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