Derek Shulman (Gentle Giant) Interview Tuesday May 31, 2022

[@jamescpotter]

Gentle Giant was the BEST live band ever! These guys were awesome.

[@hauskahirvi]

When a musician/music enthusiast interviews a musician it usually turns out to be the best kind of interview with depth and substance and with focus on the music. This interview was no exception. A top notch interview of which I greatly enjoyed. Great work Dereck!

[@fusionhar]

Derek and Derek........Nice.....aged 12. The Power and The Glory frazzled my brain and still does!

[@andrewkimber6183]

best live band I ever saw

[@philbell5774]

Thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed this interview. A musician interviewing a musician is a completely different animal than a music journalist doing the interviewing. The latter are mainly just looking for THE line or THE comment as THE headline to sell the publication they work for. I just hope the opportunity arises for you to interview more musicians you admire Dereck as this was fascinating and I felt you 2 guys were comfortable with each other and had an instant rapport.

[@dereckvon]

It was great.

[@mpphotofilm]

Thanks Derek!!! Derek Shulman is prog royalty!

[@vitorrezende9546]

Derek Shulmann. Genious

[@raymondanderson3624]

Just wow... and i love how he used the term "musicologist" for the collectors. Respect!

[@plantagenant]

The stylistic and seemingly overnight change from the relative "easy listening" of Simon Dupree to the progressive sound of Gentle Giant was pretty extraordinary.

[@grahamcole1539]

So good, thank you so much Dereck and Derek! Kites was the first single i ever bought, aged 12, and Gentle Giant were part of my discovery of Progressive music in the 70s. Live, they were indeed great and you could see it was for them as much as us. Grateful thanks to the Shulman Brothers.

[@francoisrehel3743]

Québec vous remercie!

[@sibeex]

Great interview Dereck and thanks Derek for agreeing to chat. That was just a joy to watch!

[@wendellwiggins3776]

I loved GG from the beginning. They moved me in incredible ways. Many songs could have been big hits even during g their complex era. Civilian was a wonderful transition. I saw them in small venues in 74 and 76 and was spellbound GREAT INTERVIEW. GG were a bittersweet group in terms of success. Thank you for saying all the things I would say. As a 70s Black kid into Prog I always felt LUCKY to be aware and into the genre. We had WGTB Georgetown Univ. Hippie Independent College Station to thank for that.

[@michaelpdawson]

Terrific job, Dereck! Thoughtful questions, and I know Derek enjoyed your enthusiasm. Congratulations!

[@ramoncardinali]

Awesome conversation! Love Gentle Giant and Derek! Life changing music.

[@birage9885]

My friend played me Power and the Glory, back in '73. He had these big PA speakers separated in his basement. The syncopated lines were flying back and forth from speaker to speaker. I was immediately impressed, and then when I dug into the music, I was sold I still play that album today, along with their other albums One of my top ten fusion or progressive bands, however you want to classify them There were no weak spots in that band and, Derek was one of the strongest and unique singers ever. I like the fact that the members are true talented musicians, who are humble and don't have any commercial fluff

[@TheVinylverse]

This was really great, Dereck. I hope Derek comes back for another discussion. Gentle Giant are such an important band to me.

[@fabriziocollu5540]

Emozioni ad altissimi livelli nel vedere e sentire un Gigante della Musica.... Fantastico momento con Derek e Derek...Gentle Giant sono UNICI E IRREPETIBILI ♥️

[@pellmj1]

This was brilliant. Didn't think I could retain my focus for 30 minutes, then didn't want it to end . I've wondered if gentle giant have more fans now than they did in the 1970s. Thank you.

[@marcieforrest6658]

Thank you very much for sharing this lovely conversation with of my musical heroes, Dereck.

[@g.gorrell2088]

Perfect questions by the interviewer.

[@stephenboynton9268]

What a delight! I shall look forward to a part 2, hope it comes to fruition 👍🏻

[@SoftwareManiacLSM]

Heard Gentle Giant in 1969 and was blown away with the musicianship. Saw them several times in Germany in the early 70's with my brother Stan Whitaker (who later formed Happy the Man). We got to know the band and even FRANK--the ultimate roadie! Thank you for the interview.

