standard sequence of viral movies.
Early within the COVID-19 pandemic, Fripp and his spouse, actress Toyah Willcox, started recording quirky residence movies and importing them to YouTube. The preliminary clip featured the often severe and stoic Fripp donning a tutu and dancing to Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake.” Quickly, the couple started overlaying well-known rock songs, with Fripp enjoying guitar whereas Willcox sings and dances, often in a humorous and/or revealing outfit. Nirvana, Metallica, the Ramones, Rage Towards the Machine and the Rolling Stones are simply a few of the many artists the couple has lined.
The video sequence, dubbed Toyah and Robert’s Sunday Lunch, have developed a faithful following, racking up tens of millions of views. Nevertheless, some ardent King Crimson followers have voiced their displeasure, each within the songs Fripp has chosen to cowl, and the overall silliness of the sequence.
“My spouse insists performers have a accountability to carry folks’s spirits in exhausting occasions,” Fripp defined throughout an interview with The Telegraph. “Do I respect that? My reply is sure, fully and totally I do.”
Although the rocker was initially “fucking livid” over his viral reputation, he’s grown to grasp the optimistic impression the clips have had on viewers throughout attempting occasions.
“We’re keenly conscious of what folks have skilled throughout lockdown,” Fripp defined. “I imply, banged up in a small house whereas your mom’s dying and you may’t go to the funeral. My spouse stated to me, if all we’ve executed in two years is assist one particular person via their dangerous time, it’s all value it. So I’m unsure if that meets a standards of serving what’s highest in music, however for me, it’s an actual endeavor that I respect. And I’m fairly ready to strap on a guitar and rock out to a traditional riff with a view to obtain it.”
Fripp and Willcox are planning to take their distinctive duets on the highway in 2023, constructing upon their success as video stars. As for many who scoff at Fripp’s viral endeavors, the rocker was succinct: “At age 76, why ought to I give a fuck? That is my life.”
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