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William Kreutzmann Jr. ( ; born May 7, 1946) is an American drummer and founding member of the rock band
Grateful Dead The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in Palo Alto, California. The band is known for its eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, country, jazz, bluegrass, blues, rock and roll, gospel, reggae, world music, ...
. He played with the band for its entire thirty-year career, usually alongside fellow drummer
Mickey Hart Mickey Hart (born Michael Steven Hartman, September 11, 1943) is an American percussionist. He is best known as one of the two drummers of the rock band Grateful Dead. He was a member of the Grateful Dead from September 1967 until February 19 ...
, and has continued to perform with former members of the Grateful Dead in various lineups, and with his own bands
BK3 BK3 were an American rock band led by Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann. Kreutzmann formed the band in 2008 with Max Creek guitarist Scott Murawski and Allman Brothers Band bassist Oteil Burbridge. Formation Bill Kreutzmann and Scott Murawsk ...
, 7 Walkers and Billy & the Kids.


Early life

Kreutzmann was born in
Palo Alto Palo Alto (; Spanish for "tall stick") is a charter city in the northwestern corner of Santa Clara County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area, named after a coastal redwood tree known as El Palo Alto. The city was es ...
, California, the son of Janice Beryl (née Shaughnessy) and William Kreutzmann Sr. His father was of German descent. His maternal grandfather was football coach and innovator
Clark Shaughnessy Clark Daniel Shaughnessy (originally O'Shaughnessy) (March 6, 1892 – May 15, 1970) was an American football coach and innovator. He is sometimes called the "father of the T formation" and the original founder of the forward pass, although that ...
. Kreutzmann started playing drums at the age of 13. At first he practiced on a Slingerland drum kit lent to him. As a teenager, he was practicing drums alone in a large building at his high school when Aldous Huxley and another man walked in. Huxley told Bill he'd never heard anything like it, and encouraged him in his drumming – despite the fact Bill had been told by his sixth grade music teacher that he could not keep a beat. Kreutzmann continued to practice a great deal. His earliest enthusiasm was for the music of
Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...
and other R&B musicians. He has explained that later he learned some advanced technique or tricks from
Mickey Hart Mickey Hart (born Michael Steven Hartman, September 11, 1943) is an American percussionist. He is best known as one of the two drummers of the rock band Grateful Dead. He was a member of the Grateful Dead from September 1967 until February 19 ...
. Kreutzmann listened to jazz groups in clubs when he found an opportunity for an under-age guy to get in. After joining the Warlocks (later called the Grateful Dead), bassist
Phil Lesh Philip Chapman Lesh (born March 15, 1940) is an American musician and a founding member of the Grateful Dead, with whom he played bass guitar throughout their 30-year career. After the band's disbanding in 1995, Lesh continued the tradition of ...
introduced him the work of one of the top jazz drummers of the time, Elvin Jones.Kreutzmann, Bill and Benjy Eisen 2016 ''Deal''. New York: St. Martin's Press, p.36. Kreutzmann became an enthusiast, also, for the
funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the mi ...
music of The Meters.Kreutzmann, Bill and Benjy Eisen 2016 ''Deal''. New York: St. Martin's Press.