[@dhjdhj]

Formed 1970

[@MattLeGroulx]

I'd love another talk with Derek on his life after Giant.

[@stephenlegg262]

I saw Gentle Giant supporting the film Jimi Plays Berkeley in 1972 in Wales.A great band.

[@ruudswart5354]

Great person. I named my son also Derek after Mr. Schulmann.

[@charleslyall5857]

Great interview. Gentle Giant remain absolutely outstanding. Every time I come back to them I feel as if I’ve come home. They were a huge influence for me as an aspiring musician. They created a culture and milieu of their own. Actually, unique and timeless.

[@JumpJeho]

Some of the greatest music I've ever heard was created by Gentle Giant. Definitely hit a nerve when I discovered their albums. Like most progressive rock, their music seems to appeal to introverts, outsiders and intellectuals.

[@davidcossu4892]

Beautiful coment

[@ssvon72]

this is a marvelous conversation. so glad you both had this opportunity to talk with each other! love you both

[@jimster24]

Absolutely terrific interview Dereck! You’re a natural!! 🙂

[@elfensteen5222]

Thank you Derek & Dereck ! enjoyed this so much one of my all time favorite Bands, grew up listening to all the records from Gentle Giant, I have them all on vinyl and cd dvd and some boxset

[@mfk1673]

Two wonderful guys with inspiring humility. Thank's so much.

[@tinypeas]

WOW! this made my day. Also i really hope GG gets another boxset reissue (2020 boxset is already 1000$ on discogs sadly)

[@dbc7772011]

Great interview! I just listened to Under Construction today… timeless music

[@boebylaybe6477]

Civilian is a damn fine album. Looking forward to the re-release. Really enjoyable interview, thanks!

[@fredackley309]

Great interview. Derek seemed more at ease and personable than I had seen him in previous interviews. Good job.

[@BillsBoxOfSound]

Stellar interview, Dereck! I was enjoying your questions just as much as I was getting off on Derek's answers. I hope you get to speak to him again, that would be fun.

[@thomaswery3087]

I only saw GG once in 1972.Yes was headlining,GG were the backup band and the 3rd band were The Eagles.I fell in love with GG right away just a great prog band.At the end of the night The Eagles were still the 3rd best band

[@vitorrezende9546]

Great Derek Shullman. Genious.

[@paulhart3812]

One of my favorite vocalists!!!

[@cosmicdrifter287]

That was very emotional and it sounds daft but i almost cried from excitement when i saw how awesome this interview with the very nice and obviously highly talented mr Shulman did unfold.I Think you turned me on to the Giant back in the day Dereck and it got me going as far as listening to all of their music over the years.Gg is definitely One of my all time favorite bands ever.So for me this kind of was like coming full circle with you interviewing and sharing your personal listening experience with the band.I also loved how you captured the origins and personal history of the trajectory in a few questions.I think you really got the best out of this and it really worked out marvelously well!Very,very special...

[@danielcox6780]

Wow! What a lovely interview

[@CloseToTheEdge-Prog]

Great interview.

[@markspooner1224]

Wow, brilliant!

[@MrDiddyDee]

Thank you Derek for bringing us this interview of one of my musical heroes. I am so delighted that the band are of late experiencing such a wider global audience than they ever had when they were together. I was lucky enough to see them every time they toured the UK, from their first album onwards. My first encounter of them is still the best gig I ever saw, I was right at the front and totally spellbound, if at times a bit alarmed when all three brothers leapt up at the end of some numbers, I thought they'd go through the stage. I know none are particularly tall guys but their build, and powerful music, really did make you feel they were actual giants. I never met any other fans of the band, only at their concerts. I tried to convert friends, but the music was just too far advanced for most of them, GG were a real musicians band and I guess you had to have an understanding of music at a deeper level to be able to appreciate what they were achieving. As fashions moved on, I really thought they would never get the recognition they clearly deserved, the internet finally brought all those select fans together, and I realised their legacy had not been forgotten.

