Bill Bruford on How Drummers use Creativity.

[@timallbritton7329]

The day he retired a piece of the drummer in me died. I miss his playing so much.

[@nickavenoso7851]

At least he’s still paying a little, and didn’t just totally stop drumming. At least he still doing a little of what he loves.

[@loveisthelaw20042004]

Bruford is one of the top 3-4 fusion drummers in my humble opinion. Also all those TOOL fans out there don’t understand without Brufords playing on those King Crimson albums …there is no Tool , there is no Primus.

[@chestnutfieldmas7490]

I saw his playing at a concert held in Japan as a member of King Crimson in 1984. I was astonished at his sole playing because my heart started to synthesize the rythems that he was playing. My heart was pounding faster and I felt my body was getting hotter. I think it was a kind of ecstasy and I have never experienced it again since then . He is REALLY a great drummer of all time.

[@boggo3848]

It's amazing that at his age he did a full PhD and built an entire new career for himself, he looks very happy about it too.

[@Drchainsaw77]

If you haven't read his autobiography, you should. Very interesting and engaging.

[@wilkinsnl]

Bill looks great

[@stevedrums1675]

He does. he's obviously been lucky with health and has taken good care of himself.

[@123agidee_2]

Compared to another drummer of his caliber such as Phil collins

[@wilkinsnl]

Or Bill Ward or Carmine Appice. We’re probably going to lose some awesome drummers this year. It’s bad enough Neal and Jimmy passed.

[@srb-ef3zs]

got out early

[@ReneAlexisPenalozaMunoz]

The quintessential English snob. Love his drumming style.

[@benvanzanten379]

''I think very little is expected of drummers, i think that's a shame''......well spoken, Bill.

[@freengrog9974]

My biggest inspiration. Wonderful personality...

[@theresa42213]

''Very little is expected of Drummers''

[@rembeadgc]

That was really cool! Chillin out at Bruford's house. Kick back and listen to him talk about music. Mr. Bill's neighborhood! He'd probably make a great neighbor. I'm sure his property is well manicured.

[@thomasrudy6132]

Met him once during ABWH tour. My friend, who is about ten years younger than I says to him "really enjoy your work on Fragile, CTTE," he replyed "where you even born then?" I told him "I really liked the latest Earthworks CD" (I think it was the first) That caught his attention and he spoke more with me. Can't remember much of the rest of the conversation, but my impression is that he had moved on from YES, even though he was currently playing with them. This also reminded me of an interview I read in Modern Drummer years before where he was asked if he would play wth YES again. His reply was something like "No that would involve no creativity for me" Don't take me wrongly, I have always loved his playing and he has been at least top 5 of my all time favorite musicians, but I found him a bit disingenuous that day. It also didn't stop me from seeing ABWH, Earthworks, KC and he and Moraz touring their first CD. All great shows I am glad I saw.

[@marshallross3373]

Very cool. Ya, as BB explained it in some video, ABWH was originally pitched as just a Jon Anderson solo album. BB was available to record for it, so he agrees. Then, low and behold, 80% of Yes is in the room. LOL. I really love that ABWH album, and wished they'd done a few more. I met Tony Levin once, who along with Chris Squire, is a bass hero of mine. I have a lot of respect for the creative players.

[@vincenzoamodei2759]

i always wonder what Bill thinks about drummers like Danny Carey! I mean, i know that Bill is one of Danny's greatest sources of inspiration, but just yesterday i was listening to the new Tool song and these words immediately came to me. Especially "making music matter". When i listen to Danny's parts i feel he's trying to make the drums matter over making them work..

[@namesurname7172]

Fear Inoculum's overall drumming on the album reminds me of the title track of King Crimson's album "Discipline". It's tribal, complex, and beautiful.

[@rickvenlo1362]

Thanx Bill!! Hope to see ya around!! Cheers RV

[@MeeschterKorint]

I really hope that I can meet him one day!

[@thomasrudy6132]

Read my account of my meeting him above.

[@xDavyx]

Bill still amazing.

[@tainonative4941]

The completely honest Bill Bruford. Great insights!

[@toulminbrown9166]

I'm going to catch up on the earthworks recordings first but I already can tell you they are outstanding good Lord!

[@brianpalmer2613]

has anyone else noticed that, despite being almost a career long paiste endorser, the cymbals on his practice kit are zildjian ks?

[@Meanstoend]

I wondered that too. I suspect it's not his studio.

[@TheDrummersJournal]

You can hear me take a massive slurp of coffee at 0:14 - should have probably edited that out. Meh.

[@bradoozy]

He told you to put the coffee down, Tom.

[@pleximanic]

Where can we see the full clip ?

[@unamacarana]

Actually, that was great.

[@KhalDrogo76]

my hero

[@jolerojosta]

2:17 br00f wh00p

[@Indskret]

br00f whoops at 2:17. Here's the pr00f

[@jorgearanda8129]

The one and only Brufford...my respects.

[@Marteeenxurl]

One of a kind

[@jay_sun_michael]

Is Bill coming back into live music? I hope so

[@stevedrums1675]

I doubt it seriously. He's moved on.

[@SluffAdlin]

I wish he would teach on KZbin.

[@ReneAlexisPenalozaMunoz]

Only if he needs the cash.

[@123agidee_2]

He is retired

[@jacobbuxton932]

Can you give some back story to the coffee thing at the beginning when he asked you to put it down?

[@TheDrummersJournal]

Instead of putting my empty coffee cup down, I just held onto it then sort of forgot I was holding it as I was listening closely to what he was saying. He was just politely pointing out I probably didn't need to keep hold of the cup for the whole interview.

