William Scott Bruford (born 17 May 1949) is an English drummer and percussionist. He is known for his work from the late-1960s to the 1990s, primarily as both a founding member of Yes and as a member of three forms of King Crimson.

Having been a part of the founding of Yes in 1968, he recorded five albums with them including The Yes Album (1971), Fragile (1971), and Close To The Edge (1972). Leaving Yes in 1972 Bruford spent the rest of the 1970s recording and touring with numerous groups. Most prominently he performed with King Crimson then after they disbanded in 1974 he worked with Roy Harper and U.K., and toured with Genesis in 1976 as a part of their A Trick of the Tail promotional tour. In 1978 he formed his own group, Bruford, which was active until 1980.

During the 1980s, Bruford returned to King Crimson for three years in their Discipline line-up consisting of him and Fripp, as well as Americans Tony Levin and Adrian Belew. He performed for their next three albums, Discipline (1981), Beat (1982), and Three of a Perfect Pair (1984), until the band disbanded again in 1984. After the second dissolution of King Crimson, he collaborated with several artists (including Patrick Moraz and David Torn) and formed his own electric jazz band Earthworks in 1986. He then played with his former Yes bandmates in the supergroup Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, which eventually led to a very brief second stint in Yes. Bruford played in King Crimson for his third and final tenure from 1994 to 1997 as part of the Double Trio, then continued with a new acoustic configuration of Earthworks.

In 2009, Bruford announced his retirement from professional drumming. He pursued other projects, including the operation of his two record labels, Summerfold and Winterfold, releasing an autobiography, and speaking and writing about music. In 2016, Bruford received a doctorate in music from the University of Surrey. That year, Bruford ranked No. 16 on Rolling Stone list of the "100 Greatest Drummers of All Time". In 2017, Bruford was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Yes. In 2022, after a 13-year hiatus, he returned to live performance as a member of the Pete Roth Trio.

Early life

Bruford was born on 17 May 1949 in Sevenoaks, Kent, the third child of Betty and John Bruford, a veterinary surgeon. He has a brother, John, and a sister, Jane. He attended New Beacon School in Sevenoaks, followed by Tonbridge School in Tonbridge, a boarding school. Bruford decided to take up drumming at thirteen after watching American jazz drummers on the BBC2 television series Jazz 625, Around this time, Bruford's sister bought him a pair of drum brushes as a birthday present, Rehearsals began in September 1972, followed by an extensive UK tour. His instinct to remember complicated drum parts was shown when he learned how to play the long percussion and guitar part in the middle of "21st Century Schizoid Man", "by listening to it and just learning it." Bruford cites the six months free jazz percussionist Jamie Muir was in the band as highly influential on him as a player.

1974–1980: Genesis, Bruford, and U.K.

After leaving King Crimson, Bruford felt his "sense of direction was rather stymied" and was unsure on his next step. In late 1974, he became a temporary member of the Anglo-French band Gong for a European tour after drummer Laurie Allan was busted for drugs at a border. Bruford then chose to wait for an appealing offer while earning money as a session musician. HQ by Roy Harper, According to Bruford, "A&M Records was unwilling to let its 'star,' Wakeman, walk off with a used, slightly soiled King Crimson rhythm section, and the idea folded." Bruford then rejoined National Health for a short stint.

In 1977, Bruford recorded his debut solo album Feels Good to Me (1978), with Dave Stewart (keyboards), Jeff Berlin (bass), and Allan Holdsworth (guitar). This was Bruford's first attempt at songwriting on a substantial level, and he spent a lot of time developing tunes on the piano. The four stuck together and became a full-time band named Bruford, which also featured Annette Peacock on vocals, Kenny Wheeler on flugelhorn, and John Goodsall on rhythm guitar. Later in 1978, Bruford reunited with John Wetton and formed the progressive rock group U.K. After their debut album U.K. (1978) and several tours, Holdsworth and Bruford left the group due to disagreements on the group's musical direction. Bruford resumed activity in his own group to release One of a Kind (1979). Almost entirely instrumental, the album contains some spoken lines by Bruford during the introduction to "Fainting in Coils". Subsequent gigs spawned the live releases Rock Goes to College and The Bruford Tapes (1979). Their final album, Gradually Going Tornado (1980), features backing vocals from Canterbury scene stalwarts Barbara Gaskin and Amanda Parsons, as well as Georgina Born on cello. Unfinished songs for a projected fourth album were recorded in 1980, but remained unreleased until 2017.

