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Bill Bruford to stop performing live

B

Barkless Dog

Barkless to a point
Jan 19, 2007
4,947
72
66
#1
Rather sad, one of my all time favorite drummers.

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After 41 years of moving the percussive pulse in music and raising people's pulses in general, Bill Bruford has announced his retirement from public performance, effective from January 1st 2009.

Bill's contribution to music is celebrated by the release of two new anthologies covering his solo career.
 
#2
I saw that notice the other day. Part of me is saddened, but part of me thinks "wow, that must be such an incredibly liberating feeling for him, you go Bill!"

I mostly feel bad for anyone who never got a chance to see him perform in person: It's not enough to hear the wonderful musical contributions he's made over the years, to be able to witness the incredible joy he appears to get while making those contributions is enlightening & inspiring.
 
#4
What a loss for those who never saw him play. I truly hope he's just tired of gigging and his retirement from public performance isn't for any medical reasons.
I'll never forget seeing King Crimson in the early 70's, or hearing "Heart of the Sunrise" and "One More Red Nightmare" for the first time.
Spellbinding.
 
#5
nysbob said:
I wonder why?

Other than undisclosed physical problems, why would any musician of his caliber stop?

I'll keep playing until I'm dead or physically unable.
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Probably because he's old and fancies relaxing now?

Great drummer though, never liked his stuff apart from what he did with Jeff Berlin/Allan Holdsworth, but that stuff was great! Funnily enough I was just listening to "One of a Kind" last night!
 
#7
I saw him with Crimson in the 80's. I was too young to see him in the 70's with Yes or the Wetton-period Crimson. That was one hell of a band. Bruford has been a favorite of mine for a long time. I hope he's ok.
 
#11
Unless his royalties from Yes continue to support him, I can't see why he'd be retiring. Even KC themselves are still playing the odd show, and Fripp is mad busy with DGM. I don't think there's a single prog artist other than Yes that has garnished the kind of money to quit. It could be that he's just tired of the grind.
 
#12
My favorite drummer. Never got to see him play live. I had tickets to see King Crimson back in (ca.) 1996 but goofed up and couldn't make it to the concert. Oh, well. Can't wait to read his bio that comes out this spring.
 
#13
I read a recent interview with him in one of the drum magazines and he said his intention to retire. He didn't mention health issues, he made it sound more like it was to make room for young and upcoming drummers. He has been married to the same woman for a very long time, and probably would like staying home with family for once.
He always seemed like a very smart and stable cat without major drug habits. If he didn't put his cash up his nose, he could probably easily cruise for awhile. I always dug his playing and the way he handled his career.
 
#14
wow...one of the best and one of the most recognizable styles early on, his snare sound was an instant signature going back 40 years

saw him with yes crimson and some special projects in San Fran, David Torn & Mark Isham stuff with Mick Karn on bass...that did not suck
 
#16
Baryonyx said:
Probably because he's old and fancies relaxing now?

Great drummer though, never liked his stuff apart from what he did with Jeff Berlin/Allan Holdsworth, but that stuff was great! Funnily enough I was just listening to "One of a Kind" last night!
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you call his work with Yes, Crimson, and U.K. "his stuff apart from what he did with Jeff Berlin/Allan Holdsworth"? :eek:

Nice...:scowl:
 
#18
He is one of the few drummers today that can actually play a drum solo that is not boring or redundant to me.

I saw him with latter Belew/Crimson, UK & his solo tour Feels Good To Me with Holdsworth & Berlin.
 
#20
Barkless Dog said:
He is one of the few drummers today that can actually play a drum solo that is not boring or redundant to me.
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What's even more amazing, he's one of the few drummers today that can actually play a drum solo that is not boring or redundant to my wife.

Partially due to our completely different cultural backgrounds -- she grew up listening almost exlusively to Broadway musical theater, probably didn't hear a rock or jazz band until she was 24 -- and partially due to the fact that for the past decade she has suffered from a degenerative hearing impairment that makes listening to any kind of music difficult, fatiguing, frustrating, and often painful, Mrs. Hoover does not share my musical interests at all. The notion of attending a Bruford concert with her would never have occurred to me.

But she got me two tickets to see the Earthworks Underground Orchestra at Iridium (one of the concerts that became the CD of the same name) for my birthday with the intention that I take one of my freaky music friends. For whatever reason, none of my homies were available that night, I asked wifey if she wanted to go with me, she reluctantly agreed.

And as expected, she was pretty much miserable for the entire show...except for Bill's drum solo. She was seriously engaged & fascinated by the entire thing, and told me sincerely "that was the best part of the show...and worth waiting for."
 

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