Bill Bruford
Bill Bruford
William Scott "Bill" Brufordis an English retired drummer, percussionist, composer, producer, and record label owner. He was the original drummer for the progressive rock group Yes, from 1968–1972. Bruford has performed for numerous popular acts since the early 1970s, including a stint as touring drummer for Genesis in 1976 and U.K. in 1978. Following his departure from Yes and at various times until 1997, Bruford was the drummer for progressive rock band King Crimson. Then, Bruford moved away from progressive...
NationalityBritish
ProfessionDrummer
Date of Birth17 May 1949
You learn so much about music from all the people you surround yourself with - good, bad and indifferent. It's extremely hard to be specific.
I didn't write any music at all, and then, I remember Jon Anderson being very insistent saying that there were two kinds of musicians: the ones who wrote music and the ones who didn't. And clearly the ones who wrote music were more superior human beings in his mind. So he kind of nudged me and sort of prodded me into it. I picked it up slowly. Then I learned more about chords and harmony and I just kept adding to that. One of the great things about having good players in your band is that you just ask them questions. You can pick up some good information that way.
A rock band used to be four guys and a drummer. Now it's five guys sitting around reading manuals!
Second edition of Earthworks I have the more traditional compositional approach, namely I write a piece from the piano.
People come with expectations and as a bandleader I constantly try to remind the audience to leave its expectations in the lobby.
This amateurism however, can sometimes be helpful in forging a style; you have to work around your weaknesses.
One of the great things about having good players in your band is that you just ask them questions. You can pick up some good information that way.
Holding on to some of your uniqueness is the trick instead of surrendering it at the Academy of Contemporary We're Gonna Make You a Star.
Entertainment is about telling everybody that everything is alright but music is on the side of the upsetters and that's where I'm at.
The piano is kind of my second instrument.
And we'd drink huge amounts of scotch and coke, which is a ghastly sweet drink... And now people don't drink nearly as much, for good reason. We're all a little wiser.
Drummers haven't managed to develop their individuality quite as well as guitarists have. We can be so focused on the nuts and bolts that we overlook the importance of individuality - the broader picture, if you will.
My harmony is passable but is usually made more eloquent at the hands of Steve Hamilton.
Plus I am being hounded by all the fabulous new drummers, Bill Stewart at the head of the pack.