Fred Frith (born 1949 in Sussex) is a musician, multi-instrumentalist but above all guitarist, and composer, an essential and emblematic figure of the experimental and improvised music scene. Co-founder of the bands Henry Cow (1968-1978), Art Bears and Skeleton Crew, he is at the origin of the Rock in Opposition musical movement. Based in New York City since the late 1970s, where he has collaborated with
John Zorn, Ikue Mori, Tom Cora, Bob Ostertag, and many others, he has appeared on over 200 albums, composed for dance, film, and theater, and performed all over the world. Fred Frith is the subject of Nicolas Humbert and Werner Penzels' award-winning film
Step Across the Border.
