Subject: Derek Brimstone has retired From: Big Al Whittle Date: 30 May 07 - 04:54 PM Derek phoned me tonight and he has asked to announce his retirement from gigging to all his friends and colleagues on Mudcat. Derek said, "Its very sad, but I've had a long run - over forty years as a professional folksinger. I will still be popping up doing local floorspots and if anybody gives me a run in their car to a festival, I'll be there just for the craic. However if my blood pressure suddenly shoots up to something dangerous when I'm on the road miles from home - miles from the gig well its not fair to the organiser, and I'll perhaps be a long way from an A &E dept. So retirement, it has to be." For those who didn't experience Derek Brimstone - Derek is one of the most influential and talented artists ever produced by the English folk club scene. He started his professional career in a folkgroup which had Maddy Prior as the lead vocalist. Apparently it was Maddy who recognised Derek's talents as a raconteur. In the 1960's he was only one of three English artists to be signed by the prestigious Fontana record label, and he was voted Best Folk Instrumentalist at Cambridge Folk Festival. His instruments are guitar and banjo. For the next four decades he was ubiquitous on the English club and festival scene. He toured many countries Australia, the Gulf, much of Europe and much of Africa. Ralph McTell on his website tells of Derek's encouragement that got him to add an extra verse to Streets of London. All the major folk comedians of the 1970's (Harding, Carrot and Connolly) at one time or another have claimed Brimstone as an important influence. Brimmo's repertoire spanned all kinds of songs. He said in an interview with Colin Irwin in Melody Maker that he worshipped Rambling Jack Elliot and Jeremy Taylor. But his repertoire also contained items from French chanson, traditonal material form the Copper family, guitar insrumentals, Blues, comic songs like She Loved a Portuguese and the cream of contemporary songwriters - Mike Chapman, Jackson C Frank, McTell, and John Martyn. He was in short a 'very parfait minstrel'. All Derek's albums are available from Woven Wheat. He wrote two volumes of autobiography. The first one dealing with his childhood in London's East End; the second about his life as a musician. Derek asked me to be nice about him in this statement, and I hope I have been, for he's a nice man. And he knows I can be a bit of an arsehole. He also says that he would all his old friends to keep in touch - so please to give him a ring or an e-mail every now and then! Well done Derek! all the best Big Al Whittle |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: Dave Sutherland Date: 30 May 07 - 05:03 PM A brilliant performer and still sharp as a needle when I last saw him a couple of years ago. I hope that he enjoys a long and happy retirement. |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: The Sandman Date: 30 May 07 - 05:47 PM thankyou Derek for all the laughter, music and pleasure you have given me ,DickMiles |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: Herga Kitty Date: 30 May 07 - 07:06 PM Nobody's as old as Derek Brimstone And Derek will be here when we are gone He once said - he's not a liar - he saw Man inventing Fire But he never thought to put the banjo on. (Les Barker, Vodabone) Derek came one year with us on the Flanders Experience to Poperinge - he's very knowledgeable about WW1, too. Best wishes for happy retirement. Kitty |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: Mick Tems Date: 30 May 07 - 07:27 PM Thank you, Derek. Best wishes for a happy one, and may it be everlasting. |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: Maryrrf Date: 30 May 07 - 10:44 PM I have booked Derek into clubs ,jammed with him at festivals , and sat and nattered - though I mostly listened when I drove Diz to a Johnny Silvo gig and found Derek there as well . I just wish him a long and conented retirement . |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: Leadfingers Date: 30 May 07 - 11:01 PM Ooops !! That was me , not the delightful Ms Smih ! |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: Bugsy Date: 31 May 07 - 12:16 AM Good luck "Big Del" I hope you and "Lady Brimstone have a wonderful retirement in the mansion on Lynn Way. Luv ya both! Bugsy. |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: Lanfranc Date: 31 May 07 - 04:06 AM Del called me to tell me of his decision to retire. I was sorry to hear it, but not surprised, this ageing business sucks! I last saw him play at Breezy's club in Storbans a few months back, and he was in great form, but access to the upstairs room in the uneponymous Comfort Inn obviously gave him momentary problems. The first time I met Del was in 1966, when we booked him for the club I helped run in Clacton, and we have been mates ever since. He was always a source of long-suffering encouragement, watching him play improved my clawhammer technique, and we have had many a laugh over the years. In return, I was glad to be able to help him to rescue the first volume of his autobiography from a non-standard word processor package when the computer it was on gave up the ghost. I'm lucky, he lives not far away from me, so I will still be able to see him, hopefully both socially and on his occasional forays into local folk clubs. There is also a reasonable chance that I may be able to tempt him up to Ashwell (which is only a couple of exits up the A1 from Hemel) in November. Take it easy, Del, old mate, look after Jeannie and have a long and fruitful retirement - you've earned it! Alan |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: nickp Date: 31 May 07 - 04:36 AM They're sensible reasons to take a back seat but there's plenty of us around who will always chuckle at some of his stories! Best wishes to you Derek. Nick |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: Rasener Date: 31 May 07 - 04:45 AM All the best