Latest news with #RobertFripp
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
King Crimson's Robert Fripp Recovering After Emergency Heart Surgery
Robert Fripp is recovering after undergoing emergency heart surgery last month, the legendary guitarist has revealed. The King Crimson co-founder shared the news in a YouTube video posted with his wife, singer and actor Toyah Willcox, on May 11. In the clip, the 78-year-old explained that he unknowingly suffered a heart attack in early April while traveling to Italy for a performance with The Orchestra of Crafty Guitarists. More from Billboard Dua Lipa Covers Enrique Iglesias' 'Hero' In Spanish at Madrid Show Tory Lanez Hospitalized Following Prison Stabbing: Report Here's How Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, SZA, Selena Gomez & Lizzo Celebrated Their Moms This Mother's Day Fripp initially believed his symptoms were related to acid reflux. 'I'd been suffering what I considered to be acid reflux for a couple of weeks,' he explained. 'On the Saturday morning I flew, it felt a little bit more.' 'I was in A+E not quite knowing what was going on other than I knew they were going to do something, and an orderly came along and shaved my balls,' Fripp continued. 'Now the dear man, I really didn't wish his job on him at that point. Now this is the thing. So you're concerned with my heart, fine. What are you doing shaving my balls?' Upon landing in Bergamo on April 6, Fripp's companions took him directly to a cardiac hospital instead of waiting for a scheduled doctor's appointment. There, doctors discovered dangerously elevated troponin levels, a protein that indicates damage to the heart. 'You're supposed to have 10 of these, but you've got 500,' a doctor reportedly told him. The guitarist underwent five hours of surgery, followed by intensive care and a second operation. Despite the ordeal, Fripp still managed to perform with the 124-member ensemble at Villa Sancelso. He is now on medication for life and slowly adjusting to the change. 'It was stunning. The audience were prepped with orchestral manoeuvres and it really was a magical event for me,' he added. Willcox, visibly emotional in the video, praised the medical team and expressed her gratitude. 'I'm so proud of you and so grateful to your team who kept us all informed,' she said. Fripp also urged fans to take symptoms seriously. 'If you think you have heartburn or acid reflux, really look into it. It might be something more.' Fripp, widely regarded as one of the most innovative guitarists in rock history, founded King Crimson in 1968. Beyond the band's genre-defying catalog, he's contributed to landmark records from David Bowie, Brian Eno, and Peter Gabriel. In recent years, he's reached a new audience through the couple's viral 'Sunday Lunch' YouTube series, where the two cover rock classics with a theatrical twist. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Robert Fripp Recently Suffered Heart Attack and Underwent Two Emergency Surgeries
The post Robert Fripp Recently Suffered Heart Attack and Underwent Two Emergency Surgeries appeared first on Consequence. Robert Fripp recently suffered a heart attack and underwent two emergency surgeries in Italy. The legendary King Crimson guitarist detailed the experience alongside his wife, Toyah Willcox, in an installment of the couple's 'Upbeat Moments' YouTube series. The heart attack occurred as he was embarking on a flight to Italy last month to perform at an Orchestra of Crafty Guitarists event at Castione della Presolana in Bergamo. He was suffering from chest pains that he assumed to be acid reflux, but still decided to fly, arranging for an appointment with a doctor once he reached Italy. However, once he arrived in Bergamo, he was taken to a hospital to be tested before being admitted to intensive care, where he underwent two emergency surgeries. He was diagnosed as suffering from a trifurcated artery, and he had a pair of stents inserted during the two surgeries. Given the typically joyful nature Robert and Toyah's videos, the King Crimson founder managed to make light of the scary situation with some comic relief. 'Well here's the interesting bit,' said Fripp. 'I was in A&E [Accident and Emergency] not quite knowing what was going on other than I knew they were going to do something, and an orderly came along and shaved my balls!' Fripp, who turns 79 years old this Friday (May 16th), continued, 'Now the dear man, I really didn't wish his job on him at that point. Now this is the thing. So you're concerned with my heart, fine. What are you doing shaving my balls?' Editor's PickToyah said that the language barrier in Italy made it difficult to communicate with the medical staff, and at one point, Fripp mistakenly removed his clothing when he was asked what he wanted to eat. 'They were complex moments,' Fripp laughed. Thankfully everything else seems to have went well. Editor's PickWhile Toyah quipped that the couple are 'not allowed any nookie for a month,' as Fripp recovers over the next six to eight weeks, they will continue their famous 'Sunday Lunch' performance videos in the meantime. Fripp was also able to still direct the guitar show at Castione della Presolana a week after his surgeries. Below you can see the couple's video discussing Fripp's heart attack and surgeries. Popular Posts Drummer Chris Adler Opens Up on What Led to Firing from Lamb of God Stephen King's The Long Walk Movie Gets Long-Awaited Trailer: Watch Say It in Ghor: How Andor Brought a Brand New Language to Star Wars Metallica Perform "Enter Sandman" at Virginia Tech Stadium 25 Years After It Became School Tradition: Watch Jazz Pianist Matthew Shipp Derides André 3000's New Piano Project: "Complete and Utter Crap" Nicolas Cage Says He Is "Mistaken" for Nick Cave Almost Every Day Subscribe to Consequence's email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Robert Fripp and Toyah Willcox reveal Fripp is recovering from a recent heart attack
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Robert Fripp and Toyah Willcox have announced that Fripp is recovering from a heart attack. The pair devoted this week's regular Upbeat Moments video to a story that unfolded as Fripp prepared to fly to Italy to perform at an Orchestra Of Crafty Guitarists event at Castione della Presolana in Bergamo, Italy, last month. Suffering from chest pains he considered to be acid reflux, the King Crimson man took the flight and arranged for a doctor to be available when he reached his destination, but was instead taken to hospital in Bergamo, where he was tested and admitted to intensive care before undergoing two bouts of emergency surgery. "Well here's the interesting bit," says Fripp, determined to remain positive. "I was in A&E not quite knowing what was going on other than I knew they were going to do something, and an orderly came along and shaved my balls!" "Now the dear man, I really didn't wish his job on him at that point," continues Fripp, as the couple stifle giggles. "Now this is the thing. So you're concerned with my heart, fine. What are you doing shaving my balls?" "We're not allowed any nookie for a month," reports Toyah. "But I've inspected him all over and he's very, very shaved." Fripp goes on to report that he was diagnosed as suffering from a trifurcated artery, and had a pair of stents inserted during the two surgeries. A tearful Willcox then explains that very few of the medical staff spoke English, and that the language barrier caused some problems, with Fripp mistakenly removing his clothing when asked what he wanted to eat. "They were complex moments," confirms Fripp. The pair finish by saying that Fripp will be taking it easy for six to eight weeks, but that their Sunday Lunch videos will continue. Fripp also reports that, less than a week after his surgeries, he was able to direct the Guitar Circle show at Castione della Presolana. "It was stunning," says Fripp. "The audience were prepped with orchestral manoeuvres and it really was a magical event for me."