Grateful Dead

At the end of 1964 Kreutzmann co-founded the band the Warlocks, along with Dana Morgan, Jr. (who was soon replaced by
Phil Lesh Philip Chapman Lesh (born March 15, 1940) is an American musician and a founding member of the Grateful Dead, with whom he played bass guitar throughout their 30-year career. After the band's disbanding in 1995, Lesh continued the tradition of ...
),
Jerry Garcia Jerome John Garcia (August 1, 1942 – August 9, 1995) was an American musician best known for being the principal songwriter, lead guitarist, and a vocalist with the rock band Grateful Dead, which he co-founded and which came to prominence ...
,
Bob Weir Robert Hall Weir ( ; né Parber, born October 16, 1947) is an American musician and songwriter best known as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. After the group disbanded in 1995, Weir performed with The Other Ones, later known as The Dead ...
, and Ron "Pigpen" McKernan. Their first gig was May 5, 1965, two days before Kreutzmann's nineteenth birthday. During the band's early days, Kreutzmann sometimes used a fake draft card with the name "Bill Sommers" to be admitted to bars where the band was playing, since he was underage. In November 1965, the Warlocks became the
Grateful Dead The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in Palo Alto, California. The band is known for its eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, country, jazz, bluegrass, blues, rock and roll, gospel, reggae, world music, ...
. Meeting fellow percussionist Mickey Hart in the fall of 1967 had 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 combination of their playing was an important part of the band's sound and earned them the nickname "the Rhythm Devils" (the name being quipped to them by
Francis Ford Coppola Francis Ford Coppola (; ; born April 7, 1939) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is considered one of the major figures of the New Hollywood filmmaking movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Coppola is the recipient of five ...
). Their lengthy drum duets were a feature of nearly every show from 1978 to 1995, and are documented in a number of recordings by the band. During the 80s Kreutzmann formed and performed with three side-bands: The Billy Kreutzmann All-stars, Kokomo, and Go Ahead, mostly playing San Francisco Bay Area clubs, although Go Ahead toured somewhat in 1986–87. The All-Stars were Kreutzmann, David Nelson, guitar, Larry Murphy, Sr. on fiddle and Larry Murphy, Jr. on bass. Kokomo and Go Ahead featured Dead keyboardist Brent Mydland, David Margen played bass for Kokomo as well as Go Ahead. Kevin Russell was guitarist for Kokomo. Kreutzmann remained with the Grateful Dead until its dissolution after the death of Jerry Garcia in 1995, making him one of four members to play at every one of the band's 2,300 shows, along with Garcia, Weir and Lesh. In 1994, Kreutzmann and the other members of the Grateful Dead were inducted into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF), sometimes simply referred to as the Rock Hall, is a museum and hall of fame located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States, on the shore of Lake Erie. The museum documents the history of rock music and ...
. In 2007, they won a
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award is a special Grammy Award that is awarded by The Recording Academy The Recording Academy (formally the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences; abbreviated NARAS) is an American learned academy of ...
.