Derek, even if you didn't make it to Faldingworth this year. :-) Look after yourself and I hope they get you sorted and that you have a very nice retirement. Les Worrall |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: skipy Date: 31 May 07 - 04:47 AM Out of the blue yesterday I told the "Cohen dead, Volvo for sale" joke! Enjoy it Derek, you earned it! Skipy |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: scouse Date: 31 May 07 - 04:48 AM So farewell to a great,great musician. All the best to you Derek in your retirement. I'll never forget the time you stopped in the middle of a song in Southend to shout "A'right Scouse, good to see ya!" All eyes turned and as I was was sitting in the middle of the room I had no where to hide!!! That was around 1980 and I had not seen him for a good ten years.What a man!! As Aye, Phil. |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: MoorleyMan Date: 31 May 07 - 09:08 AM What an entertainer! One who's given me so much pleasure over the years. The news is regrettable but understandable, so I join the rest of yous in wishing Brimmo the happiest of times in retirement; after all the hard graft he sure deserves that much. But yes I still plan to keep in touch and send him an email from time to time. Good luck mate, and look after yerself! |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: Ned Ludd Date: 31 May 07 - 09:57 AM All the best Derek. Enjoy your retirement. If yer ever near the Wheel in golcar...pop in! Dave. |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: BanjoRay Date: 31 May 07 - 10:35 AM Have a great retirement Derek. Why not come and play some banjo at our Old Time summer camp in August? Just playing music for fun with a bunch of like-minded people.... better than working. Ray |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: Betsy Date: 31 May 07 - 12:41 PM If you don't love Derek - you don't love life , one of life's brilliant performers, warm personality ,all-round bloody good lad , and a great Dad, and Husband. One Southerner that EVERY Northerner definitely loves. F*ck me Derek !!!! I hope this doesn't sound like an Obit.and that you get round, and do as much as you want to do ,when you want to do it. Also ,enjoy the golf!!!! Great and good man. Cheers Betsy . |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: breezy Date: 01 Jun 07 - 05:20 AM so whens the comeback tour then? crafty cockney how much does he want for his guitar, banjo? I always admired his timing, his frayling and him calling me fuhrer!!! I advised an American in England wanting banjo lessons to go to Derek, He went, didnt learn much but had a great time. A wonderful example of how to entertain and empart culture, maybe its time for Vin Garbutt to take over the mantle. |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: synbyn Date: 01 Jun 07 - 06:02 PM Yea, all the best from Skynflynt- we all had a ball down at Broadstairs one time- and just have to think of the tank joke to laugh out loud... no crap & one of the great entertainers |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: guitar Date: 02 Jun 07 - 03:36 AM I thought he was great when he came to the Irvine Folk club, I thought that guy was mental (loony) but he had a strange look at the world. |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: GUEST,The Derby Ram Date: 02 Jun 07 - 04:53 AM Aye - good onyer Del - you have been and still are, a world beater and a national treasure. I/we owe you much. Enjoy your retirement in the sound knowledge that...you did the job! Play on... KK |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: guitar Date: 02 Jun 07 - 05:22 AM and when you die may the skin of your bum not be used for a banjo |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: Dave4Guild Date: 02 Jun 07 - 05:27 AM Enjoy your retirement, Derek, you've earned it. You have done so much, for so many, for so long, and always with a smile! Dave Bennett |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: GUEST,Dr Price Date: 02 Jun 07 - 06:09 AM All the best, Derek - enjoy your retirement! |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: folkwaller Date: 02 Jun 07 - 03:22 PM I first saw Derek in Bury St Edmunds. What a wonderful artist. He played his civil war triad on his banjo. Being only a few years his junior and a relative novice, I aproached him after the performance and asked if he would give me some instruction. 'Yes mate' he said and gave me his telephone number. I went to Hemel Hempstead and had a delightful afternoon in the conpany of a legend. He had all the time in the world for me. No rush, no ' your hours up ' 'give us your money' Magic. Thanks Derek. 'Colonel Bead Knife ' Are you sure that was his name ' Can I come again. Enjoy the time Derek. Thanks again. |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: GUEST,Brimmo Date: 03 Jun 07 - 10:00 AM Let me thank all you lovely people for all the nice things that you've written. Very much appreciated. I will still be doing floor spots at the fairly adjacent folk clubs, and intend to attend the odd festival - if I can blag a couple of tickets and get someone to drive me. I also intend to make a CD - possibly two - of chat and jokes and suchlike that I can take off of dozens of cassettes and CDs that people have sent me that they've recorded live at my gigs over the last 40 years. A few weeks ago for instancem somebody sent me a CD of a reel-to-reel tape that they'd recorded at the Pipers in Cornwall in 1968. There was a great song on it called 'Long old Summertime' which I'd forgotten about, and which I thought was rather good. Then I realised that I'd written it. Silly old sod. But there are also dozens of jokes which I'd forgotten about too. I also intent to make a singing CD, as I've always been very lazy on the recording front, and I have plenty of songs which I performed regularly which I haven't recorded. So there's a little life in the old dog yet. Thanks again, and love to