1981–1993: King Crimson, Earthworks, ABWH, and Yes

In 1981, Bruford returned to King Crimson in a new formation with Fripp, Tony Levin, and Adrian Belew. The four recorded Discipline (1981), Beat (1982), and Three of a Perfect Pair (1984), all featuring Bruford on an acoustic and Simmons electronic hybrid kit. Bruford embraced the Simmons drums for the next fifteen years as it allowed him to play programmed chords, samples, tuned pitches, and sound effects, which expanded his musical palette.

In 1983, Bruford formed a duo with Swiss keyboardist and former Yes member Patrick Moraz after he learned that Moraz was living close to him in Surrey. The project had Bruford develop a "real taste for improvising".

In 1986, Bruford formed his jazz group Earthworks with Django Bates, Iain Ballamy and Mick Hutton (later replaced by Tim Harries), with initial assistance from Dave Stewart. The band toured the US club circuit through 1987. Bruford was attracted to the idea of recording on Montserrat, and convinced Anderson to have Tony Levin on bass. Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe (1989) was supported by a world tour, and in 1990, while recording a second album, ABWH merged with Yes to become an eight-member formation. Union (1991), featuring tracks from both groups, was criticised by almost the entire band; Bruford called it "the worst record I've ever been on". In the early 1990s, Bruford became an active drum clinician and taught small groups in several universities.

1994–2009: King Crimson, Earthworks II, final collaborations, and retirement

King Crimson re-emerged once more in 1994 as a six-piece band, consisting of its 1980s line-up with the additions of Pat Mastelotto sharing drumming duties with Bruford, and Trey Gunn on Chapman Stick. Dubbed the "double trio" configuration, they released Vrooom (1994), Thrak (1995), and two live albums, B'Boom: Live in Argentina (1995) and Thrakattak (1996). After Bruford and Fripp discussed the idea of holding improvisational performances together and invited Gunn and Levin to join them, Fripp conceived the ProjeKcts idea of having different subsets of King Crimson working separately as a way of developing new material for the band. The first group, ProjeKct One, performed live at the Jazz Cafe in London from 1–4 December 1997. Bruford then left the group, and King Crimson altogether, mainly due to his frustration with rehearsals, which he felt came to nothing. Among the various reasons for retiring were his growing performance anxiety that "was making life intolerable", his diminishing stamina required to tour and perform on an international scale, and what he perceived as a bleak future for the style of drumming that appealed to him.

2009–2022: Retirement

thumb|upright|Bruford in 2009, the first year of his 13-year hiatus as a performer

In early 2009, Bruford published his autobiography. Not long into his retirement, Bruford had a brief, low key stint in Ann Bailey's Soul House, a nine-piece band performing Motown and soul covers in Ewhurst, Surrey.

In February 2016, after four and a half years of study, Bruford received a PhD degree in Music from the University of Surrey. He had wanted to do something related to music following his retirement, and considered his missed opportunity in pursuing higher education in the late 1960s as a factor in his decision to enter academia. The University of Surrey offered to award Bruford an honorary doctorate, but he wanted to put in the effort and work for his degree, which focused on creativity and music performance, specifically with a drum kit. Bruford's thesis, "Making it work: Creative music performance and the Western kit drummer", was posted online in May 2016. Bruford has since written various journal articles, book chapters and liner notes, and presented guest lectures at universities and music institutions in Europe and North America.

In April 2017, Bruford was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a former member of Yes. He attended the ceremony, but did not perform or deliver an acceptance speech. In March 2018, Bruford introduced Yes at their two London shows during their 50th Anniversary Tour. Later that year, Bruford published his second book, Uncharted: Creativity and the Expert Drummer. It is an adaptation of his PhD dissertation. In August 2021, his back catalogue of music from Bruford, Moraz/Bruford, and Earthworks were made available on digital streaming platforms for the first time. In January 2022, Bruford launched his own YouTube channel to share videos from his career with additional "thoughts and anecdotes". Later in 2022, a 6-CD career-spanning box set of tracks which he had played on was released, entitled Making a Song and Dance: A Complete-Career Collection. This was followed by a 3-CD archival set, The Best of Bill Bruford – The Winterfold & Summerfold Years, in October 2024.

