King Crimson - Indiscipline / Drum Solo (The Noise - Live At Fréjus 1982)

Visit Bill’s online store for exclusive and signed items: www.shorturl.at/adnpq
Ah, the headless drum solo. This is King Crimson on tour with Roxy Music in Europe in 1982 and we were the ‘warm-up’ band. What that means is your soundcheck is minimal (even if you get one at all) and the (non-computerised) lights are set for the main act, not for you. Then the lighting man goes for dinner while you’re on. I learned to play in the dark. Moral of the story? Bring your own lighting tech.
Part of King Crimson’s mission or function back then was to use the new technology of the day; to take it down off the shelf and see what it could do. There was much talk of Roland Guitar synthesisers, log drums, Tama octobans (those clear conical drums), the Chapman Stick (that Tony Levin is playing), and Simmons electronic drums (the clattering things, but also the little pitched drums). I’d developed a specialised, hybrid electro-acoustic mélange of instruments specifically to accommodate and further the Crimson project at hand. The dense, loud, clattering Simmons do a good impression of the Burundi Drummers wired up. That kit surely wasn’t going to work in any other ensemble.
What I like in the drum performance here is the articulation. The drummer speaks with a precision and clarity that will reach to the back of a sea of people. I also like the content; several motifs appear, disappear and reappear as the spirit moves. But what I like less is that that articulation exacts a price: it sweeps away most of the subtlety and all of the ambiguity that make drumming attractive. In smaller rooms where you don’t have to shout, the nuance becomes audible and adds an extra layer of subtlety to the performance. Was it this, or was it that? Perhaps it was this and that simultaneously?
All the stuff that got me going was in small rooms: Gary Burton and Roy Haynes in a small room in Leeds, UK; Hendrix and Roland Kirk at Ronnie Scott’s in London, UK; Weather Report playing to two men and a dog in San Diego, CA. By the time it’s got to stadium level, it’s usually on auto-pilot.
On this song ‘Indiscipline’, my job was to create mayhem, and stop periodically. I think I got it about right!
Finally, a gentle reminder to please subscribe to the channel, so I can continue to bring you stuff.
#billbruford
#drumsolos
#drums
#electronicdrumkit
#kingcrimson
#drummer #billbrufordsearthworks

[@timothydillow3160]

" Music is the only thing that can make you smile when you're sad and cry when you're happy."

[@rcprod9631]

A good movie can create the same reactions.

[@timothydillow3160]

@@rcprod9631 only if it has a good soundtrack

[@rcprod9631]

@@timothydillow3160 🤣

[@MasterRoshi8974]

Truth

[@rcprod9631]

​@@timothydillow3160How about a good book? 😬

[@Johndecoy32]

The way he connects his solo to the songs...best drummer ever

[@MEGAMIGA]

What a great version! This tune has so much tension in it... Also, Bill Bruford is one of the rare drummers who used Simmons pads without sounding plastic. He understood how to use them in a musical way, not as a novelty

[@adam872]

Agreed. I saw a segment on the UK show Rockschool when I was a teenager where he demonstrated his use of the Simmons and it was very musical - not just trying to sound like an electronic version of an acoustic kit (what would be the point of that),

[@RedVynil]

From what I understand, he helped to invent them.

[@RedVynil]

@@adam872 Mostly, to be able to carry your entire set with you in a single case and still sound relatively like you had a set of real drums.

[@shiningarmor2838]

​@@RedVynil This is unfortunately not a common trait for electronic drums today

[@RedVynil]

@@shiningarmor2838 It's not? I have a 13-piece set of V-Drums and, they sound exactly like real drums. I've never taken them apart but, I'm pretty sure I could fit the entire set including the rack and probably the brain, into one or two golf bags. But, if you mean the way most "drums" today sound like cheapo electronic hand claps, snaps or an old electric typewriter, made from some dinky toy they bought at Radio Shuck, I know what you mean!

[@kumoyuki]

The existence of the 4-piece King Crimson in the 1980s tells everything anyone might want to know about the musical development of my own taste and composition efforts. The likes of this band will not be seen again. Legends for centuries to come

[@scottdanner1703]

Hi we are out there drummer from Boston smokem up Billy boy.