Post-Grateful Dead

Kreutzmann's first post-Grateful Dead musical project was Backbone, a trio with guitarist Rick Barnett and bassist Edd Cook. They released one album, '' Backbone'', in 1998. In 1998, former Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, and Mickey Hart formed a band called the Other Ones, which played a number of shows as part of the Furthur Festival. The band did not play live in 1999. Then, in 2000, Kreutzmann joined The Other Ones. The band, with Kreutzmann, toured in 2000 and 2002. In 2003, they changed their name to The Dead. The Dead played a number of live concerts in 2003, 2004 and 2009. Kreutzmann collaborated with Journey guitarist
Neal Schon Neal (Neil) is a given masculine name and surname of Gaelic and Irish origin. The name is an Anglicisation of the Irish Niall which is of disputed derivation. The Irish name may be derived from words meaning "cloud", "passionate", "victory", "hon ...
, Sy Klopps, Ira Walker, and Ralph Woodson to form the Trichromes in 2002. They released an EP, ''Dice with the Universe'', and an album, '' Trichromes''. On December 17, 2005, he participated in the 17th Annual Warren Haynes Christmas Jam as the drummer for SerialPod, a group which also included
Phish Phish is an American rock band formed in Burlington, Vermont, in 1983. The band is known for musical improvisation, extended jams, blending of genres, and a dedicated fan base. The band consists of guitarist Trey Anastasio, bassist Mike G ...
members Trey Anastasio and Mike Gordon. During 2006, Kreutzmann teamed up with fellow Grateful Dead drummer
Mickey Hart Mickey Hart (born Michael Steven Hartman, September 11, 1943) is an American percussionist. He is best known as one of the two drummers of the rock band Grateful Dead. He was a member of the Grateful Dead from September 1967 until February 19 ...
, Phish bassist Mike Gordon, and former The Other Ones guitarist
Steve Kimock Steve Kimock (born October 5, 1955) is an American rock guitarist. He was a member of San Francisco Bay Area bands Zero and KVHW. His tone and some of his playing approach has been compared to Jerry Garcia, who was a friend of his, and he ha ...
to form the Rhythm Devils. The band features songs from their respective former bands as well as new songs written by Jerry Garcia's songwriting companion Robert Hunter. The Rhythm Devils played their first tour in 2006, which ended at the popular Vegoose festival in
Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vega ...
over the Halloween weekend. In 2008 they released a DVD called ''
The Rhythm Devils Concert Experience ''The Rhythm Devils Concert Experience'' is a 2008 two-disc DVD concert and documentary of the Rhythm Devils 2006 tour, featuring members of the Grateful Dead, Phish, The Other Ones, and Deep Banana Blackout. The name "Rhythm Devils" was originall ...
''. In 2008, Bill Kreutzmann toured the eastern United States with bassist
Oteil Burbridge Oteil Burbridge is an American multi-instrumentalist, specializing on the bass guitar, trained in playing jazz and classical music from an early age. He has achieved fame primarily on bass guitar during the resurgence of the Allman Brothers Ban ...
of the Allman Brothers Band and guitarist Scott Murawski of Max Creek as
BK3 BK3 were an American rock band led by Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann. Kreutzmann formed the band in 2008 with Max Creek guitarist Scott Murawski and Allman Brothers Band bassist Oteil Burbridge. Formation Bill Kreutzmann and Scott Murawsk ...
. In 2009,
Oteil Burbridge Oteil Burbridge is an American multi-instrumentalist, specializing on the bass guitar, trained in playing jazz and classical music from an early age. He has achieved fame primarily on bass guitar during the resurgence of the Allman Brothers Ban ...
was replaced by former
Neville Brothers The Neville Brothers were an American R&B/soul/funk group, formed in 1976 in New Orleans, Louisiana. History The group notion started in 1976, when the four brothers of the Neville family, Art (1937–2019), Charles (1938–2018), Aaron (b. 1 ...
and longtime
Bonnie Raitt Bonnie Lynn Raitt (; born November 8, 1949) is an American blues singer and guitarist. In 1971, Raitt released her self-titled debut album. Following this, she released a series of critically acclaimed roots-influenced albums that incorporated ...
bassist James "Hutch" Hutchinson. Hutchinson had performed with Kreutzmann, Papa Mali and keyboardist Matt Hubbard earlier in the year at a New Year's Eve concert in Haiku on the island of Maui. Some 2009 shows also featured Donna the Buffalo singer/instrumentalist Tara Nevins. In February 2010 the trio played several concerts with Burbridge again assuming the bassist role. On August 2, 2009, Kreutzmann played with Phish during most of the 2nd set at
Red Rocks Amphitheatre Red Rocks Amphitheatre (also colloquially as simply Red Rocks) is an open-air amphitheatre built into a rock structure in the western United States, near Morrison, Colorado, west of Denver. There is a large, tilted, disc-shaped rock behind ...
. Along with other members of The Dead, he also visited the White House and met with President Obama. In 2010, Kreutzmann formed a new band, called 7 Walkers, with guitarist Papa Mali, multi-instrumentalist Matt Hubbard, and bassist Reed Mathis. They toured the southern U.S. in the spring of 2010, with George Porter Jr. playing bass while Mathis toured with Tea Leaf Green. 7 Walkers has recorded a studio album which was released on November 2, 2010. In October 2014, he announced he had formed a new band, called Billy & the Kids, which would begin performing live in December. The other band members are Reed Mathis on bass,
Aron Magner Aron Magner (born April 23, 1976) is a Philadelphia-based musician best known as the keyboardist and founding member of The Disco Biscuits. Magner and The Disco Biscuits have been instrumental in bringing live and studio improvisational, electronic ...
of the Disco Biscuits on keyboards, and Tom Hamilton Jr. of American Babies on guitar and vocals. Kreutzmann's memoir, ''Deal: My Three Decades of Drumming, Dreams, and Drugs with the Grateful Dead'', was published by St. Martin's Press on May 5, 2015. Starting in 2015, Bill Kreutzmann formed Dead and Company with former Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Mickey Hart, with other members including Jeff Chimenti, Otiel Burbridge, and John Mayer. They toured from 2015 to 2019, and in the fall of 2021.


