Tribute to Jamie Mur of King Bugson: “A Remarkable and Enigmatic Individual” After His Passing at 82

Tribute to Jamie Muir

The tribute was paid to the former King Crimson percussionist Jamie Muir, who passed away at the age of 82.

The news of his death was confirmed by his friend and bandmate Bill Bruford on Monday (February 17), who posted on Facebook: “Jamie Muir died today, 02/17/2025, in Cornwall, Great Britain, with his brother George nearby.”

The cause of death has not been disclosed.

Robert Fripp’s Rememberance

King Crimson frontman Robert Fripp honored Muir’s memory on Instagram, stating: “Jamie Muir profoundly influenced my thoughts, not only musically. A wonderful and enigmatic individual. Among the five members of KC in 1972, Jamie held the greatest authority, experience, and presence. Fly well, Master Muir.”

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Jamie’s Musical Journey

Muir was best known for his tenure with the iconic band from 1972 to 1973, making his most significant mark on their fifth studio album, “Larks’ Tongues in Aspic,” released in 1973.

Born in Edinburgh in 1942, he studied at the Edinburgh College of Arts and moved to London in the 1960s as a passionate jazz trombonist before transitioning to percussion.

While in London, he engaged in several free improvisation groups, including the Music Improvisation Company, and collaborated with esteemed artists like Derek Bailey and Evan Parker.

In the summer of 1972, he received a phone call from Fripp inviting him to join King Crimson, joining the group along with drummer Bill Bruford, bassist John Wetton, and violinist David Cross.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVB2TNFN5AA

Just a year later, shortly after the release of “Larks’ Tongues in Aspic,” Muir abruptly left King Crimson to pursue a life as a Buddhist monk in a monastery in southern Scotland.

He returned to music in 1980, appearing on albums by Bailey and Parker, and contributed to the soundtrack of the 1983 British independent film Ghost Dance, but in 1990 he exited the music scene once again to dedicate himself to painting.

In a 1991 interview, Muir reflected on his love for free-form musical composition, stating: “I believe that group improvised music is one of the great art forms of the 20th century because it is so radical. This should be experienced live, not approached with intellectual rigor. Much of the other music can be quite absurd intellectually.”

Bill Bruford continued his tribute on social media, saying, “He had a volcanic influence on me, both professionally and personally, during the brief time we spent together many years ago – an effect I still remember half a century later.”

“He was a wonderfully artistic individual, childlike in his innocence,” he added. “There may have been a darker side. One could see it when he climbed onto the PA stacks in a wolf-fur coat, blood (from a capsule) dripping from his mouth, on a rainy Thursday evening at the throne of Lans, tossing chains across the stage onto his drums. Robert Fripp will tell you how narrowly he missed him.”

“I consider it a privilege to have known and shared time with someone of such quiet strength, even briefly. He struck me as one of those people we can truly say was a wonderful individual. He will be greatly missed. Farewell, Jamie.”

The loss of Muir comes just a few months after the passing of King Crimson’s lyricist and song contributor Peter Sinfield, who died at the age of 80 on November 14.