Bill Kreutzmann
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bill Kreutzmann | ||
|---|---|---|
| Background information | ||
| Birth name | William Kreutzmann | |
| Also known as | Bill the Drummer, Foreplay, BK | |
| Born | May 7, 1946 (age 60) Palo Alto, California, USA |
|
| Genre(s) | psychedelic rock rock music folk rock |
|
| Occupation(s) | musician | |
| Instrument(s) | Drums Percussion |
|
| Years active | 1959 - present | |
| Associated acts |
Grateful Dead SerialPod Backbone Go Ahead Rhythm Devils |
|
Bill Kreutzmann (born May 7, 1946 in Palo Alto, California) was the drummer for legendary rock band the Grateful Dead for their entire 30-year career.
Kreutzmann started playing drums at the age of 13, despite having been told by his sixth grade music teacher that he couldn't keep a beat. As a teenager, he met Aldous Huxley at his high school, who encouraged him in his drumming. At the end of 1964 he co-founded the band The Warlocks, along with Phil Lesh, Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, and Ron "Pigpen" McKernan. Their first real gig was May 5, 1965, two days before Kreutzmann's 19th birthday. In November of 1965, the Warlocks became the Grateful Dead. Meeting fellow percussionist Mickey Hart in the fall of 1967 would have a big impact on Kreutzmann's career. Hart soon joined the Dead, making it one of the first (and few) rock bands to feature two drummers. The two percussionists' remarkable cohesion, synchronicity, and driving power would a be a hallmark of the Grateful Dead sound for the next thirty years, earning them the nickname "The Rhythm Devils". Their ten-minute drum duets, a feature of every show from 1978 – 1995 became legendary in the rock world. Kreutzmann remained with the Grateful Dead until its dissolution following the passing of Garcia in 1995, making him one of the four members to play at every single one of the band's 3,500 shows.
Following the end of the Grateful Dead, Kreutzmann returned to his home in Hawaii but, by 2000 was back on the road with The Other Ones (Weir, Hart, Bruce Hornsby, Steve Kimock, Mark Karan, and Alphonso Johnson). The Other Ones were so successful that, in 2003, the band began touring as The Dead (keeping "Grateful" retired out of respect for Garcia). He participated in the super group at the 17th Annual Warren Haynes Christmas Jam as a drummer SerialPod, which also includes Phish members Trey Anastasio and Mike Gordon. At 60 years old, he has lost none of his expertise and stamina, routinely playing three hours of drumming with only one 45-minute break.
Kreutzmann also does work as a visual artist and, in 2001, began releasing limited edition reproductions of his digital artwork. He also has a son, Justin Kreutzmann, who is a film and video director. He is married to Linda Kreutzmann and has two step sons and a step daughter; Zachary Willis, who is working in the IT world, Andrew Classen, who is studing graphic design, and Meera Willis, who ownes a chain of very popular shoe stores called MissMeers where Kreutzmann's art has often been displayed.
During 2006, Kreutzmann teamed up with fellow Grateful Dead bandmate and drummers Mickey Hart, former Phish bassist Mike Gordon and former The Other Ones lead guitarist Steve Kimock to form the Rhythm Devils. A name that dates back to his Dead days given to him and Hart for their legendary drum solos and improvisation. The band features songs from their respective repitiores as well as new songs written by Jerry Garcia's songwriting companion Robert Hunter. The Rhythm Devils announced their first tour for Fall 2006 which will wrap at the popular Vegoose festival in Las Vegas, NV over the Halloween weekend.
Kreutzmann and the Grateful Dead were honored with a life time achivment award at the 2007 Grammy's in Los Angeles, CA.