[@matthewdyck5503]

My personal favorite rendition of this song. The drumming is chaotic yet calculates, I love seeing Adrian screwing with Tony, and Fripp in the darkness just ripping it up is just so damn cool.

[@dobaak7097]

Bill, you had controlled 'chaos'. Playing around the tempo/groove and seemingly lose it is one of the greatest high of a master percussionist. You taught me that. Simon would say to Adrian: 'I love it!'

[@whistleblower3516]

Bill Bruford. You have been my favorite drummer now for about 37 years. I feel like I know pretty much everything Bruford. You take chances. Sometimes they work, other times not so much. But you have the BALLS to go there. You play stuff in songs that no one else would think to play at that moment. You are in fact the most creative drummer who ever lived. Thank you!

[@josephspinelli549]

Absolutely! He always does what no other drummer would think of doing.

[@iggy9955]

And my. When he play in Yes the best comercial prog and in King Crimson. He is genius of duming. Album Red is Bills best album with KCrimson.

[@charliebaratta6593]

Totally agree !!!!!!!

[@davidmendelevio2603]

Si la única función del baterista es mantener el ritmo, Bruford lo hace como ningún otro

[@bradcrosier1332]

I’ve played for over 45 years now (semi-advanced amateur/hobbyist), and have loved Bruford for most of that time (ever since I was introduced to Yes and Crimson in high school). Bruford always just seemed to operate on a whole different plane. NO ONE is quite like him.

[@worldnotworld]

As intense and frankly intimidating as this piece is, this performance is saturated with joy, pervasively punctuated with affirmatives and exclamation points. Fripp endearingly lingers with his back to the audience, therewith _joining_ the audience, to watch and groove to Bruford's solo -- a solo which chimes with structured patches of color, as if to serve as a musical prelude, a re-musical re-imagining, of the very painting described by Belew's wife in her letter to Belew that makes up the song's lyrics. Ah, and the way Levin locks in with Bruford at that fist-pumped segue from solo to song intro (on the third drum roll after 3:15) works, like a signal of victorious comradery, passing of the torch from Bruford to the whole, a little thing, maybe, but so well caught on camera here. Very rock and roll. Another good thing about this recording: Fripp's "noise" solos cut through remarkably well (which they didn't always, live, and didn't really even on the studio version of this piece on _Discipline_ -- those Roland guitar synth sounds were a huge and novel challenge for any engineer or sound man). And I love Levin's _playing little games_ with the bass line at 5:21 just as Belew begins his "playing little games..." _And,_ throughout, Bruford looks so friggin' _happy!_ Standing up during the spoken sections, bobbing and clapping through the menace, laughing at the illusory devil, grooving over the apparent chaos... Thank you, Dr. Bruford, for calling this fantastic performance again to our attention. You were happy, and so are we!

[@PeterBrown-mz4nv]

Bill Bruford is still my idol and favorite. Even after discovering Terry Bozzio being a one man orchestra, and seeing Tony Williams, Elvin Jones, and Jack Dejohnette, Bill Bruford is still my idol.

[@rnemchev]

My favorite King Crimson line-up!

[@MFitz12]

Always good to see Tony using both sides of the Stick.

[@pongosnodgrass7014]

Yeah man, always loved his melody side 'slightly distorted' tone, as well

[@igorrodrigues97.]

Fripp looking to Bill in the darkness during the drum solo... "thats my drummer!"

[@apocalinment6680]

the synergy in that concert was amazing, best performance, best era

[@joshbodner4834]

This whole show in Frejus is the best rendition of their Discipline-era material

[@worldnotworld]

A seminal moment in the history of this band, of its music.

[@robertgoleniowski4188]

I had the great pleasure (and a privilege, I should add) to witness a live performance of Bill Bruford in a small room in Polish little town of Andrychów in April ‘96. Mr Bruford was jamming with outstanding Polish jazzmen. It was one-in-a life time experience. No auto-pilot, no crowds - just pure musicianship.

