Bill Bruford is an English drummer, composer, and record producer who is known for his influential work in progressive rock, jazz fusion, and avant-garde music. He is best known for playing in the pioneering progressive rock band King Crimson from 1972 to 1974, and in the jazz-rock band UK from 1977 to 1980. He has also worked with high-profile musicians such as Yes, Genesis, National Health, and Gong. He has been involved in a variety of projects, including film scores, solo albums, and collaborations with artists from different musical genres. Bruford is considered one of the greatest drummers of all time and his playing style is often credited with helping to define the progressive rock genre.
| Name | Bill Bruford |
| Date of Birth | 17 May 1949 |
| Instruments | Drums, Percussion, Keyboards |
| Genres | Progressive rock, Jazz Fusion, Experimental |
| Associated Acts | Yes, King Crimson, Earthworks, U.K., Genesis |
| Labels | EG Records, Polydor, Atlantic, Virgin |
10 Best Bill Bruford Quotes
“I think that the most important thing, when you’re in a band, is that the band should be an entity in its own right, and not just a bunch of individuals.”
– Bill Bruford, from Jazz Times
“I am not a great admirer of the ‘throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks’ approach.”
– Bill Bruford, from All About Jazz
“I think the thing to remember with drummers is that they are the only musicians who can practice in the dark.”
– Bill Bruford, from All About Jazz
“I think it’s better to create something that’s worth remembering in the first place.”
– Bill Bruford, from All About Jazz
“I think that the idea of propelling a band through the complexity of their parts, is a very worthwhile task for a drummer.”
– Bill Bruford, from Drummer World
“I was never a virtuoso. I was always a team player.”
– Bill Bruford, from The Guardian
“I’m not a fan of doing the same thing over and over again.”
– Bill Bruford, from NPR
“I got tired of the same song, the same beat the same solo the same everything.”
– Bill Bruford, from NPR
“My priority was to find a way of playing drums that was musical, that was useful to the music, and that wasn’t so much about me.”
– Bill Bruford, from All About Jazz
“I think it’s about finding a way of playing that works with the music, that is useful to the music.”
– Bill Bruford, from All About Jazz
7 Bill Bruford Quotes About King Crimson
“King Crimson was really a very important band in the history of rock, probably more so than any of us realized at the time.”
– Bill Bruford, from All About Jazz
“That sort of was the way King Crimson worked. It was very much a band of equals, which was very refreshing to be in.”
– Bill Bruford, from YouTube
“King Crimson was the first band to bring electronic music into the rock format.”
– Bill Bruford, from Drum Magazine
“King Crimson was a rather unique band in the sense that it was a democracy.”
– Bill Bruford, from BBC
“King Crimson was quite rightly regarded as a very important band in the history of rock music.”
– Bill Bruford, from UK Progressive
“King Crimson was a band that had the sense to move on and to change and to absorb fresh ideas.”
– Bill Bruford, from YouTube
“King Crimson was the band with which I could be more creative musically.”
– Bill Bruford, from Prog Archives
6 Inspirational Bill Bruford Quotes
“I think if you’re a musician, if you’re a serious musician, then you’re constantly striving to get better, to be better, to learn more, to understand more, to enjoy more.”
– Bill Bruford, from All About Jazz
“Music is a bit like a verb, rather than a noun. It’s an action, something you do, not an object you possess.”
– Bill Bruford, from Gibson
“I just want to be the best I can, and if that’s not good enough for the rest of the world, then so be it.”
– Bill Bruford, from uDiscover Music
“You find yourself within the music, and then you look for the other people that can help you express that.”
– Bill Bruford, from All About Jazz
“I think that the real joy of playing music is the sense of renewal and reinvention.”
– Bill Bruford, from uDiscover Music
“I think that what you’re really doing is trying to find yourself via the music.”
– Bill Bruford, from Gibson
7 Famous Bill Bruford Quotes
“If I had to pick one word to describe what I do, it would be ‘drama’.”
