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
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Sidsings000, Youtube
Sidsings000, Youtube
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Idrie, Youtube
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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John Robins, Comedian
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Guest1001, Youtube
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
Peter Fears, Twitter
Peter Fears, Twitter
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Bosco239, youtube
Bosco239, youtube
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Keilloh, Twitter
Keilloh, Twitter
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
Wharto15, Twitter
Wharto15, Twitter
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
FBC, finalgear.com
FBC, finalgear.com
Dick Socrates, Twitter
Dick Socrates, Twitter
Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Mpf1947, Youtube
Mpf1947, Youtube
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
Kozzy06, Youtube
Kozzy06, Youtube
Joycey, readytogo.net
Joycey, readytogo.net
Anamatronix, Youtube
Anamatronix, Youtube
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
World Without End, Twitter
World Without End, Twitter
Stuart, Chortle
Stuart, Chortle
Richard Herring, Comedian
Richard Herring, Comedian
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Slothy Matt, Twitter
Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
Contrapuntal, Twitter
Contrapuntal, Twitter
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Secretdeveloper, Youtube
Secretdeveloper, Youtube
GRTak, finalgear.com
GRTak, finalgear.com