Robert Fripp's Diary

Toyah is speaking to her

Sister the Frippster called in from Maui 20 minutes ago to make sure we arrived safely & are settling in. Both are correct.

18.43
Toyah & I went to Stonestown Galleria this morning, Sauselito for lunch, Fields Book Store on Polk and then to "Galaxy Quest" at West Portal.

While at Stonestown, Adrian called on my new cell 'phone. We discussed the inclusion / exclusion of "Dream". This has given us both sleepless nights during the past week. Ade suggested that, despite my declaration when the issue was first raised that this was his call, actually it wasn't at all: it was my call. Ade's call was: leave it on the album. Ade made his call but the discussion continued. He has no problem with it not being his call, but that was not the situation as presented.

This leads to a larger issue: Robert's role in Crimson. Is Robert a / the "bandleader"? This is a role I've continually rejected, and a role which earlier members would also (and continue) to reject. I also recognize that increasingly I've been discharging / fulfilling the role of convenor / initiator / organiser. As Ade pointed out, it's Robert that's concerned with the size of venues in Europe.

So is Crimson a democracy? Well, actually no. We don't vote on issues. Conventionally, when one of the guys has been particularly unhappy (eg Bill not liking 2 sets or traveling on a bus overnight) the issue under consideration is dropped.

Ade suggests that the final call, the last word in a Crim situation, the "quality control", is something he has accepted as being vested in Robert in the 19 years we've worked together. And that he has no problem with this. His concern is that this situation is acknowledged. So what to make of this in the present discussion?

Ade has given me the call on "Dream" being left off the album, providing I accept responsibility for making the call. My own preferred option is to take "Dream" as one half of a song to be developed for the next album. Ade, for his part, isn't sure he wants to rework an idea which he's happy to leave as is. So, we agreed that the inclusion / exclusion of "Dream" is Robert's call, and the future of the song is Adrian's.

This is the short report. Essentially, the conversation clarified a situation which has always resonated with ambiguity and represents a maturation of my personal & working relationship with Adrian. Crimson is beginning again with a blank page to inscribe its future upon, and we move forward with commitment & enthusiasm as a Double Duo. I remain unsure of exactly what my role is, am open to the Double Trio returning, at least for specific ventures, and very pleased with how the Single Quartet format is developing.

So Crimson has clarity, with ambiguity, and is clearly ambiguous. What else might we anticipate from this strange creature?

As an addendum: posters to the Guestbook have railed against the seeming censorship of Crim by an ear-dead suit at Virgin. This was not the situation. Declan Colgan, Hero of A&R sans pareil, had concerns with how the song would be received. This gave rise to a discussion inside the Crim which otherwise would not have taken place. It also gave A.Baldy Belew & RF a few sleepless nights. The outcome is, overall, to help move KC forward to its next stage of manifesting in the world. Thank you Declan.