2022-present: Return to music

thumb|right|The Pete Roth Trio performing at the Hampstead Jazz Club on 1 November 2024. From left to right are Mike Pratt (bass), Pete Roth (guitar) and Bill Bruford (drums).In 2022, Bruford ended his retirement to join the Pete Roth Trio, a jazz group led by guitarist Pete Roth who was his former drum technician over 20 years prior. Bruford described his return to drumming as "explosive, unexpected, and very sudden. I remember passing someone else's kit one day, sitting down, and feeling exhilarated all over, urgently and violently keen to start all over again." The band play small venues mostly in the south-east of England, and toured through 2025.

On 3 August 2023, Bruford made an unannounced appearance at the John Wetton tribute concert in East Sussex, playing a live run-through of Bryan Ferry's cover of "Let's Stick Together", which Wetton had played on, with Phil Manzanera, Guy Pratt, and Chris Difford.

Band timeline

  • Yes (1968–1972, 1991–1992)
  • King Crimson (1972–1974, 1981–1984, 1994–1997)
  • Gong (Nov–Dec 1974)
  • National Health (1975–1977)
  • Trigger (Roy Harper Band) (1975)
  • Genesis (as concert drummer on A Trick of the Tail Tour, 1976)
  • Absolute Elsewhere (1976)
  • Bruford (1977–1980)
  • U.K. (1978)
  • Bill Bruford's Earthworks (Mark I: 1986–1993, Mark II: 1997–2008)
  • Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe (1988–1990)
  • ProjeKct One (1997)
  • Network of Sparks (1999)
  • Bruford Levin Upper Extremities (1998–2000)
  • Peter Roth Trio (2022–present)

Timeline

Personal life

Bruford married his wife Carolyn in March 1973; they live in Surrey. They have three children, including Alex, who was the drummer of the indie rock band Infadels.

At Bruford's wedding reception, Jon Anderson met Jamie Muir, who inspired Anderson to read Autobiography of a Yogi which became the origin of Yes's double album Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973).

Bruford described himself as a "lapsed atheist".

Songwriting

When interviewed in 1982, Bruford commented on his ability to compose for King Crimson. "It's very hard to know how to communicate in a band like that where the individuals are competent enough to produce their own kinds of sounds, it's very hard to write for a band like that."

Legacy

Many other drummers have cited Bruford as an influence, including Danny Carey, Mike Portnoy, Matt Cameron, Brann Dailor, Tim "Herb" Alexander, Gene Hoglan, Aaron Harris, Chad Cromwell, Ben Koller, Chris Pennie, Steve Arrington, Mac McNeilly, Morgan Simpson of Black Midi, Eric Kretz, and Martin Dosh. In addition, other artists have been quoted expressing admiration for his work including Neil Murray, Jimmy Keegan, and Adrian Younge.

Awards

In 1990, the readers of Modern Drummer voted him into that magazine's Hall of Fame.

Books

  • Bill Bruford: The Autobiography. Yes, King Crimson, Earthworks and More (2009)
  • Uncharted: Creativity and the Expert Drummer (2018)

Discography

as band leader

Bruford

  • Feels Good to Me (1978)
  • One of a Kind (1979)
  • The Bruford Tapes (1979, live recording)
  • Gradually Going Tornado (1980)
  • Rock Goes to College (2006, live recording)

Bill Bruford's Earthworks

  • Earthworks (1987)
  • Dig? (1989)
  • All Heaven Broke Loose (1991)
  • Stamping Ground: Bill Bruford's Earthworks Live (1994, live recording)
  • Heavenly Bodies (1997)
  • A Part, and Yet Apart (1999)
  • The Sound of Surprise (2001)
  • Footloose and Fancy Free (2002, live recording)
  • Random Acts of Happiness (2004, live recording)
  • Earthworks Underground Orchestra (2006, live recording)

Bill Bruford with Ralph Towner and Eddie Gomez

  • If Summer Had Its Ghosts (1997)

Compilations

  • Master Strokes: 1978–1985 (1986)
  • Making a Song and Dance: A Complete-Career Collection (2022)
  • The Best of Bill Bruford – The Winterfold & Summerfold Years (2024)