[@paulcoffey1837]

3:22 the exceedingly rare standing fripp

[@drfoxcourt]

I only had to listen to Bruford's work on Yes's "Close to the Edge" album way back in '75 to know he's the top. Only seen him twice in concert, and I was blown away both times. Bruford's drumming, particularly in cooperative compositions, is my dream drummer for the band I have in my head. What a diverse (wide) and talented (deep) percussionist.

[@EtoDemerzelSpaceBurial]

There is nothing cooler than this in existence

[@aakkoin]

"Complex and simple at the same time", I remember BB saying. The guy is a genie.

[@daviddevilliers2828]

Simple? ….i don’t know what to say

[@aakkoin]

@@daviddevilliers2828 He meant for example keeping a steady 4/4 pulse or ostinato, which is simple, and at the same time playing something more complex on top of that.

[@philippecirse4872]

I always feel like dancing like nobody's watching, like a lonely lead dancer in center stage listening to this kind of music 🤠🥸

[@FFlyDDrum1]

Watched this solo on dvd many times. Grateful to see your commentary about it!

[@AssociationAdmirer]

That DVD is just great all around; I've been thinking I need to watch it again.

[@M4RCM0NT31R0]

One of my favorite king crimson songs!

[@allen-rp3gm]

Saw them in NYC at the Pier in 1982. One of the best concerts I've ever attended.

[@quentinlargcoie]

Saw them as Discipline before the lp had been released. Absolutely blew us away

[@kire929]

Where?

[@quentinlargcoie]

@kire929 couple of dates in uk. Keele University and I think it was York??

[@krazybubbler]

This leaves me speechless each time I listen to it. Sometimes I just play it to stay silent. It's my favourite version of this track.

[@Chuckles..]

Discipline record was ground breaking, but I am more fond of Beat and Three Of A Perfect Pair. Then they released Thrak ten years later which is mind blowing. I saw that tour, wow what a show!.

[@giorgioc.3673]

10 minutes of pure magic, thanks a lot!

[@javierandres8818]

Cuando cuatro músicos maestros se juntan ,salen cosas como ésto, .Bruford es único, es ese tipo de músico con un sonido particular , que cuando lo escuchas sabes que es El, un Maestro que ha inspirado a los que apreciamos un instrumento tan Maravilloso como es la Batería. Gracias Genios !!!! 🙏❤

[@BigBass-xf5yi]

Bill always had this way of making very technical and precise drumming look much easier then it actually was.

[@vkuolema79]

this will always be a timeless masterclass. Close your eyes and you won't believe this was a 1982 concert. They made those vintage stompboxes and synths sound out of this world timeless and that has been always a feature i love from king crimson.

[@Tonyivanov930]

Bill. One of my favorite drummers my favorite drummer for 37 years. I feel like I know pretty much everything about you. You take chances of yourself. Sometimes they work, other times not so much. BUT YOU have the ability to go there. You play stuff in songs that no one else would think to play at that moment. In fact you are the most creative drummer who ever lived. Me as a huge King Crimson and Yes fan, you are the perfect rare drummer by far, one of perfect rare drummers who used Simmons pads without sounding plastic. you understand how to use them in a musical way not as a novelty, you have the magic of being a Progressive rock and Jazz drummer who can pull it off like that you are my musical drumming hero who lived breath and alive. Thank you!

[@josemanuelvallsfuste4775]

There are not enough qualifiers to describe the immense contribution of your mastery and worldwide impact with drums and percussion. I was lucky and had the great honor of Bening at that memorable concert that King Crimson gave in Barcelona in 1982. The Great musicians are the Ones who bring some light to this world. Eternally grateful Mr Bruford. GRACIAS MAESTRO, as the say in Spain.

[@simonangers9629]

Incroyable cette musique , elle me fascine, des musiciens fantastiques à leur meilleur art , Bill Bruford une classe à part , sa technique est d’une extrême précision, incroyable .

