Bill Bruford - Interview With The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, 2022

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If you’re only ever going to listen to one Bruford interview, this is probably the one you need. Why? Because [a] I know no one has time for lengthy interviews, so this has been divided into 18 short ‘chapters’ - scroll down and click on a topic that takes your fancy - and [b] it contains private archival documentation of this musician’s music endeavours now made public for the first time - gig notebooks, tour itineraries, personal and business correspondence and so forth - that some might find interesting.
The Rock Hall of Fame has an impressive Library and Archives, to which I’ve recently donated dozens of boxes of papers. The thrust here is that this material might be used and useful in research seeking a perspective on the everyday ‘off-instrument’ negotiations that a late 20th century music-writing drummer, who navigates his or her way through a slew of bands and 41-years’ worth of their contractual relationships with publishers, managers, record companies, will inevitably encounter. That such a career was documented makes it perhaps unusual in the drum community, as both an atypical research topic and a study in the extreme end of drummer productivity.
The entire collection has been catalogued in a meticulous and painstaking way, and is available in physical form at the Library and Archives in Cleveland USA. An exhaustive ‘Finding Aid’ is provided at the end of the interview in chapter 18.
Don’t worry if you have no immediate plans to be in Cleveland USA; much of the material has been digitised and the rest is projected to be digitised and the whole collection available online by the end of 2022. My thanks to Jason Hanley, Andy Leach and their team at the Archives for the care and attention to detail they’ve taken on this project, and to you for listening.
Chapters:
08:26 Origins of ‘Heart of the Sunrise’
11:38 Leaving the band Yes
13:46 King Crimson as a different animal
15:54 Live versus studio
18:41 Perfection
20:25 The business of music
26:06 The composing-leader
28:30 Growing up with jazz
29:52 Earthworks: ‘Nerve’
32:33 Electronic schematic for Earthworks drum kit
35:08 Electronic drums spark creativity
36:11 The special guest: Chris Squire / Al Di Meola / Kazumi Watanabe / Roy Harper
44:38 Gig notebooks
47:30 Tour itineraries
49:20 The idea of the improviser
54:10 David Torn’s ‘Previous Man’
56:27 Cultural differences between UK and US musicians
59:26 Bruford Archive now available at Rock Hall Library and Archives. Finding aid summary #billbrufordsearthworks

[@cagesound]

I met Bill after a KIng Crimson gig at the Royal Albert Hall on the THRAK tour. I think it was his birthday, Adrian Belew mentoned it during the show. He spoke to a bunch of us and amiably fielded questions about many things - Are you going to rejoin Yes?.....No, Are you going to play with Allan Holdsworth again?.....Probably not, etc. He was very gracious and I shook his hand, it was really soft! I loved his book and continue to enjoy his music, everything he has done has been class.

[@duncanparsons]

I was at that evening, too. "One thing I do know.. it's Bill Bruford's birthday..!"

[@cathrynsadowski6632]

I met Adrian.

[@SluffAdlin]

Awesome

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Bill Bruford is a gift to humanity. Bravo Maestro!

[@jichola]

I know Bill Bruford is a genius musician, great creative soul and mind, hell of a drummer... but oh my, what a handsome man! And he's looking better and better with age! Unbelievable.

[@greenetolstoy]

Smile of a waiting man. One, two three, four!

[@SLAYERSWINE1]

Bill Bruford is my all time favorite drummer. King Crimson's "One More Red Nightmare" was the turning point for me...

[@uncleremus64]

Brilliant man, Bill Bruford. Never heard such well thought out answers to interview questions.

[@TsunamiBeefPies]

As a drummer, the first time I heard Yes, in 1971, I couldn't help but notice the distinctive drumming that was going on. From that moment on, I've been a fan of Dr. Bruford. The meticulous timing, tasteful playing, and above all the obvious thoughtfulness set him apart from any other drummer I've ever heard. A truly outstanding body of work.

