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