The duo, who have partnered together for over three decades, will engage in discussions with fans about King Crimson, Discipline Global Media, and much more.
Robert Fripp, best known as leader and guitarist of King Crimson, an experimental rock group he founded in 1968, is hitting the road this fall with longtime collaborator David Singleton. Billed as “That Awful Man and his Manager,” the duo will embark on a speaking tour of North America, discussing topics that go beyond King Crimson.
The concept for the tour originated as a pre-show VIP add-on at King Crimson concerts where fans had the opportunity to engage in conversation with Fripp, Singleton and other members of the group. A desire to expand on this format launched the subsequent spoken-word tour.
“I’m hoping that we come away from [the discussions] learning a lot,” Singleton told The New School Free Press. “Let alone the fans, I’m looking forward to it!”
Fripp, who has remained at the forefront of contemporary experimental music for over five decades, is known for his unique and innovative approach to playing the guitar. King Crimson’s 1969 debut, “In the Court of the Crimson King,” is frequently cited as one of the first examples of progressive rock. After King Crimson temporarily disbanded in 1974, Fripp went on to work with a myriad of artists including David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, and Brian Eno before reforming his seminal outlet under various incarnations in subsequent years.
Since 1990, Fripp and Singleton have worked together as partners both creatively and in business ventures. Singleton has acted as a producer, engineer, and songwriter alongside Fripp. Wearing a plethora of hats, Singleton best describes his role as “bridging the gap” between an idea and the finished product. “It’s making something real,” Singleton explained. “Realizing the vision.”
The tagline for the upcoming tour dates, “That Awful Man and His Manager,” was coined by a fan from an online comment. “When I first saw it I wrote back and said, ‘Stop calling me that awful man!’” Singleton joked. “The promoter asked if they could use [the term] because it’s funny. Robert said ‘I don’t like being called that awful man,’ and I told him, ‘I don’t like being called the manager!’”
According to Singleton, Fripp acquired the rights to his catalog of music after years of being “ripped off” by the music industry. The duo saw an opportunity to re-release the material, properly compensating the artists involved. Thus, Discipline Global Media, a label aimed at practicing “artist-friendly & music-driven” business, was born in 1992. The venture grew and began to release material from adjacent artists and former King Crimson personnel that includes Bill Bruford, Adrian Belew, Trey Gunn and more. “It’s ridiculous that labels insist on owning the music,” Singleton told the Free Press. “Artists should be in control. Artists should own their own music, and if there is money being made, the artists need to get their fair share. It took a long time to find the right balance.”
You can find information and tickets to “An Evening with Robert Fripp and David Singleton,” including their appearance in NYC at City Winery on Sept. 23 at dgmlive.com
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