[@franciscos.5165]

Such a brilliant drummer, musician, and also as a speaker.

[@andyharman3022]

I don't think I have ever heard a musician use the word "oscilloscope" before. Bruford must also have interest in science and engineering. I can tell by the way he kept records and did the bookkeeping that he's a very meticulous man. Not afraid of math.

[@Baz63]

one of the most intelligent and articulate musicians and so very interesting. Great work guys.

[@williame.donnelly2661]

Thank you for this interview. Dr Bruford is highly intelligent and sublime.

[@rhythmfield]

You’re always eloquent, engaging and humorous as a speaker / interview subject, Bill! The interviewers clearly know their stuff - this is really good!

[@duncanparsons]

What a lovely, lovely interview, and a fabulous basis for it. Thank you for posting it up :-)

[@waynebonavia6471]

I can still hear Allen holdsworth's vibrato on Belzebub with him playing drums in the back that was a cool and it did sound devilish.

[@johngalt5411]

I've been in love w/ Bill's musicianship my entire life. Some of his more obscure recordings are among my favorites. Scenario being one of them & his work w/ David Torn is heavenly. I even got to see him once touring with King Crimson.

[@andyharman3022]

John Galt is a Crimson fan. Somehow I knew that had to be.

[@youngchool]

Scenario? With Al Di Meola? Did Bill partipated big part for the album? I need to check that album out. I think his band U.K. toured with Al Di Meola and our dear (RIP) Allan Holdworth made Al DM rather uncomfortable. Anyway that's what I heard or read somewhere. Prabably Bill. Wow, Bill is getting better and better in all directions!

[@glenmurschel5939]

Great person & musician. Lucky to see Bill 3 times (solo, Yes, Crimson) all in Chicago - the most crisp snare in the world!

[@sadboi7537]

What a guy. One of a kind.

[@rainermatos]

I see what you did there ;)

[@Atekneci]

Brilliant..just Brilliant. I can’t even begin to describe how much I admire Mr. Bruford. Apart from his impeccable contribution to the world of music, his books, especially the second one “Uncharted” are so valuable to the music community. Thank you.

[@lucifersamslittertray]

My view of drums age 16 in 1991 was a black and white picture of meat and potatoes...... Someone played me Heart of the sunrise and all of a sudden it was a colourful explosion of herbs and spices and conventional time was never the same after that... Got to see him with King crimson in shepherd's bush 96....if I tap on a table top to this day it comes out as the start of heart of the sunrise... Huge influence Bill.

[@Madmanmoon1000]

Chris Squire solid words “I never saw the term Rock and Roll applying to YES. The challenge was to do something individual, not observing rules. Everything about YES was non-standard. I think we set an example for other bands of how you can be different and be successful”

[@arminkerwer3559]

Using Bill's words in his book 'When In Doubt, Roll!' - yes, you really helped me often to "still retain the desire to sit at the drumset and play". I appreciate your work very much and now excuse me, I've got to roll...

[@billjones8503]

Smart no-nonsense man! ~ I didn't get to see him, but that's life. Saw Alan though-77-absolutely fantastic battery!

[@scottmyers9360]

Fantastic interview; I would have gladly listened to another hour. I was hoping they would talk about Lucky Seven, one of my favorite "working for a leader" tracks.

[@davidcarlin3850]

I've read Bill's biography about three times now and I admire his articulate commentary to things that happened in his career. One of favorite bits from his book was the story on the Union tour where his electronic drum brain died completely at a gig where he and Alan White were to do a duo drum solo. There he was with only a few cymbals and a snare drum if anything. It was described in such detail I felt like I was there and it was panic. Bill, if you are reading this, I and countless other Yes Fans would love to read a detailed book on the recordings of Yes, especially the studio experience of recording Close to the Edge. We have bits and pieces here and there, but it would be great to have great reminisce of the events, the ideas, the production etc.