Visual arts

In 1995, Kreutzmann produced a film called ''Ocean Spirit''. The film is a documentary about the six-week expedition that involved a 3,000-mile ocean voyage from San Francisco to the Revillagigedo Islands, 400 miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Kreutzmann is featured in the film and was the executive producer. Wesley C. Skiles, noted underwater filmmaker, wrote and directed the project. "We went with no preconceived notions," says Kreutzmann, "except that we were committed to the concept of nonintrusive interaction. We were seeking a way to go beyond our own boundaries as human beings, to meet with the creatures of the sea on their terms. And I hoped somehow to combine film and music to capture that moment of contact." The film has a strong environmental message and "exquisite photography", wrote John Metzger of the Music Box. Kreutzmann also does work as a visual artist that began in 1993 when he acquired his first computer, a Powerbook 540C with Photoshop installed. Jerry Garcia, already a proficient computer artist, taught Kreutzmann the basics. In 2001, he began releasing limited edition reproductions of his digital artwork. His work can be found at Walnut Street Gallery.


Political activism

On October 29, 2010, Bill Kreutzmann endorsed Proposition 19, which would have legalized marijuana in California. Kreutzmann made the endorsement on the California Marijuana Report radio show. "I smoke marijuana and I'm not a criminal; please vote Yes on 19", Kreutzmann told Eric Brenner, the show's host. "Jerry Garcia would have voted Yes," he added.


