TOYAH Willcox and her husband Robert Fripp are both music legends in their own right.
Here we get to know Robert, who will no doubt be cheering his wife on when she takes to the dance floor on Strictly Come Dancing 2024.
Robert Fripp was born on May 16, 1946, in Wimborne, Dorset.
The British musician is best known as the guitarist and founder of progressive rock band King Crimson.
The band had eight top ten UK albums, with In The Court Of The Crimson King reaching No5 in 1969, and In The Wake Of Poseidon peaking at No4 a years later,
Robert is also a composer and producer who has worked with musical greats including David Bowie, Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel, Daryl Hall, the Roches, Talking Heads, and David Sylvian.
In his prolific career, spanning over 50 years, Robert has contributed to more than 700 official releases.
His innovative approach has also led to the development of two game-changing recording systems – Frippertronics and Soundscapes.
Frippertronics was a tape delay system allowing him to create vast, complex and layered soundscapes, which he used extensively in King Crimson’s music.
He later replaced this system with Soundscapes, a digital version that expanded on Frippertronics with newer technology.
As well as his music, Robert is also an author.
He published The Guitar Circle in 2022.
The book explores his approach to guitar playing and making music.
He has also been involved in various educational initiatives, including the Guitar Craft seminars, which he founded in the 1980s.
These focus on developing the skills and creativity of guitarists and have been held all over the world.
Robert and his wife Toyah Willcox have been making a YouTube series called Sunday Lunch since 2021.
They cover a wide range of songs — from classic rock to punk and metal — in their kitchen.
The series has become a beloved and entertaining way for the couple to share their love of music and humour with fans worldwide.
Robert married Toyah on May 16, 1986, in Witchampton, Dorset.
The couple tied the knot on Robert’s 40th birthday.
They have collaborated on music projects over the years, including the band Sunday All Over the World in the 1990s.
I never had any maternal instinct and it always baffled me why I was expected to have children
Toyah Willcox
In 2013, Toyah opened up about her marriage in an interview with the Guardian, saying: “… I entered into mine knowing it wasn’t going to be easy because of Robert’s status and because a stream of ex-girlfriends who were trying to get him back.
“Ten years into the marriage, I was still dealing with his ex-girlfriends.
“When we got married his world kind of referred to me as ‘a nobody pop singer’, which was very similar to how my mother treated me.
“At times it was a tough marriage, but because I saw my parents keep hold of everything they believed in through the hard times, it made me keep hold of my marriage.”
Toyah and Robert do not have any children together.
Speaking about their decision in 2013, Toyah told the Guardian: “We don’t have any children and I’ve never wanted family life.
“I’ve probably inherited a feeling of being trapped in family life. I think it’s pretty obvious why.
“My brother has a son who is now in his 30s, but my sister never had kids either.
“I never had any maternal instinct and it always baffled me why I was expected to have children.”
Iin 2024, speaking exclusively to the Mirror, Toyah said: “We don’t have children, we never even considered having children.
“Hats off to those people who do because that commitment is extraordinary.
“I think with us we’ve managed to remain unique and independent as well as being a couple.
“We both travel the world independently of each other working, and we come back together because we want to — there’s always a freshness in our marriage.”
Robert added: “And if for any reason I’m falling asleep on that, my wife will hide and jump back on me just to remind me of how much fun it is being together.”
