Bill Bruford
William Scott Bruford (born 17 May 1949) is an English former drummer and percussionist who first gained prominence as a founding member of the progressive rock band Yes. After leaving Yes in 1972, Bruford spent the rest of the 1970s recording and touring with King Crimson (1972โ1974), Roy Harper (1975), and U.K. (1978), as well as touring with Genesis (1976). In 1978, he formed his own group, Bruford, which was active until 1980. During the 1980s, Bruford returned to King Crimson for three years (1981โ1984), 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 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, then continued with a new acoustic configuration of Earthworks. On 1 January 2009, Bruford retired from professional drumming, only briefly returning for a few private gigs. He has pursued other projects since then, including the operation of his two record labels, Summerfold and Winterfold, releasing an autobiography in 2009, and speaking and writing about music. In 2016, after four and a half years of study, Bruford received a PhD in Music from the University of Surrey. That year, Bruford ranked No. 16 on Rolling Stone's 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.
Known For
Credits
- 2022 ยทIn the Court of the Crimson King: King Crimson at 50as
- 2013 ยทYes: Close to the Edgeas Drums, Percussion
- 2012 ยทKing Crimson - Larks' Tongues In Aspic The Complete Recordingsas Himself
- 2012 ยทKing Crimson: Live in Argentina, 1994as Acoustic & Electronic Percussions
- 2011 ยทYes - Union Liveas Self - Drums
- 2009 ยทYes: Rock Of The 70'sas Himself
- 2009 ยทProg Rock Britanniaas Self
- 2007 ยทYes: Classic Artistsas Himself
- 2002 ยทYES: Fragileas Percussion
- 2002 ยทBill Bruford's Earthworks โโ Footloose In NYCas Himself
- 1999 ยทKing Crimson - Deja VROOOMas Himself (drums, percussion)
- 1993 ยทAnderson Bruford Wakeman Howe: An Evening of Yes Music Plusas Himself - Drums
- 1991 ยทYesYearsas
- 1989 ยทAnderson Bruford Wakeman Howe In The Big Dreamas
- 1989 ยทA Week In The Life Of Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howeas Percussion
- 1987 ยทKazumi Watanabe w/Bill Bruford & Jeff Berlin - The Spice of Lifeas
- 1984 ยทKing Crimson: Three of a Perfect Pair Live in Japanas Drums
- 1984 ยทKing Crimson: The Noise (Live at Frejus)as
- 1982 ยทKing Crimson: Live in Munich, 1982as
- 1977 ยทGenesis | In Concertas Self
- 1975 ยทSteve Howe - Beginningsas Self
- 1970 ยทAmougies (Music Power - European Music Revolution)as Self