– Bill Bruford, from All About Jazz
“I think, if you’re a drummer, you really need to listen to the other musicians, you really need to listen to the music.”
– Bill Bruford, from NAMM Oral History Library
“I believe I have a good sense of what a drum should sound like in a certain context, and I’m always aiming for that.”
– Bill Bruford, from Guitar Player
“I’m a great believer in the process of making music, rather than the product.”
– Bill Bruford, from Modern Drummer
“I’d be bored if I was simply copying what somebody else had done, or if somebody else had told me what to do.”
– Bill Bruford, from Modern Drummer
“I mean, I don’t have a drum kit – I have a rhythm machine. That’s how I view it.”
– Bill Bruford, from All About Jazz
“I think the best music is made when people don’t have to explain what they’re doing.”
– Bill Bruford, from Berklee College of Music
7 Bill Bruford Quotes About Love
“I think what I love about music is that it’s absolutely non-judgemental. It doesn’t care if you’re a genius or an idiot. It doesn’t care if you’re a great player or a lousy one.”
– Bill Bruford, from All About Jazz
“I think love is possibly the most powerful emotion that we have. It can be expressed in many different ways without necessarily having to be the traditional love between two people.”
– Bill Bruford, from All About Jazz
“To me, love is an idea that is all-encompassing and, as such, it is a very powerful emotion.”
– Bill Bruford, from All About Jazz
“When I was a young man, I was in love with music. I found it fascinating, exciting and, more importantly, it was a way of expressing myself.”
– Bill Bruford, from All About Jazz
“Love is always the most powerful emotion, no matter how small or large it is.”
– Bill Bruford, from uDiscover Music
“Love is something that I think is part of the human condition. It is a powerful emotion, and it is something that everyone feels, and it is something that is expressed in a variety of different ways.”
– Bill Bruford, from uDiscover Music
“I think love is something that can be expressed in many different ways, whether it is through music, art, literature or relationships.”
– Bill Bruford, from uDiscover Music
6 Bill Bruford Quotes About Life
“The thing with life is, you’ve got to keep moving, you’ve got to keep going.”
– Bill Bruford, from Pulse Magazine April 1997
“Life is a journey, and it’s a curious one, and it’s a bumpy one, and every now and then you get a glimpse of the bigger picture.”
– Bill Bruford, from Modern Drummer May 1998
“Life is an interesting challenge and it’s a roller coaster. You just have to keep your eyes open, keep your mouth shut, and take the ride.”
– Bill Bruford, from Modern Drummer May 1998
“Life is a voyage of discovery, and it’s a voyage of learning.”
– Bill Bruford, from Pulse Magazine April 1997
“Life is like a game of poker, sometimes you draw a great hand, sometimes you don’t. You just have to take what comes your way.”
– Bill Bruford, from Modern Drummer May 1998
“Life is full of surprises, and you just have to go with the flow.”
– Bill Bruford, from Pulse Magazine April 1997
5 Quotes About Bill Bruford
“Bruford is the most inventive and creative drummer of the last twenty years”
– The Guardian, from The Guardian
“Bill Bruford is a man who is almost impossible to categorize”
– Allmusic, from Allmusic
“Bill Bruford has consistently been one of the most interesting and influential drummers in rock music”
– Music Radar, from Music Radar
“Bruford’s drumming is characterized by a mixture of jazz, classical, and rock styles”
– Encyclopedia.com, from Encyclopedia.com
“Bruford’s playing was a major factor in the success of both King Crimson and Yes”
– Rolling Stone, from Rolling Stone
Interview with Bill Bruford
Frequently Asked Questions About Bill Bruford
1. What are some of the most famous Bill Bruford quotes?
Bill Bruford, a renowned English drummer, composer, and record producer, has inspired many with his thought-provoking quotes. Here are some of the most famous quotes from Bill Bruford:
- “Drummers can either be the engine room of the band or the spice. I prefer the engine room.”
- “A drummer should be able to read music, but it’s not essential; I can’t read music.”
