Speaking to Creem’s Richard Grabel in 1982 Fripp was asked to reflect on events of The Drive To 1981 and the formation of a new King Crimson. "Frippertronics was third division. Research and development. I couldn't have done this (King Crimson 81) without Frippertronics. I tested ideas in the marketplace, tested ways of relating to the audience. New places to play, ways of walking onstage. I had no particular wish to do it, and I had to do it, so I found what part of myself to call on. . .The Drive to 1981 I'd say was sixty-five to seventy percent successful. It was partly unsuccessful because of the values of the marketplace. It was in the marketplace but not governed by the values of the marketplace intruded. As a testing of ideas, no reservation. The political and economic theory of the industry, the articles I wrote for Musician, are critically important for me. . .Its main success was it got me here. It prepared me. In 1977 to reform King Crimson would have been completely wrong. Now it's completely right.”
