I have about 150 albums by Derek Bailey.
I first heard of him in 1995. I think, quietly, his music changed my life.
By 1966, the 36 year old one-time session musician had abandoned tunes altogether to invent a totally new language for the guitar. Derek’s music was based entirely on improvisation and operated outside any pre-existing idiom.
He literally reinvented the instrument.
Derek played with tap-dancers, and poets, and Japanese progressive rock bands, and anyone who sparked his imagination. I met him once, but we communicated mainly by e-mail and letter.
He lived in a little house in Hackney, before finally moving to Barcelona where he was given freedom of the city.
Despite being one of the genuine musical geniuses of the 20th century, Derek was never remotely patronising, describing the most out-there ideas in a bluff Yorkshire burr, and even at its most abstract and opaque, his music resonates with humour and love. Derek’s partner asked me to speak at his funeral last year.
Derek and I had swapped stand-up comedy tapes.
I knew he liked Chic Murray, so I did his routine about going to the doctors.
What can I say? It was a privilege
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
Visualiser1, Twitter
Visualiser1, Twitter
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
John Robins, Comedian
John Robins, Comedian
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Fowkes81, Twitter
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Len Firewood, Twitter
Len Firewood, Twitter
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Bosco239, youtube
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Idrie, Youtube
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Al Murray, Comedian
Al Murray, Comedian
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Keilloh, Twitter
Keilloh, Twitter
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Richard Herring, Comedian
Mpf1947, Youtube
Mpf1947, Youtube
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Jackmumf, Twitter
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Chez, Chortle.com
Chez, Chortle.com
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Foxfoxton, Youtube
Foxfoxton, Youtube
Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
Tres Ryan, Twitter
Tres Ryan, Twitter
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Gabrielle, Chortle.com
Gabrielle, Chortle.com
Peter Ould, Twitter
Peter Ould, Twitter
Mrdavisn01, Twitter
Mrdavisn01, Twitter
Shit Crit, Twitter
Shit Crit, Twitter
World Without End, Twitter
World Without End, Twitter
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
FBC, finalgear.com
FBC, finalgear.com
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
Borathigh5, Youtube
Borathigh5, Youtube
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
Rudeness, Youtube
Rudeness, Youtube
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Rubyshoes, Twitter
Rubyshoes, Twitter
Secretdeveloper, Youtube
Secretdeveloper, Youtube
Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Jamespearse, Twitter
Jamespearse, Twitter
Tokyofist, Youtube
Tokyofist, Youtube
Aiden Hearn, Twitter
Aiden Hearn, Twitter
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
Wharto15, Twitter
Wharto15, Twitter
Joycey, readytogo.net
Joycey, readytogo.net
Contrapuntal, Twitter
Contrapuntal, Twitter
Stuart, Chortle
Stuart, Chortle
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Liam Travitt, Twitter
Liam Travitt, Twitter
98rosjon, Twitter
98rosjon, Twitter
GRTak, finalgear.com
GRTak, finalgear.com
Anon, westhamonline.com
Anon, westhamonline.com
Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Dave Wilson, Chortle.com