Robert Fripp and Toyah Delivers Amazing Cover Of “Sympathy For The Devil”

Get ready for a rock and roll Sunday Lunch like no other! The beloved YouTube series featuring the iconic duo of Robert Fripp and Toyah Willcox has set its sights on a legendary track: The Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil”.

Fresh off a ten-week tour, Fripp kicks off the new video with a playful jab, asking the audience if he needs to “trade his wife in for an older woman”. This sets the stage for Toyah’s grand entrance, where she delivers a show-stopping performance that puts a unique spin on Mick Jagger’s infamous lyrics.

Prepare for a unique take on Mick Jagger’s legendary vocals, all while Fripp observes with a mix of amusement and, dare we say, a hint of fear in his eyes. This is Sunday Lunch like you’ve never seen (or heard) it before.

An Iconic Track From an Iconic Era

“Sympathy For The Devil” marked a turning point for The Rolling Stones in 1968. Instead of shying away from their bad-boy image, the song embraced it. The band reveled in the notoriety that surrounded them, playing up the “evil” persona that the media had already bestowed upon them.

Keith Richards reflected on the song’s legacy in a 1971 interview with Rolling Stone. He described how their previous image was simply that of “innocent kids”, but the public perception had shifted. “They’re saying, ‘They’re evil, they’re evil’. Oh, I’m evil, really? So that makes you start thinking about evil … What is evil?”

Richards further highlighted the diverse interpretations of the song. “Half of it, I don’t know how many people think of Mick as the devil or as just a good rock performer or what? There are black magicians who think we are acting as unknown agents of Lucifer and others who think we are Lucifer. Everybody’s Lucifer.”

A Viral Sensation Born in Lockdown

Born from the boredom of pandemic lockdowns, Fripp and Willcox’s Sunday Lunch series took flight in 2020. What began as a lighthearted way to pass the time has exploded into a global phenomenon, captivating millions of viewers worldwide.

Their unique covers, coupled with Toyah’s electrifying performances and Fripp’s ever-present dry wit, have garnered a dedicated fanbase. The series even spawned a successful tour across the UK, culminating in a show-stopping appearance at Glastonbury Festival.

With such a whirlwind of success in just two years, Toyah has barely had a moment to catch her breath, let alone reflect on the incredible journey Sunday Lunch has taken them on.

The Couple’s Skyrocketing Popularity

Sunday Lunch wasn’t always the global phenomenon it is today. Reflecting on the series’ instant popularity, Willcox recalled in an interview with eonmusic, “We posted one clip, 28 seconds, something like April 19th, 2020, and we had 100,000 replies within five minutes from people who were just desperate, absolutely desperate.”

She recognized the lockdown restrictions as a major factor in the series’ initial success. “They were on their own. They were in lockdown,” she explained. “They didn’t know when they’d be able to leave their apartments, and we, Robert and I, realized that this was, at that particular time, a very lonely and frightened world.”

This summer, the couple is set to spread the joy of Sunday Lunch live at various festivals across the UK, including the Isle of Wight and Belladrum.