King Crimson's Robert Fripp Recovers After Emergency Heart Surgery in Italy

Robert Fripp, the 78-year-old King Crimson guitarist, suffered a heart attack earlier this year while preparing to fly to Italy for a performance with the Orchestra Of Crafty Guitarists. Initially mistaking his chest pains for acid reflux, Fripp flew to Bergamo where he was hospitalized, underwent two emergency surgeries to insert stents due to a trifurcated artery, and spent time in intensive care. Despite the serious medical emergency and language barriers complicating communication, Fripp remained positive and was even able to direct a concert less than a week after surgery. He and his wife Toyah Willcox have paused their popular Sunday Lunch YouTube series to allow him to recuperate for six to eight weeks. Throughout the ordeal, Fripp has maintained his characteristic humor, notably joking about being shaved by an orderly during his hospital stay. The couple expressed gratitude for the timely medical intervention and look forward to resuming their creative projects once Fripp recovers.