[@davidmendelevio2603]

Lo más genial de ver a King Crimson en concierto es que no te transmiten la imagen de niños jugando a ser rockstar. Se ven tan profesionales que hasta siento que estoy viendo un concierto de música clásica

[@massimogiuliani8993]

Reggio Emilia 1982, double date KC & Roxy M. Most of the audiences came for the latter (ah, Bryan Ferry....). My friend and I barely listened to them. We were in the first row, in front of Tony Levin. After a coupke of songs from Discipline, Adrian Belew asked "would you like to hear 'RED'?"

[@davidrose2007]

Just Awesome. Amazing stuff 👏

[@Jimbowlcoach]

People go get a beer or go to the bathroom at other shows, this is what I paid my money for, when Bill Bruford is on stage!❤❤❤❤

[@megasoid]

Great performance and write-up, thank you.

[@dreadedscarpia2066]

A life-changing track, this! Thank you, Dr. B.

[@NicleT]

A master piece in its execution too. ♥️

[@killjoycat3589]

Thank you so much for the content and commentary!! I love to read your input on these tunes. It adds another understanding to the music and helps a fan like myself gain more depth and connection to the music. Thanks again for everything!

[@shardrygd]

This is amazing

[@sobellfanatic]

Astonishing music making, just astonishing. All of them.

[@BeatlesBowieKrimson]

One of my two drum gods.

[@bwadoom]

Bill- thank you for this video and your commentary. This line up of Crimson and your drumming has always had such an impact on my thinking and approach to music/drumming

[@Dirgnimai7]

Thank you, Dr. Bruford, for sharing these videos/insights with us. It's rare to get an evaluation of this detail from the artist himself about his own work.

[@daveb3404]

This band is my favorite of all across the years. Everyone is a master!!

[@mtrsoftwareservices]

Wow! Simply wow!

[@kuebikosung8121]

HOT!! :D Love it, and your background story above too, Bill, a great read ~~ WILD! Love it! :-)

[@aszazaferiana]

this is probably my favourite version of this song, I can smell the cigarettes through the video :v

[@cs0rpc]

Bill, part of the reason it seems so dark is due to way this film has been mastered. It’s taken from an old 16mm film to video telecine conversion made in the 1980s. If the original 16mm film was digitally scanned directly, a lot more details would be unearthed in the shadows and the film could look wonderful.

[@cybore213]

There are several live versions of this, all fantastic! I just love the mayhem, so much going on. I am always fascinated with the variations in the different performances, especially Bill's drumming!

[@odaydrums]

great warm up act say what you want that crowd LOVED it

[@robertobrasini5294]

seen in reggio emilia 3 days later..amazing!!love you bill

[@frankloaf9510]

That was glorious. So glad I got to see you guys perform live in 1984. Love reading your comments above about the performance, the venue, and the gear.

[@CarlosmanuelChavezayuso-gi5qy]

GREAT TALENT DRUMMER BILL . KING CRIMSON . FROM MÉXICO 👋 ONE OF MYS FAVORITES BANDS.

[@mtbalpinecounty]

Mr. Bill is by far and has always been my go to. Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, Bruford, Patrick Moraz...seen all these with him on the Kit. Earthworks and I'm sure I'm forgetting others but those were great daze!. And I was there at the Greek theater in Berkeley, ca for this..

[@mtbalpinecounty]

And of course..the Great UK..that was planned. Add beers..😉

[@musosteve3551]

Beyond a master. Bill has the max ability. He his telling a story every time he hits a drum.

[@elbosco8715]

Genial Bill. Excelente. Se nota tu ausencia en King Crimson, pero cada cosa a su momento, siempre has demostrado ser una persona muy inteligente. Saludos de ciudad de Canelones, Uruguay.

[@nickwill6599]

So reminded of how f’d up my mind was was even back then, big hugs

[@mawgojzeta]

Never can get enough.

[@joeklingart]

Pure fun of musicians having fun 🎉

[@jul1an77]

AWESOME

[@David-mn2mp]

I'll never forget the first time I heard them. I was starting to come down but I was still tripping pretty good. I had been partying all night with a friend when we were listening to a radio show called Flashbacks on a sunny Sunday morning. They proceeded to play 21st century schizoid man. My mind was completely saturated with a vast array of light and color. I immediately went to the record store and bought the cassette. ❤

[@jbdbibbaerman8071]

Im sorry your first experience with such interesting music was spent tripping. What a waste

[@chudylukasz]

Phenomenal!

