Obituary
I got the news today that Jamie Muir, who made an unbeatable creative racket with King Crimson, has died. You can read more here…
https://www.dgmlive.com/news/jamie-muir-1942-2025
Jamie Muir, percussion lunatic
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Sorry to hear that. I know that many of the King Crimson listeners on here would choose Lark’s Tongues… as the quintessential KC album – and Jamie was responsible for a high percentage of that album’s sound world and approach.
It is indeed quite a unique sound world, and it is quite a strange planet. The wild card/pointed stick role was adopted by Bill Bruford in the Thrak era lineup, and in the final lineup it was either Bill Rieflin (in a zen-like way) or Pat Mastelotto in a practical sense, making noises by hitting things. I think Jamie’s usurping spirit extends through it all.
I know it’s not a competition – but perhaps it says something about the AW demographic that there are so few comments here; and so many on the Rick Butler RIP thread…
I don’t see a problem with that. The Jam meant a lot to a whole generation of people.
I neither stated, nor implied, that there was a problem with that.
Just made me feel older than the average…
Ah, that makes sense now. Although… in the last ten years KC is rising in popularity with younger listeners for a variety of reasons. I can never remember if it’s a video game or a Manga that is full of references to them, but it attracts a steady stream of curious listeners, many of whom stay. I met many people of my age at the Albert Hall gigs, who had been dragged there by their kids.
I also liked his work with the “Music Improvisation Company” (yikes!) with Derek Bailey and Evan Parker: he was the link between Crimson and that avant-garde/ improv scene.
Jamie Muir, one of my original ‘WTF is this? I LOVE it!’ musical heroes.
i read the biographical notes on the website…..
….after the first of two shows in February at London’s Marquee Club, Jamie abruptly quit the band to pursue a life outside of the music industry. Returning to an interest in Buddhism he went to live at Samye Ling Monastery in Scotland.
What an interesting chap.
This obituary contains a few clips of Jamie.