Robert Fripp's Diary

Red Carpet Club San Francisco

This has been a morning of coincidences. I am here awaiting the arrival ofthe Little horse from England at 16.30. Sister is speaking nearby thisafternoon so dropped me off at the airport en route. Armed with computer Iintended to enter this Diary but sensing stomach contractions, aka hunger, Ibegan to look into the eating options available and then...

But cutting back to earlier ... My morning coffee-provider of choice wasStarbucks, primarily because the in-house music usually reflects a measureof care and the sound systems are acceptable. That is, the provision ofmusic is not accidental. This in contrast to coffee-shop workers who tune aghetto-blaster, pushed behind the grinding machine, to a radio stationblasting marginally musical sonics of non-choice and non-selection,interrupted by commercials and jingles, all of which are timbrallyoffensive. Simply, in most coffee establishments the sound sucks a fat one.

Accompanied by Andrew Blake, and sipping my first sips of the day, I wasserenaded by Coltrane: "A Love Supreme". Thiry two (?) years later, here itis in Starbucks. Jon Hiseman told me (when we were recording the "66 ShadesOf Lipstick" album with Keith Tippett and Andy Sheppard) the story of Jonseeing / hearing Coltrane play this live, with Elvin setting up the drumsand the piece emerging out of Elvin checking his kit. Ian Wallace's view wasthat young musicians of our generation, if they dropped their first tablistening to "Sergeant Pepper", became rock musicians; if they tripped to"Love Supreme" they became jazz players. According to this story, JonAnderson (who Ian played with in the North of England) became a rock singerwith an influential group. And now I guess Ian himself has arrived at wherehe was destined to be.

Drugs were never my way so that leaves me where I am.

First coincidence: Sister drove me to the airport via the Golden Gate Park,so I could see how and where to walk with Toyah, find the De Young and enjoythe promenades. We were about to exit when a Jeep stopped in front andblocked our way. Wondering how and why any driver would exhibit such rifepillockry, we pulled on the inside only to be blocked again. The driver gotout: it was my Sister's boyfriend from 20 years ago, and the only man herfamily believed she might have considered marrying. Now, he is 61 and hascancer, with a major operation on 24th. November.

The last time Patricia and he met was also when we were together, at amoviehouse in town 2 or 3 years ago: he was sitting in the row in front ofus.

Second coincidence: at the airport, your Diarist dropped off and lookinginto a restaurant of modest demeanour, a shock of recognition - Mr. Drummerand Doug Nightwine, sound engineer, of the Joe Satriani band. At lastnight's P4 show we received a cheery message from Joe who couldn't getthere: the trio was playing up the road. And here, now - Doug and Mr.Drummer (aka Jeff Campitelli). Joe appeared, then Doug went to get Stu Hammfrom the gate, and we then had lunch: the team together again! Stu has nowmoved to San Francisco from Los Angeles, and is becoming a father at the endof May.

They were just in from (or off to) Portland with another two weeks touring.This is how it is with groups on the road: the Journeying Gigster missespals and chums working in the same towns by 2-5 days. P4 has beenleapfrogging both the Satch Band and Nick Beggs with Howard Jones. I evenget to miss Joe on the East Coast Soundscapes tour by 2 / 3 days in severaltowns. Seeing the guys today was a fillip for a day already full with happyanticipation.

Last night was the final P4 of this tour. All the guys agreed that P4continues. Masa Matsuzaki would like us to go to Japan for a festival nextJuly, and Argentina is possible for April.

The show was, for me, stronger than the first night. Instead of RF goingout to begin, last night (when Pat was out of the dressing room) I suggestedhe should go on first. That's what you get for leaving the dressing roomwhen the other guys are all there. When Pat returned he was presented withthe famous line: "Me and the guys have been talking". So Pat went out first,joined by Trey and then Tony, and eventually by the guitarist.

Some major Crim material is beginning to emerge, although I don't know towhat degree an audience might recognise it as such. The next generation Crimis approaching gently, at it's own speed. Tony may be out for a long time in1999 with Seal, which would postpone the projeKcted October touring in themid-West. But that's not a problem for me: P2 and P3 (Pat, Trey & RF) arecooking and available.

Yesterday T. Lev flew to, and from, Los Angeles to take part in a video toaccompany the John Lennon set which Yoko has prepared and is about to bereleased. A report I have not yet made to this Diary is of T. Lev's huge newpair of Demon Boots. Their platform soles give Tony an even more toweringstage presence and their size allows for a random sample of pedals andswitches to be struck simultaneously (and unintentionally) on the T. Levmidi foot-controller. Perhaps Tony's web-site will carry pictures of thesestrange and extravagant creatures.

A sad piece of news to report: at both of the P4 SF shows Sister saw afemale audient she befriended with her husband at The Catalyst, Santa Cruz.I was trying to get my sister a seat at a table near the front of the housewhen some fans / audients invited Patricia to sit at their table. Which shedid, and remained in contact with them. The husband died in September, onlya young man. His widow (forgive me, I don't know her name) continues in themusic-going style she enjoyed with her husband and very kindly came to seeP4 twice. Should she read this, my commiserations and good wishes.

16.22

And now off to meet Toyah out of baggage claim!