‘Why Ought to I Give a F—?’

King Crimson chief Robert Fripp has shrugged off a piece of the band’s followers who’ve vocally criticized the prog-rocker for his standard sequence of viral movies.

Early within the COVID-19 pandemic, Fripp and his spouse, actress Toyah Willcox, started recording quirky house movies and importing them to YouTube. The preliminary clip featured the often severe and stoic Fripp donning a tutu and dancing to Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake.” Quickly, the couple started overlaying well-known rock songs, with Fripp enjoying guitar whereas Willcox sings and dances, often in a humorous and/or revealing outfit. Nirvana, Metallica, the Ramones, Rage In opposition to the Machine and the Rolling Stones are simply a few of the many artists the couple has coated.

The video sequence, dubbed Toyah and Robert’s Sunday Lunch, have developed a loyal following, racking up tens of millions of views. Nevertheless, some ardent King Crimson followers have voiced their displeasure, each within the songs Fripp has chosen to cowl, and the overall silliness of the sequence.

“My spouse insists performers have a duty to elevate folks’s spirits in arduous instances,” Fripp defined throughout an interview with The Telegraph. “Do I respect that? My reply is sure, utterly and totally I do.”

Although the rocker was initially “fucking livid” over his viral reputation, he’s grown to grasp the optimistic affect the clips have had on viewers throughout making an attempt instances.

“We’re keenly conscious of what folks have skilled throughout lockdown,” Fripp defined. “I imply, banged up in a small condo whereas your mom’s dying and you’ll’t go to the funeral. My spouse stated to me, if all we’ve carried out in two years is assist one particular person via their dangerous time, it’s all value it. So I’m unsure if that meets a standards of serving what’s highest in music, however for me, it’s an actual enterprise that I respect. And I’m fairly ready to strap on a guitar and rock out to a basic riff with the intention to obtain it.”

Fripp and Willcox are planning to take their distinctive duets on the road in 2023, constructing upon their success as video stars. As for many who scoff at Fripp’s viral endeavors, the rocker was succinct: “At age 76, why ought to I give a fuck? That is my life.”