[@itookallthenames]

Crikey for 1982 this is bomb heavy!

[@daveturner2484]

I was there...best gig ever...YAY!

[@BasicDrumming]

Great video.

[@kimberlyedwards242]

Thanks for bringing the mayhem!

[@ronschwolsky1626]

Goddamn right, you got it right. You always did! ...and for that, I thank you Bill!

[@bencarter6702]

Onya Bill! I recognize the 1984 Tokyo performance from the Perfect Pair VHS as my initial Indiscipline touchstone, but this is in a way more obviously embryonic. From you and Ade, in particular. He really sells the lyric without trying too hard. And the hybrid kit rocks! T-Lev never seems to age. Fripp is, well, Fripp. As always.

[@andrewjaman4697]

This man can nearly trip over his snare, and it speaks to me.

[@yusufburaksancar6826]

awesome.

[@johnforensicman6179]

Belew is utterly brilliant.

[@etiennehuby]

I like it !!!

[@marcelbritsch5127]

excellent!

[@totolaunione3939]

God what a performance

[@barbaravanwhy4564]

Pure genius

[@flynsaucer8779]

Made me smile fun.

[@michaelg6641]

Saw them in Detroit in the 80s must have been right around release of Three of a perfect pair...

[@dashriprok5852]

Adrian is coming with les. Now Adrian has played with the best ,Mark Riley before Zappa Zappa,king crimson and the flying frog brigade. Can't wait for to see the frog brigade.mark Riley is a guitar player. That showed Adrian some stuff, technical stuff,no pedals just playing the guitar honestly.

[@charmingjoseph]

6:50 dayum fripp getting HEAVYYYYY

[@lepocajo]

I´ve been in your concert in Lisbon in that time!!

[@mallorga1965]

I LIKE IT TOO!!!

[@docdeens4030]

Greatest of all time. Fight me

[@candymintz]

a most mezmerizing band, I saw live in 1987 Hammersmith Palais, London

[@SherbrookeBassFamily]

Unlikely at Hammersmith Palais in 87 not that they are mesmerizing.

[@grahamcawthorne]

I saw them live at Hammersmith Palais I think it was 1981/2. Brilliant gig!

[@bAgRiMoIrEsS.4]

King Bruford 👑

[@cochisenahuh7939]

All hail

[@bAgRiMoIrEsS.4]

@@cochisenahuh7939 "All hail" Hell ya! Cochise my man, Bill's the Man..

[@chuckhanning1174]

After Jeff Becks passing this week and watching Adrian in this some of his bends and guitar torsions come from beck or vice versa. Great performance from KC!!!

[@cochisenahuh7939]

Glad i am not the only one that thinks the same thing

[@Slappaccino]

Adrian has said Beck was his favorite guitarist

[@antonioperezgomez4089]

Genial Bill Bruford!!

[@fabianmendez3378]

solo para entendidos!!! que banda de la puta madre.saludos a todos desde . Rosario!!! argentina!!!!

[@EleanorPeterson]

A band that made even Frank Zappa smile. That's saying a LOT.😁

[@danielmarinelli2986]

King Crimson

[@barnabyjones8333]

Fire the spotlight guy

[@IAmInfinitus208]

A much better quality too straight from the DVD! I always love coming back to this performance! Though weren't the acrylic octobans according to your description were actually made by Dragon Drums (a now defunct company in Denver, CO) and not by Tama until you started to use theirs by the Beat/TOAPP tour?

[@lafa2807]

we all like it

[@filmusikchannel7596]

Unique drumming

[@jeremiahpolom2802]

Bill Bruford's playing in this reminds me of Neil Peart from Rush

[@ministrychicago1]

Beautiful. "Waiting Man Intro." I'm Posting as I'm watching this Vid

[@ministrychicago1]

Nevermind. LOL

[@iginiodandrea1866]

genius