While reading through Sid Smith’s bio of King Crimson titled “In the Court of King Crimson,” I came across this anecdote that Smith relates about a meeting between Greg Lake and Robert Fripp. I’ve excerpted it here for your enjoyment:

“In July 1977, Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, complete with a full orchestra, pulled into town for three sell-out nights at Madison Square Garden. Although ELP were the complete antithesis, both musically and ideologically, of Fripp’s new scene, the guitarist nevertheless went along to see the band in action and was able to get backstage before the band went on.

Lake recalls seeing his former bandmate for the first time since leaving Crimson back in 1970, as he made his way to the arena. “And as I’m walking past this barrier I see Robert and I was shocked. So I asked him what he was doing there and said to the roadie ‘Get him out of the crowd and get him back into the dressing room and look after him.’ So up we go on the stage and we play the show.”

As Lake remembers, after the show the pair agreed to go out to eat. “So we went off in the limo and we’re going down the road and I said to him ‘You know Robert, one day we ought to get our guitars out and play together again. It’s been so long since we did that.’ And he said ‘I don’t think so.’ So I said to the driver ‘Just pull over on the left here’, opened the f**king door and told him to leg it. I said ‘Out you go’ and I dropped him off. I thought why was he like that? It must have been jealousy. There was ELP selling out three nights at Madison Square Garden and you couldn’t get arrested in King Crimson at that time.”

Fripp denies it happened this way, noting that the conversation happened while the limo had already come to a stop at his doorway.

(I like the expression “…I told him to leg it.” Nice variation of what we in America would say, “Told him to take a hike” or “Told him to get the hell out”.

It just goes to show you, it’s not easy being a prog rocker.

bluetailfly wrote: While reading through Sid Smith’s bio of King Crimson titled “In the Court of King Crimson,” I came across this anecdote that Smith relates about a meeting between Greg Lake and Robert Fripp. I’ve excerpted it here for your enjoyment:   As Lake remembers, after the show the pair agreed to go out to eat. “So we went off in the limo and we’re going down the road and I said to him ‘You know Robert, one day we ought to get our guitars out and play together again. It’s been so long since we did that.’ And he said ‘I don’t think so.’ So I said to the driver ‘Just pull over on the left here’, opened the f**king door and told him to leg it. I said ‘Out you go’ and I dropped him off. I thought why was he like that? It must have been jealousy. There was ELP selling out three nights at Madison Square Garden and you couldn’t get arrested in King Crimson at that time.”

If that is the truth then my estimation of Bunter Boy Lake has gone way up!

"...you couldn't get arrested in King Crimson at the time."

King Crimson hadn't existed for about 2 years by the time of the Works tour, and wouldn't resume operations for about another 5 years. That could explain why they weren't playing big gigs in New York at the time.

If you know the history of Greg and Robert... then you'd understand the story.  Robert really doesn't have good friends... he's just not that type and there has always been a control issue between the 2 of them...  Each time Robert has pushed it, Greg has said goodbye.

Dont start

Humour................

That's why you're obsessesed with stalkers!

Why am I perspiring,it's not warm in here

Sorry,I've been hanging around in the Erotic Art Thread

Humour?

You never seen Carry On Up The Khyber?

It's my comedy bible!

Reed Lover wrote: Sorry,I've been hanging around in the Erotic Art Thread Humour? You never seen Carry On Up The Khyber? It's my comedy bible!

Maybe you should try watching Jim Davidson a bit.... maybe that will help..

Has he not left This Noble Isle yet?

He promised to leave if Blair won the election in 97 and everyone in Britain voted Labour just to oblige him!

Christ 3F8ts how on earth have you become familiar with the work of that scumbag?

Please tell me he's not popular in the States!

Bl**dy hell, really??  The guy was a national embarrassment.  Everyone deserves a second chance, but the guy was a wife-beating racist alcoholic with toilet-bowl humour that even the RAF squaddies found offensive.  So what is Keith REALLY like then?????  Did he appreciate an old tete a tete with Nick-nick??  Christ, damage being done here.....I'm a bit worried about all this!

As a footnote, Steve 'interesting' Davis, the snooker demon, is a huge Magma fan, and got them to reform to play at his birthday bash a few years ago. 

Prog fans come from the most diverse backgrounds!!

Now, if you know a little bit about Crimson´s history, you´ll know that Fripp isn´t ... I want to say normal, but that wouldn´t be nice... so I´m gonna say that he is "special" as a person so it might could be...but I don´t think that you should blame this on Fripp... whats wrong with Fripp not wanting to play with Lake again??? And, couldn´t it be that after a big show like that Lake would feel a little bit as a God and so he maybe took Fripps anwser as a offense...?

Think about THAT all you Lake lovers!!!!!!

Fripp is progs biggest genius!!!!!!!

I know a lot about Crimson history... even more about its history while Greg was still there.. and Greg's big reason from leaving a great band after the first album.. had to do with Robert's control issues.  I doubt Greg was being defensive... he's a little too cocky for that... but it wouldn't be hard to take Fripp's response as an insult... cause most likely thats exactly what it was...

Metropolis wrote: Oh dear, I just lost a whole heap of respect for Mr Emerson, associating himself with that fouled mouthed near nazi

I would have thought ELP would be embarassed and offended by having that f***ing arsehole as such a vocal fan. I'd pay him to keep his mouth shut, and I certainly would have let him use my musci as the theme tune to his television show.

