Bill Bruford

Bill Bruford

1949-05-17

Biography

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 (1972–1974), 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 (1981–1984), 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.

Also appears in

In the Court of the Crimson King: King Crimson at 50

In the Court of the Crimson King: King Crimson at 50

7.1

Prog Rock Britannia

Prog Rock Britannia

7.6

Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe: An Evening of Yes Music Plus

Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe: An Evening of Yes Music Plus

8.0

King Crimson - Deja VROOOM

King Crimson - Deja VROOOM

7.0

King Crimson - Larks’ Tongues In Aspic  The Complete Recordings

King Crimson - Larks’ Tongues In Aspic The Complete Recordings

Not yet rated

Yes: Classic Artists

Yes: Classic Artists

9.0

King Crimson: Live in Munich, 1982

King Crimson: Live in Munich, 1982

Not yet rated

Yes: Rock Of The 70’s

Yes: Rock Of The 70’s

10.0

King Crimson: Three of a Perfect Pair Live in Japan

King Crimson: Three of a Perfect Pair Live in Japan

8.0

A Week In The Life Of Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe

A Week In The Life Of Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe

Not yet rated

King Crimson: The Noise (Live at Frejus)

King Crimson: The Noise (Live at Frejus)

10.0

Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe In The Big Dream

Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe In The Big Dream

Not yet rated

Amougies (Music Power - European Music Revolution)

Amougies (Music Power - European Music Revolution)

Not yet rated

YesYears

YesYears

Not yet rated

Steve Howe - Beginnings

Steve Howe - Beginnings

Not yet rated

Kazumi Watanabe w/Bill Bruford & Jeff Berlin - The Spice of Life

Kazumi Watanabe w/Bill Bruford & Jeff Berlin - The Spice of Life

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