Discography

As band leader *'' Backbone'' – Backbone (1999) *''Dice with the Universe'' (EP) – The Trichromes (2002) *'' Trichromes'' – The Trichromes (2002) *'' 7 Walkers'' – 7 Walkers (2010) Grateful Dead Rhythm Devils *'' The Apocalypse Now Sessions: The Rhythm Devils Play River Music'' (1980) *''
The Rhythm Devils Concert Experience ''The Rhythm Devils Concert Experience'' is a 2008 two-disc DVD concert and documentary of the Rhythm Devils 2006 tour, featuring members of the Grateful Dead, Phish, The Other Ones, and Deep Banana Blackout. The name "Rhythm Devils" was originall ...
'' (DVD) (2008) With other artists *''
Blows Against The Empire ''Blows Against the Empire'' is a concept album by Paul Kantner, released under the name Paul Kantner and Jefferson Starship. It is the first album to use the "Starship" moniker, a name which Kantner and Grace Slick would later use for the band Je ...
'' –
Paul Kantner Paul Lorin Kantner (March 17, 1941 – January 28, 2016) was an American rock musician. He is best known as the co-founder, rhythm guitarist, and vocalist of Jefferson Airplane, a leading psychedelic rock band of the counterculture era. He cont ...
and
Jefferson Starship Jefferson Starship is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed in 1974 by a group of musicians including former members of Jefferson Airplane. Between 1974 and 1984, they released eight gold or platinum-selling studio albu ...
(1970) *'' If I Could Only Remember My Name'' – David Crosby (1971) *''James and the Good Brothers'' – James and the Good Brothers, 1971 *'' Powerglide'' –
New Riders of the Purple Sage New Riders of the Purple Sage is an American country rock band. The group emerged from the psychedelic rock scene in San Francisco in 1969 and its original lineup included several members of the Grateful Dead. The band is sometimes referred t ...
(1971) *'' Garcia'' –
Jerry Garcia Jerome John Garcia (August 1, 1942 – August 9, 1995) was an American musician best known for being the principal songwriter, lead guitarist, and a vocalist with the rock band Grateful Dead, which he co-founded and which came to prominence ...
(1972) *'' Graham Nash and David Crosby'' – Graham Nash and David Crosby (1972) *'' Ace'' –
Bob Weir Robert Hall Weir ( ; né Parber, born October 16, 1947) is an American musician and songwriter best known as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. After the group disbanded in 1995, Weir performed with The Other Ones, later known as The Dead ...
(1972) *''
Demon in Disguise ''Demon in Disguise'' is an album by David Bromberg. His second album, it was released by Columbia Records in 1972. It was released as a CD by Wounded Bird Records in 2005. ''Demon in Disguise'' contains some songs that were recorded in the s ...
'' – David Bromberg (1972) *''
The Rowan Brothers ''The Rowan Brothers'' is the eponymous debut studio album by the country rock duo The Rowan Brothers. Track listing # "Hickory Day" # "All Together" # "Best You Can" # "One More Time" # "Lay Me Down" # "Wizard" # "Mama Don't You Cry" # "Gold" # ...
'' –
The Rowan Brothers ''The Rowan Brothers'' is the eponymous debut studio album by the country rock duo The Rowan Brothers. Track listing # "Hickory Day" # "All Together" # "Best You Can" # "One More Time" # "Lay Me Down" # "Wizard" # "Mama Don't You Cry" # "Gold" # ...
(1972) *''Fire Up'' – Merl Saunders (1973) *'' Wanted Dead or Alive'' – David Bromberg (1974) *'' Reflections'' – Jerry Garcia (1976) *''
Texican Badman ''Texican Badman'' is the 1980 release by country rock / bluegrass musician Peter Rowan. Guest musicians include Jerry Garcia (steel guitar), David Grisman (mandolin), Flaco Jimenez (accordion), and Bill Kreutzmann (drums). Four of the songs w ...
'' – Peter Rowan (1980) *'' Livin' the Life'' – The Rowan Brothers (1980) *''A Wing and a Prayer'' – Matt Kelly (1987) *''Retrospective Dreams'' – RJ Fox (1991) *'' Fire Up Plus'' – Merl Saunders (1992) *''Fiesta Amazonica'' – Merl Saunders and the Rainforest Band (1998) *''Live at the Fillmore – Denver'' (DVD) – The String Cheese Incident (2003) *'' Now and Then'' – The Rowan Brothers (2004) *''Out Beyond Ideas'' – David Wilcox and Nance Pettit (2005) *'' The Green Sparrow'' – Mike Gordon (2008) *'' Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years of the Grateful Dead'' (2015) *'' Garcia Live Volume Nine'' – Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders (2017)


References

;General sources *
Bill Kreutzmann biography on Allmusic Bill(s) may refer to: Common meanings * Banknote, paper cash (especially in the United States) * Bill (law), a proposed law put before a legislature * Invoice, commercial document issued by a seller to a buyer * Bill, a bird or animal's beak Pla ...
br>Bill Kreutzmann discography on DeadDisc.com
* ttp://www.stateofmindmusic.com/?entry=251 McKinley, Mike. "Conversation with Bill Kreutzmann", State of Mind Music, May 27, 2008*McNally, Dennis (2002). ''A Long Strange Trip: The Inside Story of the Grateful Dead''. Broadway Books. . *Corbett, Ben
"Grateful Dead Drummer: In the Key of Kreutzmann"
'' Crawdaddy!'', May 22, 2009 (bad link)Copy of interview here
rec.music.gdeadRock and Reel websiteBill Kreutzmann Artwork at Walnut Street Gallery
*Perry, Shawn
"The Bill Kreutzmann Interview"
vintagerock.com


Further reading

*


External links


Bill Kreutzmann
– official website
Grateful Dead
– official website
Community page
– about Bill Kreutzmann {{DEFAULTSORT:Kreutzmann, Bill 1946 births American rock drummers Grateful Dead members Living people Musicians from California Musicians from the San Francisco Bay Area American people of German descent The Other Ones members Dead & Company members Go Ahead (band) members Kingfish (band) members BK3 members 7 Walkers members Billy & the Kids members 20th-century American drummers American male drummers Jerry Garcia Band members