Jamie Muir (1942-2025)

[clifford_thornton]

Sad news regarding the King Crimson percussionist, who also worked regularly with Derek Bailey and in the Music Improvisation Company.

From Bill Bruford:

 

 

Quote

 

Jamie Muir died today 17.02.2025 in Cornwall, UK, with his brother George by his side. From Bill:

Jamie was the drummer/percussionist with whom I worked on the King Crimson album ‘Larks’ Tongues in Aspic (1973). He had a volcanic effect on me, professionally and personally, in the brief time we were together many years ago – an effect which I still remember half a century later. I’m sorry we lost touch, but his departure from our working relationship was so sudden and unexpected, I sort of assumed he didn’t want anything more to do with me and my colleagues in King Crimson!

He was a lovely, artistic man, childlike in his gentleness. There was probably a dark side underneath. It could be be glimpsed as he climbed the PA stacks in a wolf’s fur jacket, blood (from a capsule) pouring from his mouth, on a rainy Thursday night in Preston, Lancs., to hurl chains across the stage at his drumkit. One of these Robert Fripp will tell you, only narrowly missed him.

His conversations with Jon Anderson at my 1973 wedding party, in Jon’s words, ‘changed my life’. Jamie also changed mine.

I consider it a privilege to have known, and benefitted from the company of, a man of such quiet power, even briefly. He struck me as one of those about whom one might truthfully say he was a beautiful human being. He will be much missed. Goodbye, Jamie.

 

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/100044343523529/posts/1245892226898883/

[felser]

RIP.  Larks'.... may be my favorite King Crimson album, though I like so many from their initial 1969-1975 run.  It certainly hit hard when I first heard it.

[clifford_thornton]

definitely mine as well, a fantastic record.

[mjazzg]

Sad news.

I have never got on with King Crimson at all but I really rate his work with Music Improvisation Company.

[romualdo]

RIP Jamie

His work with King Crimson, particularly "Larks Tongues In Aspic" was highly influential on my music journey/vocabulary in the early 70s

Always loved that impish Daliesque image of him with the giant saw