Michael Giles

Last updated

Michael Giles
Birth nameMichael Rex Giles
Born (1942-03-01) 1 March 1942 (age 82)
Waterlooville, Hampshire, England
Genres Jazz fusion, progressive rock
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Drums, percussion, vocals
Years active1960–2011

Michael Rex Giles (born 1 March 1942) is an English drummer, percussionist, and vocalist, best known as one of the co-founders of King Crimson in 1968. Prior to the formation of King Crimson, he was part of the eccentric pop trio Giles, Giles and Fripp along with his brother, bassist Peter, and guitarist Robert Fripp. They were active between 1967–1968.

Contents

Life and career

Giles was born in Waterlooville, Hampshire, England.

His drumming technique is complex and polyrhythmic, based primarily on the jazz tradition, but also on the then developing progressive rock tradition. His playing dictated much of the compositional structure of the first King Crimson album, In the Court of the Crimson King . [1] Giles's compositional ear is evidenced by his ability to weave seamless tempo changes and subtle melodic deviations into his drumming throughout the album.

Giles and Ian McDonald both left King Crimson in January 1970, though Giles played on the band's second album, In the Wake of Poseidon , as part of a temporary line-up before the remaining members had a set new line-up in place. He and McDonald recorded an album called McDonald and Giles , which was lighter in style than King Crimson, but still technically demanding. Giles then worked as a session player for the duration of the 1970s, appearing on albums by Anthony Phillips, Leo Sayer, and Kevin Ayers. He also played on McDonald's 1999 solo album Driver's Eyes .

Giles only solo album, Progress , was recorded at his home studio in 1978, but not released until 2003.

In 2002, he co-founded the 21st Century Schizoid Band, a group composed of former King Crimson musicians, with the exception of his son-in-law, guitarist and vocalist Jakko Jakszyk, who later joined King Crimson. After one studio session and a single tour, Giles passed the drum stool to another former King Crimson drummer, Ian Wallace.

In late 2008, an experimental group focused on improvisation was announced, Michael Giles' MAD Band, with Adrian Chivers and Dan Pennie. [2]

He was often cited by Rush drummer Neil Peart as an influence. [3]

Selected discography

Giles, Giles and Fripp

King Crimson

McDonald & Giles

Luther Grosvenor

Murray Head

Jackson Heights

Leo Sayer

Kevin Ayers

Roger Glover & Guests

John G. Perry

Anthony Phillips

Ian McDonald

21st Century Schizoid Band

Solo

Movie score

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King Crimson</span> English progressive rock band

King Crimson were an English-based progressive rock band formed in London in 1968. Led by guitarist Robert Fripp, they drew inspiration from a wide variety of music, incorporating elements of classical, jazz, folk, heavy metal, gamelan, blues, industrial, electronic, experimental music and new wave. They exerted a strong influence on the early 1970s progressive rock movement, including on contemporaries such as Yes and Genesis, and continue to inspire subsequent generations of artists across multiple genres. The band has earned a large cult following, especially in the 21st century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Fripp</span> British guitarist, composer, record producer, and author (b. 1946)

Robert Fripp is an English musician, songwriter, record producer, and author, best known as the guitarist, founder and longest-lasting member of the progressive rock band King Crimson. He has worked extensively as a session musician and collaborator, notably with David Bowie, Blondie, Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel, Daryl Hall, the Roches, Talking Heads, and David Sylvian. He also composed the startup sound of Windows Vista, in collaboration with Tucker Martine and Steve Ball. His discography includes contributions to more than 700 official releases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Sinfield</span> English poet and songwriter

Peter John Sinfield is an English poet and songwriter. He is best known as a co-founder and former lyricist of King Crimson. Their debut album In the Court of the Crimson King is considered one of the first and most influential progressive rock albums ever released.

<i>In the Wake of Poseidon</i> 1970 studio album by King Crimson

In the Wake of Poseidon is the second studio album by English progressive rock group King Crimson, released in May 1970 by Island Records in Europe, Atlantic Records in the United States, Philips Records in Australia, and Vertigo Records in New Zealand. To date the album is their highest-charting in the UK, reaching number 4.

<i>Lizard</i> (album) 1970 studio album by King Crimson

Lizard is the third studio album by British progressive rock band King Crimson, released on 11 December 1970 by Island Records in the UK, and in January 1971 by Atlantic Records in the United States and Canada. It was the second consecutive King Crimson album recorded by transitional line-ups of the group that did not perform live, following In the Wake of Poseidon. This is the last of two albums by the band to feature Gordon Haskell and the band's only album to feature drummer Andy McCulloch.

