Robert Fripp's Diary

World HQ.

11.50

World HQ.

A cold, misty & frosty morning in Bredonoborugfh.

Bill Rieflin called from near Bilbao, Spain. More accurately, the Basque region of the Iberian peninsula. Bill has been travelling in an uncomfortable van on long journeys. Locals smoke with conviction & intensity, sharing both these qualities & their exhalation with Bill. Bill finds this unendurable.

Bill’s question of interest: how to maintain intensity as a performer?

Maintaining a high level of intensity, for a player (or just about anyone else) makes for very uncomfortable company. To operate at this level, better not to hope for a personal life, friends, popularity, fame, success – even to earn a living. Creative intensity is utterly antithetical to the professional impulse. A good professional is ready, able & willing to deliver on specific terms that have been agreed. To play & act intentionally in service of an aim, at a high level of intensity, requires discipline; and the aim cannot be personal reward. If recompense comes, then it’s likely to be much later; perhaps, not even in a lifetime.

Meanwhile, back in the mundane world & at World HQ – a new radiator was fitted in Office No. 4 while I was at DGM: it is exactly the radiator we specified should not be fitted. It is astonishing how often I have seen this happening: if we define a situation that must not occur, it takes place. Better then, to define our aim positively.