Michael Giles

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Michael Giles
Birth name	Michael Rex Giles
Born	(1942-03-01) 1 March 1942 (age 79) Waterlooville, Hampshire, England
Genres	Jazz fusion, progressive rock
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Drums, percussion
Years active	1960–2011
Associated acts	King Crimson, Giles, Giles and Fripp, Leo Sayer, 21st Century Schizoid Band, Michael Giles MAD BAND

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 1969. 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.

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 December 1969, though Giles played on the band's second album, In the Wake of Poseidon as a session musician. He and Ian 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 Ian McDonald's 1999 solo album Driver's Eyes.

Giles also released a solo album, Progress, which 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 himself later joined King Crimson. After one studio session and a single tour, Giles passed the drum stool to another former King Crimson drummer, the late Ian Wallace.

In late 2008, an experimental group focused on improvisation was announced, Michael Giles' MAD Band, with Adrian Chivers and Dan Pennie.[1]

He was often cited by the late Rush drummer Neil Peart as an influence.

Selected discography[]

Giles, Giles and Fripp[]

• 1968 One in a Million/Newly Weds, Thursday Morning/Elephant Song (Singles)
• 1968 The Cheerful Insanity of Giles, Giles and Fripp
• 2001 The Brondesbury Tapes
• 2001 Metamorphosis

King Crimson[]

• 1969 In the Court of the Crimson King
• 1970 In the Wake of Poseidon

McDonald & Giles[]

• 1970 McDonald and Giles

Luther Grosvenor[]

• 1971 Under open skies

Murray Head[]

• 1972 Nigel Lived

Jackson Heights[]

• 1972 The Fifth Avenue Bus
• 1972 Ragamuffins Fool
• 1973 Bump n' Grind

Leo Sayer[]

• 1973 Silverbird
• 1974 Just a Boy
• 1975 Another year

Kevin Ayers[]

• 1974 The Confessions of Dr. Dream and Other Stories

[]

• 1974 The Butterfly Ball & The Grashoppers Feast

John G. Perry[]

• 1976 Sunset Wading
• 1995 Seabird

Anthony Phillips[]

• 1978 Wise After the Event
• 1979 Sides

Ian McDonald[]

• 1999 Driver's Eyes

21st Century Schizoid Band[]

• 2002 Official Bootleg Volume One
• 2002 Live in Japan – Official Bootleg Volume Two

Solo[]

• 2002 Progress (recorded in 1978)

Movie score[]

• 1996 Ghost Dance (recorded in 1983, with Jamie Muir and David Cunningham)

References[]