William Rieflin

Bill Rieflin
Bill Rieflin playing drums live with R.E.M.
Background information
Birth name	William Rieflin
Born	(1960-09-29) September 29, 1960 (age 56) Seattle, Washington
Genres	Industrial rock, experimental metal
Occupation(s)	Drummer
Instruments	Drums, keyboards, guitar
Associated acts	Ministry, R.E.M., Revolting Cocks, KMFDM, Pigface, Nine Inch Nails, King Crimson

William Frederick "Bill" Rieflin (born September 29, 1960) is an American musician.

Rieflin came to prominence in the 1990s for his work mainly as a drummer with many notable groups in the industrial rock, experimental metal and related genres, including Ministry, the Revolting Cocks, Lard, KMFDM, Pigface, Swans, Chris Connelly, and Nine Inch Nails. He worked regularly with R.E.M. following the retirement of Bill Berry in 1997. He is currently a member of King Crimson.

Rieflin began his professional career in his hometown of Seattle. In 1975, he was in The Telepaths, a band which played backup for a couple of live gigs by the pre-The Screamers band The Tupperwares. He played drums for The Blackouts starting in 1979. His bandmates included his brother Raymond, Paul Barker, Roland Barker and Erich Werner. Eventually that band dissolved and Paul Barker joined the nascent Ministry. Rieflin's earliest collaboration with Al Jourgensen was on the second single by the Revolting Cocks, You Often Forget. Later, he participated in the creation of Ministry's ground-breaking album The Land of Rape and Honey. He was noted for his performance in the live video In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up (Live) (alongside fellow drummer Martin Atkins). His work with Ministry and its side projects lasted through to the mid-Nineties, though he notes that he was never credited as a member of Ministry proper, always as an "other" musician. Therefore, when he parted ways with the band during the Filth Pig sessions, he did not really quit since he was never an official member.