<i>King Crimson Live at Plymouth Guildhall</i> 2000 live album by King Crimson

Live at Plymouth Guildhall is a live album by the band King Crimson, released through the King Crimson Collectors' Club on the Discipline Global Mobile label in December 2000. The album was recorded at the Guildhall in Plymouth, UK on 11 May 1971.

<i>King Crimson Live at Summit Studios</i> 2000 live album by King Crimson

King Crimson Live at Summit Studios is a live album of radio session recordings by the band King Crimson, released by the Discipline Global Mobile label through the King Crimson Collectors' Club in February 2000. The album was recorded at Summit Studios in Denver, Colorado on 12 March 1972 during one of the band's American tours. The performance was notable for the absence of the band's trademark Mellotron, resulting in an unusual setlist and the inclusion of two lengthy collective improvisations.

<i>Ladies of the Road</i> 2002 live album by King Crimson

Ladies of the Road is a live two CD set by the band King Crimson, recorded in 1971 & 1972, released in 2002, and reissued in 2008 in Japan. It is named after a song on the Islands album.

<i>Frame by Frame: The Essential King Crimson</i> 1991 box set by King Crimson

Frame by Frame: The Essential King Crimson is a 4-CD box set by the band King Crimson, released in 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aynsley Dunbar</span> British drummer (born 1946)

Aynsley Thomas Dunbar is an English drummer. He has worked with John Mayall, Frank Zappa, Jeff Beck, Journey, Jefferson Starship, Nils Lofgren, Eric Burdon, Shuggie Otis, Ian Hunter, Lou Reed, David Bowie, Mick Ronson, Whitesnake, Pat Travers, Sammy Hagar, Michael Schenker, UFO, Michael Chapman, Jake E. Lee, Leslie West, Kathi McDonald, Keith Emerson, Mike Onesko, Herbie Mann and Flo & Eddie. Dunbar was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Journey in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian McDonald (musician)</span> English musician (1946–2022)

Ian Richard McDonald was an English musician, composer and multi-instrumentalist, best known as a founding member of the progressive rock band King Crimson in 1968, as well as the hard rock band Foreigner in 1976.

<i>McDonald and Giles</i> 1970 studio album by McDonald and Giles

McDonald and Giles is an album released by British musicians Ian McDonald and Michael Giles in 1970. The album was first issued on Island Records in the UK and Cotillion Records, a division of Atlantic Records, in the US. The album was recorded at Island Studios between May and July 1970. Although McDonald and Giles remains popular among King Crimson fans, its commercial success was limited. The duo did not record a second album, but Giles did contribute drums and vocals to "Demimonde" on McDonald's solo album Drivers Eyes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mel Collins</span> British musician (born 1947)

Melvyn Desmond Collins is a British saxophonist, flautist and session musician.

Giles, Giles and Fripp were an English rock group, formed in Bournemouth, Dorset in August 1967. It featured brothers Michael Giles on drums and vocals and Peter Giles on bass guitar and vocals, and Robert Fripp on guitar. The band's music showed an eclectic mix of pop, psychedelic rock, folk, jazz, and classical influences. The group eventually evolved into pioneering progressive rock band King Crimson.

21st Century Schizoid Band were a King Crimson alumnus group formed in 2002.

Peter Giles is a British singer and bassist. He is the brother of drummer Michael Giles.

<i>Live in Japan</i> (21st Century Schizoid Band album) 2002 live album by 21st Century Schizoid Band

Live in Japan is the second "Official Bootleg" release by the 21st Century Schizoid Band. It was released on CD and DVD, the DVD containing the extra tracks "Tomorrow's People" and "If I Was", as well as bonus features.

<i>The 21st Century Guide to King Crimson – Volume One – 1969–1974</i> 2004 box set by King Crimson

The 21st Century Guide to King Crimson – Volume One – 1969–1974 is the first of two 4-CD sets of compilation albums, showcasing the entire production of the British progressive rock band King Crimson. This set of discs contains both studio and live performances ranging from the beginnings of the band in 1969 to their first dissolution in 1974.

<i>Live at the Orpheum</i> 2015 live album by King Crimson

Live at the Orpheum is a live album by the band King Crimson, released by Discipline Global Mobile records in 2015. The album was recorded on 30 September and 1 October at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, California on the band's The Elements of King Crimson US tour of 2014.

References

  1. "Interview with Michael Giles by Aymeric Leroy". Elephant-talk.com. 7 February 2000. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  2. "noise in your eye". Madband.co.uk. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  3. Peart, Neil (January 2003). "Neil Peart Speaks With Zildjian..." Zildjian (Interview). Archived from the original on 6 December 2003.