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Topic ClosedBill Bruford vs. Alan White for YES

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cobb View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 09 2005 at 03:25
The man who thinks electronic drumsets are still cool vs a good solid drummer... hmmm
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Plastic Man View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 09 2005 at 04:20
by the way, how the hell did alan white lose his british accent?
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Phil View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 09 2005 at 05:03
Originally posted by kirklott kirklott wrote:

This is an ancient question, that has been run into the ground, not by you, but by Yes fans in general.

It depends on what you mean, exactly.

  • Bill's drumming on CttE is better than Alan's drumming on Topo.
  • Alan's drumming on anything post-Topo is better than Bill's drumming on ABWH or any of Bill's silly electro drumming. In particular Alan's drumming on the Keys studio material is fantastic.
  • Alan has contributed more to the writing of Yes music.
  • Alan appreciates and respects Yes more.
  • Alan is more important in the history of Yes because he's been a stablizing influence, a peace maker, and without Alan, the chances of Yes lasting past the mid-70s would have been diminished. And while Yes was at its creative peak in the early 70s, the band has also made a lot of wonderful music since then.

So overall, I would go against the obvious answer and say Alan is more important to the history of the band.



I agree. I think that's very well put.  I'd also say that as a rythmn section, Squire and White struggled on Tales but really got their act together for Relayer. I think Alan White helped bring out another dimension to Chris Squire's playing.


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M. B. Zapelini View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 09 2005 at 05:14

Bill Bruford is a better drummer in all senses. Alan White is very good, but he does not have that jazzy style that makes Bruford so good. I do agree with Kirklott' opinion: White is more important to Yes's history than Bruford.

By the way, Bruford's drumming with Crimson is actually better than wiht Yes.

"He's a man of the past and one of the present"
PETER HAMMILL
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 09 2005 at 05:14
I prefer Bruford but White is escellent too
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Phil View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 09 2005 at 05:26
Originally posted by M. B. Zapelini M. B. Zapelini wrote:

By the way, Bruford's drumming with Crimson is actually better than wiht Yes.



I've just got hold of the 4 CD box set "The Great Deceiver" of live Crimson material from 73/74 and I have to agree with you.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 09 2005 at 07:41

Originally posted by richardh richardh wrote:

I think its like comparing apples and oranges.The best way to judge their respective skills is to listen to Rick Wakemans 'Six Wives Of Henry VIII' where they both contribute to different tracks (3 each).White is a powerhouse drummer while Bruford is more subtle.Both are excellent in their own right.That doesnt answer the question but I agree with kirklott that White has helped keep the band together over the years so that makes him more important to Yes.

You've nailed it there - Bruford is a jazz drummer, White is a rock drummer. I love Bruford's playing - he has a great touch - but I can't imagine Bruford playing Gates of Delirium or Ritual.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 09 2005 at 08:46

The question here is who was the better drummer for Yes, and Alan White has proved himself in that capacity many times over. He established himself on Relayer and GFTO and has maintained his position on the Yes drum stool ever since, through all their ups and downs. Bruford is unquestionably the better drummer, but he was better suited to a band like King Crimson where he had the scope to improvise.

'Like so many of you
I've got my doubts about how much to contribute
to the already rich among us...'

Robert Wyatt, Gloria Gloom


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Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 09 2005 at 09:09
Originally posted by Phil Phil wrote:

Originally posted by M. B. Zapelini M. B. Zapelini wrote:

By the way, Bruford's drumming with Crimson is actually better than wiht Yes.



I've just got hold of the 4 CD box set "The Great Deceiver" of live Crimson material from 73/74 and I have to agree with you.


Definitely! When you listen to Bruford's incredible drumming on Starless, it's miles better than anything he did with Yes.

Alan White is not as technically adept but is a great rock drummer, and has more than proved his worth on albums like Relayer.