[@paltieri11]

Excellent idea 👍🕺

[@MrThomas1958]

love Bill s work

[@Timbre4Gear]

Nice! "Getting out of the way of the music" = Admirable Restraint [BB's credit for Trio on SABB] Love all of his work

[@guywakeford3259]

What a great interview. Interesting hearing Bill say some of Yes's songs were written section by section in the studio. Its what I suspected, but it was reassuring to see Bill confirm this!

[@gokhanaya]

brilliant.. thanx for sharing! There are musicians we admire, become a fan of, follow wherever they go but Bill... there's something about this guy, maybe got to do with his honesty, humbleness (even when he was a brash young guy proud of his abilities he was sensitive to music and people) and other qualities, we have deeper ties and feelings towards him compared to our other musical heroes.. love the man

[@CSCRECORDSBC]

Mr.Bruford. Doctor Bruford. I wanna say Merci Beaucoup. When I tuned in to what you were doing, it unlocked everything. Thank you.

[@brandon1351]

My only complaint is that it's not long enough :) could listen for hours

[@ronschwolsky1626]

Quite simply: The Best!

[@kentborges5114]

BILL IS OOAK ! (ABSOLUTELY)

[@FFlyDDrum1]

Great insights! Would love to hear more about the archives

[@relayer43]

Fantastic interview! Two drummers I find fascinating in interviews are Bruford and Peart. I could listen for hours.

[@edljnehan2811]

That's getting old Palmer would blow them both away

[@thomasrudy6132]

unfortunately i did not see Bill Bruford with YES, i was a little too young at the time, but i have seen him live with ABWH, King Crimson, Earthworks and Patrick Moraz doing an acoustic piano & drums show. i met him before the ABWH tour, one of my all time favorite musicians.

[@enricomaciel]

Bill Bruford realmente é um ponto fora da curva! Realmente me cativou (*)... A cada album que escuto dele, gera aquela enxurada de improviso, da qual estimula a curiosidade de saber qual será o proximo passo... Percebo algums pontos de agressividade, melancolia e introspecção nas suas múscas. É importante ressaltar que o CAST que o acompanhou nessa vida é simplesmente LENDARIO!!! Obrigado...

[@patmos789]

"La música no existe para ti. Tú existes para la musica".

[@tomasvanecek8626]

When you get to know how Yes albums were made, from hundreds of tape splices.. you wonder how could that even work. Yet, Close to the edge flows so naturallly.. Red with Fripp was more of simplistic approach, as we hear here - must be why it hits so damn hard. Nothing from 80s KC surpassed that - that fire and punch.

[@Rondoggy67]

Just ordered my copy. Can't wait to listen through it.

[@LuisKemmerich]

Awesome interview!

[@torbjrnengan3689]

A very good interview with the gentleman Bruford.

[@megasoid]

Thank you!

[@chrisschrecker5497]

Love all of Bill’s music as a Leader and contributor in both the rock and jazz realms. Truly wish King Crimson would get inducted. McDonald, Lake and Wetton are dead. At least get the former members who are still alive in the Hall. What are the voting committee members waiting for?

[@DarkeningSkies1]

Also passed are Ian Wallace, Boz Burrell, Gordon Haskell and Bill Rieflin.

[@jamesgarcia1045]

I use to buy any record (when LPs were the main medium for the music consumer) where Bill was playing on it. One obscure LP comes to mind the band "Pavlov's Dog" which had one prog tune on it that I enjoyed. Big Bill Bruford fan.

[@edljnehan2811]

I'm a good friend of David s u r k a m p we're both from St Louis is the song you're talking about Natchez Trace?

[@dereckvon]

Superb interview.

[@edljnehan2811]

I saw Yes open up for Emerson Lake and Palmer in 1971 great show featuring my favorite drummer Carl Palmer followed by bill bruford Neil Peart Aynsley Dunbar Terry Bozzio Bobby Caldwell Michael shreves Dave weckl Billy Cobham Vinny c a l l o u i t a. Honorable mention Pierre Vanderlinden Steve gadd😊

[@WinstonTexas829]

The box files are so Bill. A direct connection to his playing style.