As co-leader

Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe

  • Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe (1989)
  • An Evening of Yes Music Plus (1993)
  • Live at the NEC (2012)

Bruford Levin Upper Extremities

  • Bruford Levin Upper Extremities (1998)
  • B.L.U.E. Nights (2000, live recording)

Moraz/Bruford

  • Music for Piano and Drums (1983)
  • Flags (1985)
  • In Tokyo Live 1985 (2009)
  • Live In Maryland 1983 (2012)

Bill Bruford/Michiel Borstlap

  • In Concert in Holland (2004, live recording)
  • Every Step a Dance, Every Word a Song (2004)
  • In Two Minds (2007)

As band member

Yes

  • Yes (1969)
  • Time and a Word (1970)
  • The Yes Album (1971)
  • Fragile (1971)
  • Close to the Edge (1972)
  • Yessongs (1973, live recording)
  • Yesterdays (1975; compilation)
  • Union (1991)
  • Symphonic Music of Yes (1993)
  • Union Live (2011, live recording)

King Crimson

  • Larks' Tongues in Aspic (1973)
  • Starless and Bible Black (1974)
  • Red (1974)
  • USA (1975, live recording)
  • Discipline (1981)
  • Beat (1982)
  • Three of a Perfect Pair (1984)
  • Absent Lovers (1998, live recording)
  • VROOOM (1994)
  • THRAK (1995)
  • B'Boom: Live in Argentina (1995, live recording)
  • THRaKaTTaK (1996, live recording)
  • Live at the Jazz Café (1999, live recording as part of The ProjeKcts box set)
  • VROOOM VROOOM (2001, live recording)

U.K.

  • U.K. (1978)
  • Concert Classics, Vol. 4 (1999, re-released as Live in America and Live in Boston)
  • Ultimate Collector's Edition (2016)

Pete Lockett's Network of Sparks featuring Bill Bruford

  • One (1999)

Guest appearances

  • Rick Wakeman – The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1973)
  • Chris Squire – Fish Out of Water (1975)
  • Steve Howe – Beginnings (1975)
  • Roy Harper – HQ (1975)
  • Various Artists – Peter and the Wolf (1975)
  • Pavlov's Dog – At the Sound of the Bell (1976)
  • Absolute Elsewhere – In Search of Ancient Gods (1976)
  • Genesis – Three Sides Live (1982; live recording)
  • Genesis – Genesis Archive 2: 1976-1992 (2000; live recording)
  • Genesis – Seconds Out (1977, live recording)
  • Annette Peacock – X-Dreams (1978)
  • Steve Howe – The Steve Howe Album (1979)
  • The Roches – Keep on Doing (1982)
  • Al Di Meola – Scenario (1983)
  • Annette Peacock – Been in the Streets Too Long (1983)
  • Jamaaladeen Tacuma - Renaissance Man (1984)
  • Patrick Moraz – Time Code (1984)
  • David Torn – Cloud About Mercury (1986)
  • Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin – Up from the Dark (1986)
  • Akira Inoue – Tokyo Installation (1986)
  • Anri – Trouble in Paradise (1986)
  • The New Percussion Group of Amsterdam, Bill Bruford, and Keiko Abe – Go Between (1987)
  • Kazumi Watanabe – The Spice of Life (1987)
  • Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin – As Far as Dreams Can Go (1988)
  • Kazumi Watanabe – The Spice of Life Too (1988)
  • Nobuhide Saki - Yume O Yobe (1988)
  • David Torn – Door X (1990)
  • Steve Howe – Turbulence (1991)
  • Joe Hisaishi – Paradise on Earth (1994)
  • Tony Levin – World Diary (1995)
  • National Health – Missing Pieces (1996)
  • Steve Hackett – Genesis Revisited (1996)
  • Buddy Rich Big Band – Burning for Buddy: A Tribute to the Music of Buddy Rich, Vol. 2 (1997)
  • Gordian Knot – Emergent (2003)
  • World Drummers Ensemble – A Coat of Many Colours (2006)
  • Piano Circus – Skin and Wire, The Music of Colin Riley (2009)
  • Leon Alvarado – Strangers in Strange Places (2010)

Notes

Footnotes

Citations

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Sources

  • Official website at BillBruford.com
  • Bill Bruford Interview at NAMM Oral History Collection (2011)