Details

ARC-1243

collection

Bill Bruford Papers

1966-2015

3.5 (Linear feet)

x

The Bill Bruford Papers, 1966-2015, documents Bruford's lifelong career as a drummer with progressive rock bands Yes (active 1968-1972, 1990-1992), King Crimson (1972-1974, 1981-1984, 1994-1997), Genesis (1976), Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe (ABWH), an outgrowth of Yes (1989-1992), and jazz group Earthworks (1986-2009). The collection includes physical copies of tour itineraries, financial statements (tour expenses and accounting, record and publishing royalties, recoupment statements), and legal documents (contracts, correspondence, disputes), as well as digital copies of Bruford's career-related scrapbooks and gig books collected over five decades. Of particular interest to those researching the history of Yes may be substantial documentation of record and publishing company royalty statements; the legal and accountancy arrangements of Yes and ABWH in the 1990s, a period of much turmoil and documentation; the emergence of Discipline Global Mobile, the record company that controlled the curation and dissemination of King Crimson's music after their time with EG/Virgin/EMI; and King Crimson's tour-related financial records from 1994-1996, following the release of Thrak, when merchandising began to become increasingly important to the business. Individual items of note include copies of a Deed of Release for Bruford to move from Yes to King Crimson, modeled after the footballer transfer model to legitimize his transfer from one band to another within the E.G. Management firm; an original manuscript for Bruford's first book, When in Doubt, Roll!; detailed correspondence to the mix engineer Adrian Belew on how to handle the drums for the King Crimson on Broadway live CD (1999); early programming notes on the emerging electronic drum technologies that made Earthworks possible, in particular MIDI and data recording; and equipment and set lists, MIDI mapping and technical information related to Earthworks Live (1994). The collection is a comprehensive record of Bruford's dynamic 40-year career as a progressive rock and jazz drummer, from late education through retirement; providing insight into Bruford's evolution as an artist.

1968: Yes is formed with Bill Bruford (percussion), Peter Banks (guitar), Tony Kaye (keyboards), Chris Squire (bass), and Jon Anderson (vocals).

1969: Yes self-titled debut album is released.

1970: Yes album, Time and a Word, is released.

1971: The Yes Album is released.

1971: Yes album, Fragile, is released.

1972: Forms Bill Bruford Productions Limited, a personal service company.

1972: Yes album, Close to the Edge, is released.

1972: Leaves Yes to join King Crimson.

1973: King Crimson album, Lark's Tongue in Aspic, is released.

1974: King Crimson album, Starless and Bible Black, is released.

1974: King Crimson album, Red, is released.

1974: King Crimson disbands.

1974: Joins French-Anglo musical group Gong for a European tour.

1975: Works as a session musician.

1975: Live King Crimson album, USA, is released.

1976: Tours with Genesis for their 1976 tour of North America and Europe, supporting A Trick of the Tail.

1977: Appears on the Genesis album, Seconds Out.

1977: Bill Bruford's debut solo album, Feels Good to Me, with Dave Stewart (keyboards), Jeff Berlin (bass), and Allan Holdsworth (guitar) is released. The four became the group Bruford, along with Annette Peacock (vocals), Kenny Wheeler (flugelhorn), and John Goodsall (rhythm guitar).

1977: Bruford and John Wetton (bass guitar) join to create the progressive rock group, U.K., with Eddie Jobson (violin/keyboards) and Allan Holdsworth (guitar).

1978: U.K. self-titled debut album is released.

1979: Bruford album, One of a Kind, is released.

1979: Bruford album, Rock Goes to College, is released.

1979: Bruford album, The Bruford Tapes, is released.

1980: Bruford album, Gradually Going Tornado, is released.

1981: King Crimson reforms with Fripp, Bruford, Tony Levin and Adrian Belew.

1981: King Crimson album, Discipline, is released.

1982: King Crimson album, Beat. King Crimson supports Roxy Music's European Tour for Avalon.

1982: Appears on the Genesis album, Three Sides Live.

1983: Forms a duo with Swiss keyboardist and former Yes member, Patrick Moraz, under the name Bruford/Moraz.