[@user-qw4zg2py9p]

ピープルが好きです!!できれば、福岡でライヴをお願いします

[@BasicDrumming]

Great video.

[@MaxStax1]

I saw Yes in Denver, in maybe 79 or 80 or so.they had a rotating stage, as Roundabout was a big song at the time.I totally remember the whole concert , even though my buddie and I drank bottle of tequila before in the parking lot, lol then during the concert we smoked a bunch of weed, ha. those were the days! We met some chicks there and had a party afterwards. We both got laid and had a Great Time!! Fun interview, he's really smart.

[@markrickman2135]

Great selection. It's almost like I picked them for myself ....

[@marshallross3373]

I mean, it's kind of really remarkable that BB left Yes at 22 years old. He was just getting started when he'd already recorded some of the crowning achievements in rock music, certainly from a technical and creative standpoint. That's how you kick off a great career. By a similar token, The Beatles were still in their twenties when they broke up. These guys all set a pretty high bar in the beginning of their careers, which probably has some interesting and challenging implications on deciding how you proceed after such creative success.

[@islandpalm148]

Dr. Bill is one talented, creative, experienced, and intelligent working/retired rock & jazz musician. Will the Hall of Fame consider the rich story of (particularly early) Emerson Lake & Palmer and give them their due in the pantheon?

[@edljnehan2811]

If anyone deserves the honor it would be Emerson Lake and Palmer but as I'm sure you're aware the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a piece of crap who made it well known from the beginning that they absolutely hated progressive rock

[@yes_head]

Bill is such a gentleman. He won't just come out and say "You Yanks are great players, but your music sucks." 😅 But that 1970 ledger (for those who don't know, Bill actually left Yes briefly in 1968 to study accounting at college) is insane, considering he was like 21 at the time.

[@dvaidr]

Great drummer. Possibly the greatest drummer.

[@jeffknighton6599]

"What was Zeppelin's guitarist name again? Oh yeah... Jimmy..." LOL.

[@user-jz6si1xn3t]

Don't forget about the song called lingo that he created with Neil Peart Great Scott

[@user-uz3jx2kp9z]

🇯🇵i speak Japanease only.I only understand Japanese. ab.45yearsAgo,we play 'forever until Sunday' By ear copy.

[@bernardoconnor5512]

Sounds like a 'you' problem

[@fabrikk60]

I've always been curious about Bill's playing on the Roy Harper track "Grownups Are Just Silly Children". The drumming is straight-up rockabilly, and this song is perhaps the only one in Bill's recorded oeuvre in that style. I've always wondered whether Bill had grown up occasionally dabbling in that and gained some experience, or did he just wing it on the spot when asked to?

[@mitchellkauffman9833]

Hoping to hear his thoughts on playing with Jamie Muir

[@greatsatanno.1147]

Tony Williams Bill Bruford Christian Vander Elvin Jones what else do you need ?

[@Madmanmoon1000]

It was always had the Jazz mentality. Reason to leave YES. Buddy Rich was your idol.

[@edljnehan2811]

Funny Carl Palmer was Buddy Rich's Rock Idol😮

[@skaboosh]

he play dem drum, but he say Cob-him is imbersillll....... but me, i am moran anyhoo

[@MichaelRohaly]

"VP OF EDUCTATION"

[@davidcarlin3850]

Bill I know you are labeled as Retired these days, but any chance we may see you perform or record anything again? Even if it were just single date events? or perhaps a desk concert at your place with guest musicians ?

[@Pis212]

"...What was Zeppelin's guitarist's name?" Lmaoooo Only Bruford can not know anything about Zeppelin

[@lloydchurch7099]

🤭 ƤＲＯ𝓂Ｏ𝕤ᗰ