[@aaronjohnson1305]

Dereck Higgins--- what a great interview by a man who is as passionate about Gentle Giant's work as we are! Thank you. And thank you to Derek Shulman for giving your time. We look forward to part 2.

[@steffischander8289]

I enjoyed this conversation a lot. Thank you very much!

[@riberto123]

thank you so much for creating this video. If there is one weakness at all, it's that I wish it was longer :-). There is hardly a band that has fascinated me as much as Gentle Giant. I was lucky enough to see them once (1975) and I will never forget that wonderful moment.

[@71relayer]

Terrific job Dereck. A lovely interview.very entertaining.thanks

[@tonybigalow3236]

Great interview Dereck

[@benjaminbourke8478]

Enthralling. Loved it. Thanks dereck.

[@djtrishm]

Very good interview Dereck! Thumbs way up! Trish

[@StratsRUs]

Amazing.

[@cbond1c113]

Excellent work Sir Dereck. I would love to see you be able to do more. Really professionally and respectfully handled. Hopefully the news will spread fast, and you will start receiving more offers to do similar work. Priceless!

[@ganazby]

Excellent interview. Glad you brought up ‘Inside Out’, which has always blown me away. The tonalities in that song are amazing - the way it modulates through different modes (Lydian, Phrygian, I think). Hail!

[@kaulassala]

Wow, just found this band a week or so ago and now got this interview. Thank you Dere(c)k!

[@dayglograham62]

That's great to hear, I discovered them 40 years ago and loved them ever since. You have a wonderful voyage ahead of you!

[@sundodger1]

Enjoyable interview. Hopefully more to come. Well done Dereck and Derek!

[@JohnMacRae23]

Fantastic interview Dereck!!! Well done my friend, great questions.

[@frankschneller2627]

Great, Derek. Me being a journalist ... let me say: Cheers, colleague!

[@sspbrazil]

Great interview Derek, Derek is a great guy and I’ve seen quite a few interviews with him in the last few months and I agree that Civilian is a solid and underrated album.

[@tomgutknecht358]

Good vibes :) Thank you

[@lukeizabelle2131]

A really great interview, even better than by some music journalists😀👍

[@WalterSobchak1000]

Loved the interview Dereck, Derek for me fronted the most talented band of my lifetime. All virtuosos

[@mosesgarner2404]

This was wonderful Dereck and VERY informative. You have a knack for interviewing!

[@robarth-meltedcheesehomest4012]

Just a few words, that was a great interview sir! Hoping there will be a sequel!

[@culturefan]

Flew by, thanks for the interview.

[@kevinkirkland4577]

This was great. You're a great interviewer Dereck

[@saschaheusingfeld7239]

Thank you for this wonderful Video ❤

[@exex8215]

This is a most enjoyable conversation. And you are absolutely right, Derek (the interviewer) - Gentle Giant often get into a real groove. It’s complex but funky at times and a lot of fun. I always regarded them as an atypical progressive band, also for the tightness of their compositions and the fact that their music still sounds very fresh. No two albums are the same and they are all consistently good, at least until Interview, which was album number eight. Civilian, and what came later, was an attempt - misguided I felt - to go down a more commercial route but I will give it another try with fresh ears. It’s good to see Gentle Giant being in some ways belatedly “discovered” and getting the appreciation they deserve.

[@exex8215]

That should be Dereck, not Derek…

[@exex8215]

Correction - Civilian was the 11th and last studio album

[@L.E.55472]

Wooow!! This is awesome sooo into this D! ✊🏻✊🏻🎶

[@aspirationsthegentlegiantp5362]

Sharing this with my Facebook group! Great interview!!

[@kerwakt]

What a tremendous opportunity to get insight first hand. Gentle Giant have a great reputation, but not among my personal favorites. Nonetheless, this interview gives honor to your channel. Your past and present involvement as a musician are why I watch nearly every episode you put out. I have commented in some of your live streams (formally as "kerwakt"), but not on the episodes such as this. I hope to interact / comment more often, but I am here primarily to listen and learn from your perspective and experience. Thank you again!