Edited by Drachen Theaker
"It's 1973, almost dinnertime and I'm 'aving 'oops!" - Gene Hunt
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 09 2005 at 09:27
bruford without any doubt!! The heart of the sunrise, being the evidence of this!!! Like people earlier said on this site, is the essence of  what he would achieve later with king crimson, but bruford has always been very good, it's just that he had more space to do his own thing than in yes.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 09 2005 at 10:05

Originally posted by Proglover Proglover wrote:

Bill's SILLY electro drumming???????????...Well I suppose we all have our opinions.

 

What was silly about it?

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 09 2005 at 11:07
ALAN WHITE... I love the Bruford era but you can't compare... both have differente styles and both have an important inffluence on Yes in their respective eras. I think Bruford is better drummer than White but Alan IS the sound of the drums in Yes actually not Bruford...
... E N E L B U N K E R...
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 09 2005 at 11:13

Originally posted by Plastic Man Plastic Man wrote:

i believe squire was better with bruford in the group. its like his bass playing went way downhill when bruford left. im a bruford man myself.

I don't think that's accurate. Bruford reportedly said "the worst nightmare for a any drummer is to play with Chris Squire" or something like that.

In any case, while Bill is BY FAR better drummer than Alan White, I think Alan's playing fits much better the "Yes sound", his playing on the "Bruford songs" isn't that complex yet much more powerful, for example I love the way Alan plays on And you & I and Starship Trooper, he gives these songs a "rockier" yet very progressive feel. Bill is more of an experimental drummer and his style is more at home with King Crimson IMO.

Don't be a prog-hole, please...
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 09 2005 at 12:55
It's not a matter of which is a better drummer ... both are extremely good at
their craft, so that argument is pointless. For every Bruford Yes highlight you
provide, I can provide an equally impressive White Yes highlight. You say
CTTE? I say The Gates of Deliriium. You say Heart of the Sunrise? I say Sound
Chaser. And the list goes on and on.

In the end, both men have contributed to, and are a part of, the legacy that
is Yes, and neither merit being compared to the other.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 09 2005 at 13:57
Originally posted by Charles Charles wrote:

Like Peter Gabriel with Genesis, Bill's tenure with Yes was so many years ago, but it was within those short precious years that Bill made a name for himself, but yet he became a drumming god within King Crimson....

But yet I associate Yes more with Alan then I do Bill.....

 

Alan... Relayer was his shining moment as a drummer...

 

Charles

I agree. Alan nailed Relayer especially and did a damn good job for yes. I must say though, that while Bruford was in Yes he was excellent, I much prefer his stuff with KC which is amazing. Both good drummers. But overall, for Yes at least, Bruford wins it i think, although alan does appreciate the band more and fits better. Extremely close call, but bruford is very slightly ahead.

Isn't this the worst signature ever? I mean really?
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el böthy View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 09 2005 at 14:20
Well...Bruford is technically better and stuff...and I do like his work better...but Im happy he left Yes to join Crimson...because in Yes he did an amazing job, but in Crimson...specially in the 80!!!
"You want me to play what, Robert?"
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 09 2005 at 14:26

Originally posted by el böthy el böthy wrote:

Well...Bruford is technically better and stuff...and I do like his work better...but Im happy he left Yes to join Crimson...because in Yes he did an amazing job, but in Crimson...specially in the 80!!!

Well. I prefer Bruford's playing in 70's with Wetton, in contrast to the 80's I think the Three of a perfect pair album is the weakest album that Bruford ever played. But Discipline album is an exception, just listen Indiscipline.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 09 2005 at 17:32

What ever we say

I think Tales From Topographic Oceans would've been a better album had Bill drummed on it. His drumming would've made the more tedious sections a lot more interesting.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 09 2005 at 17:35
I like'em both
RIO/AVANT/ZEUHL - The best thing you can get with yer pants on!
EXERIOR Experimental tech/death/progmetal from Norway!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 09 2005 at 17:52
In my opinion Bruford exceeds Alan's skill. However, I could never imagine
Bruford playing on Tales. Tales is one of my favorite albums.
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