Michael Giles

Michael Giles
Michael Giles
Birth name	Michael Rex Giles
Born	1 March 1942 (age 82); Waterlooville, Hampshire, England
Genres	Jazz fusion, progressive rock
Occupation	Musician
Instrument(s)	Drums, percussion, vocals
Years active	1960–2011

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.

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

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

John G. Perry

1976 Sunset Wading
1995 Seabird

Anthony Phillips

1978 Wise After the Event
1979 Sides

Ian McDonald

1999 Drivers Eyes

21st Century Schizoid Band

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

The Micheal Giles Mad Band

2009 The Adventures of the Micheal Giles Mad Band

Solo

2009 Progress (recorded in 1978)

Movie score

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

References

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

[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.

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