[@nigelcampag1290]

Great interview Dereck....very insightful. Was refreshing for Derek to be open to the idea of hip hop artists sampling their music and accepting that it can be creative. Thank you for this.

[@fabriziocollu5540]

Credo che non esistano degli aggettivi per definire Band, ma soprattutto PERSONE che fanno MUSICA come Derek e tutti o membri dei G.G...Credo inoltre che la dedizione e l impegno ( oltre che la creatività e la capacità tecnica della band) che ha portato Derek & company a scrivere delle opere uniche ,irripetibili e fantastiche senza essersi mai venduti...(come forse altri loro colleghi) rende i Gentle Giant un fenomeno musicale che nn ha eguali. GRAZIE PER TUTTO 🤩

[@davidcossu4892]

Bravo

[@stack_of_records]

Interviewed musicians, designers, writers,... myself in the early 2000s. A good interview is about asking the right questions, deep dive into topics and engaging the person you interview. This elevates the interview. Well done! One person I would like to have interviewed... Frank Zappa.

[@MackeyWilliams]

Wonderful! And bravo, maestro. Great interview questions. And what a lovely man he is. Makes me even more of a fan. Congrats!

[@fishyboots]

WHAT A GIFT 🎁 ! You were so gracious and 1 can hardly balme U! Cheers!

[@andreedowns4561]

YOU ARE VERY SPECIAL 😊 THE POWER IS UNBELIEVABLE ...❤

[@davidhilker5909]

A great interview Dereck and I could tell you enjoyed the experience.

[@LoLavilla82]

Lovely interview, nice to see Dereck Shulman on your channel which Iv been following for a while now, take care, looking forward to more of your stuff !

[@CHEERACCIDENT]

This is beautiful. Thank You.

[@infinite_vortex]

This is incredible! You did a great job, and, with everything you do in life, it came out of a place of honesty and sincerity. Excellent interview and I actually hope that this is the start of a new series or something, I can certainly see you interviewing others!

[@GentleGiant1969]

Fabulous interview!! Thank you!!🙏❤️🙏❤️

[@Claytone-Records]

A double dose of Derek. And they both know what they are talking about, but of course. This was a bit of a surprise. Truly engaging.

[@thimble288]

Really neat

[@johnvalencia9927]

Tew Weeks in Spaiyn is Nawt Enough!

[@ytnsanw]

Great interview, but I'm a little surprised that you - being a bass player - did not explore the extraordinary bass playing of (brother) Ray Shulman. Surely one of THE most under-rated bass players ever...

[@dereckvon]

I may talk to Ray soon. I have not been focused on bass as a listener.

[@usergently]

That was fantastic. Thank you!.

[@croiners4166]

Wow!

[@darbacon1]

Great job on the interview! Hope you are able to do more interviews. Cheers ☕️

[@FundamentalsUK]

Thanks the two Derek’s 🤘🏻great interview

[@craigsmallman1035]

Lovely video 👍

[@leegaskins5506]

Derek, thank you for setting up and having this interview. I'm a big GG fan, but also through all your videos, and passion for this non-mainstream genre, I have become an admirer of what you do, and how you give a unique perspective to creative and musician-driven music. Be well and safe! Best wishes.

[@Daniel-um9ye]

Thank you for this interview.

[@Phonographies]

This is so great Mr. Dereck (Higgins I mean). Thank you to you both Dere[c]ks. Montréal vous remercie.

[@jamestejada3673]

Thanks for posting this.

[@jamestejada3673]

Sad about Ray's passing.

[@colinbenfield326]

Amazing thanks. Had no idea he went to the same school as my father.

[@christophekuhl7075]

von anfang an geliebt

[@danburnes722]

Great interview Dereks!

[@brucybabyy7355]

absolutely.

[@mansmernsten7925]

Love this!!