ROBERT FRIPP

WITH A 32-DISC BOXSET OF HIS SOLO WORK DURING THE LATE 1970s ALREADY RELEASED INTO THE WILD AND A GUITAR BOOK COMING OUT IN EARLY AUTUMN, ROBERT SITS DOWN WITH US AT FRIPP HQ IN THE MIDDLE ENGLAND COUNTRYSIDE TO TALK ALL THINGS KING CRIMSON, AS WE TAKE AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK AT THE INSTRUMENTS THAT HAVE GIVEN VOICE TO SOME OF PROG-ROCK'S FINEST MOMENTS

- David Mead

Interviews with 'That Awful Man', as Robert Fripp refers to himself these days, are rare, and until now he hasn't allowed his collection of guitars to be photographed, including the one pictured opposite that was used on so many classic Crimson albums. "I don't collect guitars," he tells us as we settle down to talk, "they are merely tools that I use in my work." However, we note that the famous '59 Les Paul Custom appears to be in almost pristine condition - in fact, it's still shiny even after years on the road. "One careful owner," he quips with a wry grin.

Anyone who wants to assess Fripp's skills as a guitarist need only check out Fracture from the King Crimson album Starless And Bible Black. The Moto Perpetuo from that piece is a legendary example of his crosspicking finesse. His guitar journey began with lessons that found him playing some challenging classical pieces with a plectrum, instead of the more conventional fingerstyle. This influence reached into the Crimson repertoire and is apparent in 1970's Peace - A Theme from In The Wake Of Poseidon. "Yes, Carcassi Etude No 7, the middle section," he tells us. "You probably wouldn't be able to see the connection, but Peace - A Theme wouldn't have quite ended up that way unless I practised the Carcassi Etudes for fingerstyle, but with a pick because crosspicking was my speciality."

Now that Crimson has entered another hiatus, the rendition of Starless in Japan last December being regarded by all as the last we'll hear from the band, it's time to catch up with Crimson's only permanent member. And we start our conversation at the very beginning...

How did you become interested in music - and specifically the guitar in the first place?