How long did Jamie Muir play for King Crimson? Former percussionist dies at 82

Former King Crimson percussionist Jamie Muir has passed away at the age of 82. The exact cause of death remains unclear.

News of his demise was confirmed on Monday, February 17, when his friend and bandmate, Bill Bruford, penned on Facebook:

“Jamie Muir died today, 17.02.2025, in Cornwall, UK, with his brother George by his side.”

Jamie Muir joined the band in 1972, playing a key role in Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, the band's fifth studio album. However, a year later, he left the band, moved to a monastery in Scotland, and abandoned his old life for Buddhism.

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The life and legacy of Jamie Muir explored:

In the wake of Muir's demise, King Crimson frontman Robert Fripp took to Instagram to pay his respects:

“Jamie Muir was a major, and continuing, influence on my thinking, not only musical. A wonderful and mysterious person. Of the five members of KC 1972, Jamie had the greatest authority, experience and presence. Fly well, Master Muir.”

Muir was born in Edinburgh in 1942 and studied at the Edinburgh College of Art. In the 1960s, he moved to London to pursue a career as a jazz trombonist before switching to percussion.

While in London, he got entangled with several improvisational groups, including The Music Improvisation Company. He also played with icons like Derek Bailey and Evan Parker.

By 1972, when Fripp called him, he was invited to join King Crimson. He, along with Yes drummer Bruford, bassist John Wetton, and violinist David Cross, formed the band. However, days after Larks’ Tongues In Aspic came out, he chose to move to Southern Scotland and live as a monk.

Former Crimson drummer Bill Bruford also took to Facebook to pay his respects to his former bandmate, penning:

"Jamie was the drummer/percussionist with whom I worked on the King Crimson album Larks’ Tongues in Aspic (1973). He had a volcanic effect on me, professionally and personally, in the brief time we were together many years ago – an effect which I still remember half a century later. I’m sorry we lost touch, but his departure from our working relationship was so sudden and unexpected, I sort of assumed he didn’t want anything more to do with me and my colleagues in King Crimson!"

He went on, referring to Muir:

"lovely, artistic man, childlike in his gentleness.There was probably a dark side underneath, though It could be glimpsed as he climbed the PA stacks in a wolf’s fur jacket, blood (from a capsule) pouring from his mouth, on a rainy Thursday night in Preston, Lancs., to hurl chains across the stage at his drumkit."

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Jamie Muir remained a monk and dedicated his life to painting until his passing.