all. Derek. |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: old girl 1 Date: 03 Jun 07 - 06:52 PM Thank you for all the years of enjoyment you have given us, have a great retirement, you will be missed at Newport folk club. rose |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: George Papavgeris Date: 04 Jun 07 - 03:02 AM Thanks Derek - and I hope you enjoy a long and happy retirement, you have certainly earned the right. |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: GUEST,Warwick Slade Date: 04 Jun 07 - 02:30 PM I guess I can now use all Derek's material and jokes. I did anyway Best of luck and thanks for giving us your time. |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: The Sandman Date: 04 Jun 07 - 02:44 PM Well FolkWaller,I used to run BURYstEDMUNDS folk club, I remember booking Derek,butI would say It was Colin Snell that booked him first.Derek always gave a great night,Thanks Derek.Dick Miles |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: The Vulgar Boatman Date: 04 Jun 07 - 05:03 PM Synbyn - you just had to be there. Along with "Cor...look at all them kids. 'Ere, little girl, bugger off". Falling about over that just this weekend. What more can one say? Keep yer bum to the sun Mr Brimstone, and a long and happy retirement. |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: Bugsy Date: 05 Jun 07 - 07:25 AM you can blame Derek for me putting my ugly mug on the Australian folk scene. Del, I hope that I can afford t get back to Stevenage before you cark it so we can go out for a good old "Ruby" again. Luv Pete "Bugsy" Bugden Ps Annie, Matt & Naomi send all their luv to you and Jeannie. XXXX |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: Big Al Whittle Date: 06 Jun 07 - 06:28 AM refresh |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: GUEST,SteveP Date: 06 Jun 07 - 06:46 AM Derek was responsible for a line which I can still hear him saying, twenty-odd years later. At the Wath-on-Dearne festival, early 1980s, he was performing in the main concert hall. As is often the case, a few kids were getting restless, with one in particular whining and bawling every few minutes. Derek stopped mid-song and just said "Shut that kid up before I murder it". Much laughter, huge round of applause, and end of problem. |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: GUEST,Shehzad Abbas Date: 26 Nov 11 - 11:20 AM Hi there Alan Remember me .We recorded 'the song remains the same' at your house many years ago.And we listened to a lot of Dereks stuff.Let me know if this thread is still active and you received it.You can contact me at shezabbas@hotmail.com |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: Brian May Date: 26 Nov 11 - 12:30 PM Thanks for the fun Derek. Especially thanks for a lovely half hour or so chat last year when you told me the story of how you got your CDs. All this and the CD for a tenner - priceless. The material was much as I remember it from 1969 and made me chuckle - again. I'm so glad that you can retire rather than it be forced upon you. You guys (I'm thinking particularly of Johnny S here) have given so much entertainment whilst you earned your living, it would be nice if you got a nice chunk of payback. You too, made my life a better place - I thank you for that. |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: Brian May Date: 26 Nov 11 - 02:57 PM Ooops, didn't look at the date on the original post. Derek had already retired when we chatted. Nevertheless, what a charming man and he still entertains me with his CD. Have fun |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: Big Al Whittle Date: 27 Nov 11 - 06:18 AM Nice to hear from you Shehzad. As I remember the song didn't remain the same, after you got your hands on it! Anyway, lovely to hear from you. al |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: GUEST,dunelmian Date: 27 Nov 11 - 08:41 AM Have a long and happy retirement Derek. Still remember you compering a concert at Durham City Folk Festival and introducing Martin Carthy with "I've known Martin since he was putting the fart into spirit levels!" |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: GUEST,aussie john geelong Date: 06 Dec 11 - 03:34 AM What's going on mate ?.. musicians never retire they just take a break. I still enjoy the tapes and cd's you sent; hope you got mine. Although belated best wishes for a long and happy future. regards john |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: GUEST,Sylvie Date: 23 Jul 12 - 03:10 AM Resurrecting this thread - does anybody know if author Dougie Brimson is Derek's son? |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: Bugsy Date: 23 Jul 12 - 03:49 AM Yes. Cheers Bugsy |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: Big Al Whittle Date: 23 Jul 12 - 04:00 AM he is. Greg, Steve,Bobby and Doug. |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: GUEST,Sylvie Date: 23 Jul 12 - 08:28 AM Thanks, folks. I had been wondering because of the difference in surname - Brimson v Brimstone. |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: GUEST,Charles Macfarlane Date: 23 Jul 12 - 10:04 AM Been so out of touch, and have only just discovered this thread. I have seen Del many times, and booked him also, and, no matter how down I was when I went to the gig, I always came back from it with laughter in my soul. And then there was his playing and singing ... Thanks Derek for the hilarious take on life, the universe, and everything. I still think one of the best ever was: "Children are like farts, you don't mind your own, but you can't stand anyone else's!" |
Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone has retired From: GUEST,vectis sans cookie Date: 23 Jul 12 - 12:21 PM Just seen this thread must have been away when it first came up. I hope you are enjoying the start of a long and happy retirement mate. See you around sometime. BUGGER! Now who do I book?? |
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