Rick Wakemen also likes Jim Davidson. Is it commonplace for old prog rockers to hang out with facists??  Are they facists themselves??? I couldn't asscociate with someone who was blatantly racist.

Blacksword wrote: Metropolis wrote: Oh dear, I just lost a whole heap of respect for Mr Emerson, associating himself with that fouled mouthed near nazi I would have thought ELP would be embarassed and offended by having that f***ing arsehole as such a vocal fan. I'd pay him to keep his mouth shut, and I certainly would have let him use my musci as the theme tune to his television show. Rick Wakemen also likes Jim Davidson. Is it commonplace for old prog rockers to hang out with facists??  Are they facists themselves??? I couldn't asscociate with someone who was blatantly racist.

Indeed. As a prog rock fan, it's tempting to think that a music which evolved from the hippie philosophy of the 60's, and which espouses freedom and individuality in it's musical makeup would be populated by liberal (in the American sense) practitioners. What a let-down to find that fascists enjoy it equally! May they be locked in a Comatorium and force-fed Henry Cow tracks till the Gold is Cold.

I once heard Jim Davidson singing 'Watching over you' (?) by ELP. Its a very sweet song. I like it very much. To hear that bastard struggling through it was offensive

On the Yes speak DVD Rick makes refernces to Jim Davidson and Norman wisdom as two of his faves. They are probably among my least favourite, my tastes are alittle more left field. I'd still like to have a beer with Rick though! Tell him where he's going wrong

Blacksword wrote: I once heard Jim Davidson singing 'Watching over you' (?) by ELP. Its a very sweet song. I like it very much. To hear that bastard struggling through it was offensive On the Yes speak DVD Rick makes refernces to Jim Davidson and Norman wisdom as two of his faves. They are probably among my least favourite, my tastes are alittle more left field. I'd still like to have a beer with Rick though! Tell him where he's going wrong

Had a few beers with Rick and his family at a Christmas party in November high up in the hills of Buxton in in 1992.Can't remember the village where it was but it was totally amazing.There were 9 of us down from Scotland and the man played a staggering version of Starship Trooper with one of his son's girlfriend's on vocals.The meal was great.The music was great and so was our early Christmas dinner with loads of drink.A truly memorable occasion!!!!!!!!!!!!!

James Lee wrote: Nah, over here Rush Limbaugh uses a Pretenders track for his radio show, and I still like Chrissy Hynde just fine.

I hear that horrendous tune everyday non-stop throughout Rush's entire 3 hour program but I still love him the same. All hail the MahaRushi!!

Toyah should leave him. He's wierd.

I'll marry her

fripp's strange behaviour is legendary:

during a show here in quebec, while he was playing his guitar sitting on a chair, a female fan shouted, in French: "Fripp, t'es frippé!" This means something like a dog getting out of a pool, or wet clothes that you take from the washing machine. Apparently, he stopped his show, and never reappeared!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Jim Tory Boy Davidson president of the ELP fan club? The reason JD loves the 70s is, that was the last time he could get away with broadcasting his particular brand of (subliminal) fascism. That the BBC still offer him a forum for his offensive cobblers is what surprises me, even if he does have to watch his Ps & Qs these days.

Quote from a biography: "His humor has been condemned by some for being frequently racist, sexist and homophobic. He has responded by calling his critics "do-goody, leftie, white, socialist hybrids"."

I remember him appearing on "Room 101", where he managed to allienate himself from the live audience by attempting to put "lefties" in the room, describing them as "whingers".

Jim, in the words of John Cooper Clarke;

"What kind of creature bore you?

Were it some kind of bat?

They can't find a good word for you,

But I can; Twat!"

Ah Jim (G, not D) you're a man of litterary taste. Just for you, the whole poetic diatribe...

TWAT

Like a Night Club in the morning, you’re the bitter end.
Like a recently disinfected sh*t-house, you’re clean round the bend.
You give me the horrors
too bad to be true
All of my tomorrow’s
are lousy coz of you.

You put the Shat in Shatter
Put the Pain in Spain
Your germs are splattered about
Your face is just a stain

You’re certainly no raver, commonly known as a drag.
Do us all a favour, here... wear this polythene bag.

You’re like a dose of scabies,
I’ve got you under my skin.
You make life a fairy tale... Grimm!

People mention murder, the moment you arrive.
I’d consider killing you if I thought you were alive.
You’ve got this slippery quality,
it makes me think of phlegm,
and a dual personality
I hate both of them.

Your bad breath, vamps disease, destruction, and decay.
Please, please, please, please, take yourself away.
Like a death at a birthday party,
you ruin all the fun.
Like a sucked and spat our smartie,
you’re no use to anyone.
Like the shadow of the guillotine
on a dead consumptive’s face.
Speaking as an outsider,
what do you think of the human race

You went to a progressive psychiatrist.
He recommended suicide...
before scratching your bad name off his list,
and pointing the way outside.

You hear laughter breaking through, it makes you want to fart.
You’re heading for a breakdown,
better pull yourself apart.

Your dirty name gets passed about when something goes amiss.
Your attitudes are platitudes,
just make me wanna piss.

What kind of creature bore you
Was is some kind of bat
They can’t find a good word for you,
but I can...
TWAT.

LYRICS © JOHN COOPER CLARKE