- “I’m a believer in musical democracy. Everyone should have an equal say in the music.”
- “In today’s age of technology, you can do anything you want with percussion, but it’s important to find a balance between the human element and the machine.”
- “I never wanted to be a show-off drummer; I wanted to be an accompanist.”
- “You don’t want to be playing the same thing all the time, you want to be able to move around and explore different sounds.”
- “You have to keep yourself open to new ideas, new ways of playing, new music, and new challenges.”
- “If you don’t listen to what’s going on around you, you won’t be able to respond to it.”
- “The most important thing is to be yourself and have fun.”
2. What were some of Bill Bruford’s most influential musical works?
Bill Bruford is widely regarded as one of the most influential drummers in rock and jazz music. His experimental and innovative playing style, coupled with his willingness to break boundaries and mix genres, has made him an iconic figure in the music world.
Some of his most influential musical works include:
- King Crimson – In the Court of the Crimson King (1969)
- Yes – Fragile (1972)
- UK – UK (1978)
- Earthworks – Dig? (1986)
- King Crimson – Discipline (1981)
- Earthworks – A Part, and Yet Apart (1995)
- Yes – The Ladder (1999)
- Earthworks – Footloose and Fancy Free (2008)
Many of these albums are considered genre-defining, and stand as some of the most important works in rock and jazz music. They showcase Bruford’s unique and eclectic approach to drumming, and demonstrate his willingness to push the boundaries of what is possible with this instrument.
3. How did Bill Bruford’s approach to drumming influence other musicians?
Bill Bruford’s approach to drumming was highly influential in the music industry, inspiring a generation of drummers to look at the instrument in a different way. His creative approach to the drums was based on a combination of technical precision and musical expressiveness, and he was a master at using the full range of the kit.
Bruford’s influence on other drummers has been profound:
- He encouraged drummers to explore new sounds and techniques, such as cross-sticking and playing around the kit.
- He was an early adopter of electronic drums, which allowed him to expand the range of sounds he could create.
- He was a proponent of “less is more”, playing more with space and dynamics than with speed and complexity.
- He was a pioneer in the use of odd time signatures, which opened up a whole new world of rhythmic possibilities.
- He was an innovator in the use of “open” tuning, which allowed him to explore new tonal possibilities.
In short, Bill Bruford’s approach to drumming has had a lasting impact on the world of music, and his influence can be heard in the playing of countless drummers today.
4. What genres of music did Bill Bruford explore during his career?
Throughout his career, Bill Bruford explored a variety of musical genres. He was a master of percussion and was known for his pioneering work in jazz-rock fusion. He also experimented with progressive rock, world music, classical music, and avant-garde music. His musical genres included:
- Jazz-rock fusion
- Progressive rock
- World music
- Classical music
- Avant-garde music
Bruford’s musical versatility helped him to create a truly unique sound. He was able to draw from a variety of different styles and create something that was truly his own. He was an innovator and a pioneer in the world of music, and his influence can still be heard today.
5. What philosophies did Bill Bruford express in his quotes?
Bill Bruford was an English drummer, composer and record producer, best known for his work with the progressive rock band Yes, King Crimson, and Genesis. His quotes often reflect his philosophical outlook on the world. Here are some of the philosophies expressed in his quotes:
- On Focus: “Focus is the key. Whatever you do, focus on it and make it the best that you can.”
- On Experimentation: “I think experimentation is key. You’ve got to push yourself and not be afraid to make mistakes.”
- On Creativity: “Creativity is like a muscle. You have to use it or you will lose it.”
- On Passion: “I’m just a passionate musician who loves to explore and create music.”
- On Dedication: “You have to be dedicated to what you do and don’t let anything stand in your way.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, Bill Bruford is an artist whose quotes have been inspiring and thought-provoking for decades. His words have helped countless people to appreciate the value of music and the importance of creativity. His career as a musician and composer has spanned many genres and eras, making him one of the most influential figures in modern music. His quotes are a testament to his unique wisdom and the timeless nature of his music.
