BILL BRUFORD RETIRES FROM LIVE PERFORMANCE

Bill Bruford is one of the most talented drummers ever to sit behind the kit. A true artist, he would probably frown on the fact that my (and many other fans) favor his late '60s/early '70s work as a founding member of Yes; of course, he also played in a few different versions of King Crimson, a band called U.K. and he was even Genesis' first touring drummer when Phil Collins started singing for them. Bill led many of his own groups as well. He just announced that he is retiring from touring. I've seen him with Crimson and Yes (and the sort-of-Yes-reunion group Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman & Howe) and he was just great. He is about to put out his autobiography, which should be interesting, as he sort of looks down a bit on rock/pop with a sort of detached semi-fond bemusement. But what a career, he really pushed drumming to a new level.