1983: Bruford/Moraz album, Music for Piano and Drums, is released.

1984: King Crimson album, Three of a Perfect Pair, is released.

1984: King Crimson disbands.

1985: Bruford/Moraz album, Flags, is released.

1986: Forms jazz group, Earthworks, with Django Bates, Iain Ballamy and Mick Hutton (later replaced by Tim Harries).

1986: Bill Bruford releases a retrospective compilation album of his works, Master Strokes 1978-1985.

1986: Appears on David Torn's album, Cloud About Mercury.

1987: Appears on Kazumi Watanabe's album, The Spice of Life.

1988: Puts Earthworks on hold to form Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe (ABWH) with former Yes members.

1989: Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe (ABWH) self-titled album is released.

1989: Earthworks album, Dig?, is released.

1991: Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe (ABWH) merges with Yes for the album, Union.

1991: Bill Bruford resumes Earthworks and releases the album, All Heaven Broke Loose.

1993: Bill Bruford and Steve Howe collaborate on album, Symphonic Music of Yes.

1993: Earthworks disbands.

1994: King Crimson resumes with the 1980s lineup, plus Pat Mastelotto (percussion) and Trey Gunn, in the "double trio" configuration.

1994: King Crimson album, Vroom, is released.

1995: King Crimson album, Thrak, is released.

1995: King Crimson live album, B'Boom: Live in Argentina, is released.

1996: King Crimson live album, Thrakattak, is released.

1997: ProjeKct One, a subset of King Crimson, begins performing. Bill Bruford leaves King Crimson.

1997: Earthworks album, Heavenly Bodies, is released.

1997: Forms a new lineup of Earthworks with Steve Hamilton (piano, later replaced by Gwilym Simcock), Patrick Clahar (saxophone, later replaced by Tim Garland), Geoff Gascoyne (double bass, later replaced by Mark Hodgson, later replaced by Laurence Cottle).

1997: Collaborates with Eddie Gomez and Ralph Towner.

1998: Forms jazz-rock band Bruford Levin Upper Extremities.

2002-2007: Forms duo with Dutch pianist Michael Borstlap.

2003: Establishes two record labels, Winterfold Records (covering his early releases including his guitar and rock-oriented music) and Summerfold Records (covering his jazz output), both distributed by Voiceprint Records.

2005: Earthworks temporarily combines with Garland's Underground Orchestra to form Earthworks Underground Orchestra.

2008: Bill Bruford's final public performance with Earthworks is held on July 31 at Ronnie Scott's London.

2009: Bill Bruford announces his retirement from performing and recording.

2009: Final studio album comes out, with Skin and Wire: Pianocircus, featuring Bill Bruford playing the music of Colin Riley.

2009: Bill Bruford publishes his autobiography, Bill Bruford - The Autobiography: Yes, King Crimson, Earthworks and More.

2016: Bill Bruford earns a PhD in Music from the University of Surrey

2017: Winterfold Records releases the box set, Seems Like a Lifetime Ago, by Bruford.

2017: Yes is inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

2018: Bill Bruford publishes the book, Uncharted: Creativity and the Expert Drummer.

2019: Summerfold Records releases the box set, Earthworks Complete, by Bill Bruford's Earthworks.

2022: BMG Records releases the box set, Making a Song and Dance: A Complete-Career Collection, by Bill Bruford.

Original scrapbooks and gig books remain with the donor.

Acquisition Note: The Bill Bruford Collection was received by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Inc. as a gift from Bill Bruford on October 8, 2020.

Citation: [Identification of Item], Bill Bruford Collection, Library & Archives, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Language Note: Collection is primarily in English. Materials in German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Japanese are identified at the file level.

Processing Information: Processed by Jennie Thomas, Director of Archives. Completed January 28, 2022. Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS and local processing manual.

Custodial History: Digital images of the scrapbooks and gig books were created by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Library & Archives in 2021.

Collection is open for research. Patrons must sign the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights statement on the Researcher Registration Form before using this collection. Consult the Library and Archives in advance of your visit to ensure access to these materials is available.

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. For more information, please consult the staff of the Library and Archives.