[@jacobbuxton932]

The Drummer's Journal so excited to see a new Bruford interview. Was it pleasurable to work with him? Is there anymore footage from the interview? I’d love to see every tid-bit of information

[@rembeadgc]

That's hilarious. What a thoughtful host!

[@otineb5]

Can anyone please tell me what type of blue drums heads Bruford has on trap set in this video? I've never seen any as such making me very curious of their brand or type.

[@MEGAMIGA]

They look like rubber practice pads

[@trafalgerdavis7839]

What he says about not being able to play because his brain could not make it work, scares me to no end. I love the drums. I don't play pro and have played as a hobby for many years. There are times I hate playing because of time, health, stress, etc, and love it too because I identify with drums like nothing else in my life. I would miss it if it was gone. And I am not a technical drummer or maybe not even any good. But I would miss it if I had to give it up, or just lost the will play even a simple song. I give it to Bruford. He is brutally honest. Of course, if you were good with money and have played as long as he has, he can retire without worrying about making a living as a drummer. I am just saying it is all well and good to give up the drums, but not everyone could just do that and move on. Great drummer though, no question.

[@cosmicdrifter287]

Bill looks in control.

[@JonnyJayJonson]

I love Bill to bits but I wonder if he spent too much time with Robert Fripp... Dare I say it, I say Bill is guilty of overthinking. I will acknowledge however that BB and RF are of a level of intelligence and education that is simply beyond me. But in my experience, 'thinking' can get in the way of 'doing'! Or maybe he just got bored of drums and music, same as you can get bored of doing anything for nearly half a century. On balance, I'm guessing Bill is talking here about drums in a pop music context. But it's not often that pop music is inventive, surely? It's the exception rather than the rule. There are plenty of creative drummers out there, pushing boundaries to greater and lesser extents, as Bill himself has pointed out on many occasions in previous interviews or statements. Drummers are playing more, playing less, some on large/specialised kits (Terry Bozzio), or small kits (Mark Guiliana), in all different styles of music. Plus there are weekend/hobby drummers like me who just love to play music and not think too hard about it. I love playing rock n' roll and Rockabilly, music that was pioneering in the 1940s/50s. I like to get in touch with those early pioneers of post-big band drumming, guys like Earl Palmer and D.J Fontana. I'm not claiming to be any good at it, I'm not claiming I can play like those guys but I do it nonetheless, enjoying that connection with a musical tradition. I listen carefully to my bandmates because I want us all to be greater than the sum of our parts and I encourage them to do the same. But to the majority, what I do is likely perceived as an old, uncreative music.

[@CurtisBooksMusic]

You're making me nervous with that coffee (as he has his sitting on a tom)

[@mikearchibald744]

I wonder if 'complete creativity' can only be in the hands of a child not knowing what they are doing. Even arrrhythmic avante garde playing is based on what we understand on being 'rhythm'. So an 'accomplished' drummer can actually NEVER be 'completely creative' because there is a whole notion of 'this is what drumming IS, its NOT 'that'.'. I don't know if that is true, I just wonder IF its true.

[@Samsgarden]

Bruford is the antithesis of loathsome pantomime and theatrics typified by rock music

[@zonzos1]

Drum GOD

[@Instrybutor94]

2:14 nadal w formie

[@marcususa]

I just want to know why he is not performing or playing anymore. If Anderson, Wakeman, Bruford, and Howe are still alive today why can't we hear them play something new? I would do anything to see this happen.

[@simonbarrowuk]

If you read the article linked to this video (it can be viewed free of charge), you will find that Bill explains why he retired from performance.

[@marcususa]

@@simonbarrowuk There's plenty of drumming that can be done. It's not just what you can play and create. It's also WHO you play with. The article only addresses an ego driven reason to not play, but I think there is something else which is preventing him from playing with other people. It could be personal, so it's not of our business and he just gave the interviewer something to write about.

[@ambadad]

He spells it out in full in his autobiography. Also, he's still collaborating with Steve Howe as there some pieces on Steve's new album co-written by BIll.

[@zachjohnson637]

Listen to Union and you'll know why...

[@lucianovargas6677]

William Bruford in action 🎼

[@adef708]

Is he a drummer, musician, rockstar? No, he is a Scientist🙂😎

[@billbrillford7883]

bill bruford is a silver fox now!!

[@eunanmclaughlin7639]

His balls must hurt as has the last 20 years that's occurred in drumming

[@abaddon8418]

That's a lot of big words,(i.e. philosophy).Let me break it down in less time without the intellectual masturbation. 1: Being creative: good 👍 2: Not being creative: bad👎

[@thomasrudy6132]

Heh heh heh, you said masterbation, yeah hmm yeah masterbation. I agree he can seem pompous, snobby. Read what I wrote when I met him.

[@abaddon8418]

@@thomasrudy6132 Lol.. Just read it. I agree. He is one of my all time favorites also. Big Crimson and Yes fan as well as his other ventures.

[@walt686868]

Great drummer…..nasty guy. He almost physically attacked a friend of mine who tried to give him a demo of his band in the parking lot of an arena after a Crimson show in the 90’s. Nasty guy but great musician.

[@timothydavies7223]

So pretentious, but oh so good!

[@bradg4562]

Hwy Tim...Sorry but to me, being pretentious means talking about something you THINK you know something about but really don't and talking down to people because of it. Bill is doing neither here (OR EVER) He is a musical genius and a drumming god... always willing to share the knowledge. The English always come off that way...must be the accent!