Richard Bodin
Jamie Muir, the former drummer and percussionist for King Crimson, passed away on February 17 at the age of 82.
Born in 1942 in Edinburgh, Muir began his musical journey playing jazz trombone before switching to drums and percussion. He had a deep love for improvisation, thriving on the spontaneity it offered. In the late 1960s, the Scotsman moved to London, where he met Derek Bailey and Evan Parker, with whom he shared a passion for jazz and free improvisation. Together, they formed The Music Improvisation Company, performing and recording between 1968 and 1971. During this time, Muir began incorporating unconventional objects into his percussion setup, expanding his sonic palette.
After The Music Improvisation Company disbanded in 1971, Muir collaborated with various projects, including the Afro-rock band Assagai, as well as Boris and Sunship.
Joining King Crimson: A Short but Powerful Stint
In 1972, Muir received a call from Robert Fripp inviting him to join King Crimson. A few years earlier, in 1969, Muir had seen the band open for the Rolling Stones in Hyde Park and was deeply impressed by their performance. Reflecting on Fripp’s invitation, Muir recalled:
“My feeling about getting the call was: ‘Terrific.’ King Crimson was the ideal for me because it was a rock band that had more than three brain cells. I was very much more an instrumental style of musician rather than being song-based, and there weren’t many other bands that I would have been any good in. I was extremely pleased, and I felt completely at home with Crimson.”
Muir recorded just one album with the band, but his influence was significant. When Fripp asked him how he would describe the music, the Scotsman responded, “Why, Larks’ Tongues in Aspic … what else?”—giving the album its title.
A Wild Presence on Stage
His presence on stage was equally remarkable. To the absolute surprise of his bandmates, Muir, positioned centrally among his vast array of drums and unusual percussion instruments, brought his passion for theatricality and improvisation into their live performances. In a trance-like state, he would throw chains onto his drum kit, bite down on fake blood capsules, and move chaotically around his instruments. Violinist David Cross recalled:
“Jamie’s onstage persona never manifested itself in rehearsals. I could have died when I first saw him start his antics on stage for the first time. I thought it was wonderful, but we had no idea he was going to do it—it was completely out of the blue.”
A Sudden Departure for Spirituality
In 1973, shortly after the album’s release, Muir made an unexpected decision: he left King Crimson and withdrew from the music world to join a Buddhist monastery. He later reflected that this was something he had to do, or else he would have regretted it for the rest of his life.
Muir eventually returned to music in 1980, collaborating again with Derek Bailey, Evan Parker, and former King Crimson drummer Michael Giles. However, by around 1990, he retired from music once more to focus on painting.
A Lasting Influence on Music
Although his tenure with King Crimson was brief, Muir left a lasting impact. Beyond inspiring the album’s title, he introduced sonic elements that continued to shape the band’s music even after his departure. King Crimson drummer Bill Bruford described Muir as his greatest influence, recounting how Muir gave him his most valuable drum lesson:
“He pointed out that I exist to serve the music—the music does not exist to serve me.”
Muir’s influence extended beyond King Crimson. Shortly before leaving the band, he encouraged Yes frontman Jon Anderson to read Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda, which reportedly inspired the creation of Tales from Topographic Oceans.
Tributes and Legacy
Following the announcement of Muir’s passing, Robert Fripp paid tribute, stating:
“Jamie Muir was a major, and continuing, influence on my thinking—not only musically. A wonderful and mysterious person. Of the five members of King Crimson in 1972, Jamie had the greatest authority, experience, and presence.”
In Buddhist teachings, life and death are seen as a continuum, with consciousness persisting beyond death and capable of rebirth. We wish Jamie Muir a peaceful journey in his future lives.
