Bill Rieflin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bill Rieflin
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Rieflin drumming with Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3 in 2009
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | William Frederick Rieflin |
| Born | September 30, 1960 Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Died | March 24, 2020 (aged 59) |
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| Occupation(s) | Multi-instrumentalist, producer |
| Instruments | Drums, keyboards, guitar, bass |
| Associated acts | Ministry, R.E.M., Sweet 75, Revolting Cocks, KMFDM, Pigface, Nine Inch Nails, King Crimson, Robbie Williams, Swans |
William Frederick Rieflin (born September 30, 1960 – died March 24, 2020) was a talented American musician. He was known for playing many different instruments. Bill became famous in the 1990s as a drummer. He played with many popular bands, especially those in the industrial rock and industrial metal styles.
He worked with groups like Ministry, Revolting Cocks, KMFDM, and Nine Inch Nails. After 1997, he often played with the band R.E.M.. From 2013 until he passed away in 2020, he was also a member of King Crimson.
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Bill Rieflin's Music Career
Bill Rieflin started his music journey in his hometown of Seattle in 1975. He played drums for a band called The Telepaths. Later, in 1979, he joined The Blackouts.
Working with Ministry and Industrial Music
After The Blackouts, Bill's bandmate Paul Barker joined a new band called Ministry. Bill soon started working with Ministry and its related projects. He played drums on their album The Land of *** and Honey. He also performed in their live video In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up.
Bill worked with Ministry until the mid-1990s. He was always a "hired musician," not an official member. This meant he never truly "quit" the band.
Bill also helped start Pigface, a large music group with many different artists. He became good friends with Chris Connelly. They worked together on several recordings. These recordings showed off Bill's amazing keyboard skills.
Solo Work and Other Collaborations
Bill Rieflin released his own album called Birth of a Giant. On this album, he sang more than just background vocals. He also worked with famous guitarist Robert Fripp. Some of their jam sessions turned into another album called The Repercussions of Angelic Behavior.
Bill played drums, keyboards, and even sang for KMFDM from 1995 to 2003. He also played bass guitar for them on tour. In 2011, he worked on another KMFDM album.
Playing with R.E.M.
Bill also played drums for The Minus 5, a band that sometimes included Peter Buck, a guitarist from R.E.M.. Peter Buck then asked Bill to play with R.E.M. They needed a drummer after their original drummer, Bill Berry, left in 1997.
Bill became R.E.M.'s live drummer in 2003. He was a hired musician, not an official member. He also played other instruments like bouzouki, keyboards, and guitar for R.E.M. He stayed with them until the band stopped playing in 2011.
Later Projects and King Crimson
In 2005, Bill helped create an experimental music group called Slow Music. He played synthesizers in this group, not drums. He also joined a project called The Humans with Toyah Willcox.
Bill was a regular musician for Swans since 1995. He played many instruments on their albums after they reformed in 2010. He was even called an "honorary Swan."
In 2012, Bill played drums for Robbie Williams's album Take the Crown.
In 2013, Robert Fripp announced that Bill Rieflin would join a new lineup for King Crimson. Bill was one of three drummers in the band. Later, he took a break from the band. When he returned, he focused on playing mellotron, keyboards, and other sounds. This made him King Crimson's first full-time keyboard player. He rejoined in 2018 but took another break in 2019.
Bill Rieflin's Personal Life and Passing
Bill Rieflin was married to an artist named Francesca Sundsten. She passed away in 2019. Bill Rieflin died on March 24, 2020. He was 59 years old and had colon cancer.
See also
In Spanish: Bill Rieflin para niños
