Bill Bruford, one of the best drummers in progressive rock, was a pioneer in the use of electronic drums. He played a hybrid kit on the three albums that saw King Crimson return to active duty in the 1980s (Discipline, Beat, and Three of a Perfect Pair) and became something of a brand ambassador for Simmons, the company behind the most popular electronic percussion.
It was Bruford's workshops at the popular NAMM trade show in Chicago that saw retailers across the US sign up to sell the kits, and in December 1985 he appeared on the BBC TV show Micro Live, a series designed to help viewers develop computer literacy, and demonstrated what the drums could do.
