Interview with Bill Bruford (Part One)
My third feature interview for We Will Rock You is with legendary drummer Bill Bruford. Bruford is best known for his groundbreaking work in the progressive rock field in bands like Yes, King Crimson and UK, but in the second half of his career he re-invented himself as a jazz drummer in Earthworks and many other highly-regarded projects, finding jazz perhaps the last bastion of music that affords a progressive drummer true creative freedom.
Bruford recently retired from public performance, and he reflects on his storied career in the recently-released book Bill Bruford:The Autobiography (Yes, King Crimson, Earthworks and More), available from Jawbone Press (www.jawbonepress.com). The book is part narrative, part personal journey, and part music business textbook as Bill Bruford shares stories from his own career as a pathway to insights into both the creative and business aspects of the music industry.
I interviewed Bill Bruford on the phone from the UK on July 1, 2009. Bruford speaks very much as he writes, with an almost professorial manner that makes it easy to understand why he’s now embarking on a series of speaking engagements and classes about music and the music business. I’ve heard through the journalist grapevine over the years that Bruford can be a difficult interview, but that wasn’t my experience. The drummer certainly has strong ideas and opinions, and the ability to express them forthrightly, but he also listens well and treats questions with respect. He remembered my name and addressed me directly, which may seem like a very small point, but you’d be surprised how often that does not happen.
In Part One we discuss the fact that Bill wrote this autobiography himself, without the help of a ghost writer; his background in writing prose; process for writing the book; working with an editor on form and content; using his life story to illustrate larger points about the music business; frequently asked questions; and fan perception of the music business vs. what actually goes into the work process.
Stay tuned for Part Two, which I will post Friday.
Special thanks to the Webmaster at www.billbruford.com for arranging this interview and to Kevin Becketti at Jawbone Press.
