Derek Brimstone

Subject: Derek Brimstone
From: Mugwump
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 11:29 AM

What's derek Brimstone like?

He's appearing as a at The Tudor Barn onb 29th January

I've never heard of him.

See FolkMob

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: OBM
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 11:38 AM

He's one of the funniest people on the planet, and is probably the best joke teller I've ever heard. It's always amazed me that he never got picked up for mainstream TV as he'd be perfect. Oh, he's a decent musician too...you'll have a good night on the 29th.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: My guru always said
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 11:43 AM

Oh you must go! An evening with Derek, what fun :-)

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Mugwump
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 12:18 PM

I'm converted already!

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: breezy
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 12:22 PM

you must be very young
He's a decrpit old man who cant play the banjo yet alone a guitar.
He smokes.
He moves very slowly.
He waffles between songs.
He's got a lovely wife.
He got moved from the east-end cos it was full and hemel hempstead wasnt even invented.
Your best bet is to stay in and watch the tele cos you wont like him.
If you support a charity then 'Help the aged ' is a good one, so then you can count your experience of seeing the original 'Del-boy' as your contribution.
Dont come to see him at St.Albans either.
Ah shix Ive booked him twice for this year, June and November,oi Hil, bring the tissues cos I'll be laughing off me chair.
He's too good for your gaff.
Tell him hello from me.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Bullfrog Jones
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 12:34 PM

I saw him when I was at school 30+ years ago and he was great. Then I saw him a couple of years ago and he was even better!

BJ

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: breezy
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 01:13 PM

B-J, admit it, you were pissed and you thought it was Alex Campbell with a cockney accent.
Please dont go building up hopes with a load of ...bull.
Hope your rehearsing for your appearance at the St Albans club 7th Feb.
Like you, Derek appreciates a good song, even if he cant stand the composeur.
He does a decent version of Les Barker,s 'turtle' at least he communicates, which is quite a feat at his age.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Cllr
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 01:33 PM

Brimo is brill, where is the Tudor Barn ? if its close enough I will go along.Cllr

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Mr Red
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 03:13 PM

Tells jokes that have the punchline whistling past your ear about a 500 milliseconds before you realise the joke has finished.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 03:31 PM

My favourite of his was the tale pf his grandaughter winning first prize in the unusual pet contest with a tin of sardines...;-)

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: vectis
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 05:25 PM

If you miss him at the TB come and see him on March 28th at Seaford, near Lewis, Sussex.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 05:37 PM

Cross Les Barker with Jethro (West country "comedian") and you've got Brimo.

Hysterical. Be grateful I won't be there.

LTS

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Leadfingers
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 07:55 PM

They've said it all already.Derek is a lovely bloke and an old mate.
I dont think I have EVER seen him do a bad gig,though some have been a bit better than others.Have a good evening and tell him i said Hi.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 07:59 PM

Wonderful performer, ssuperb guitar plaayer, funniest man on the folk scene, but don't expect a seminar in political correctness ....

Murray

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: CraigS
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 08:07 PM

I think he's very good (he told me to say that).

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Bugsy
Date: 14 Jan 03 - 09:09 PM

I often wondered why he never got the breaks that the likes of Jasper Carrott and Billy Connolly got. He's every bit as good as them.


Please tell him that Peter from Perth Western Australia sends his warmest regards to him and Lady Brimstone.

Cheers


Bugsy

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: alanabit
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 02:47 AM

It's a long time since I saw him. Yes, he is a good guitar player and very funny.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 04:42 AM

Example of Brimo's taste in political correctness:

"I got this song from an old spade woman whats croaked it now."

Great performer - Linda and I will definitely be there.

LtS - you can come if you wear a gag - otherwise we'd all have to wear earplugs and wouldn't be able to hear Derek.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Skipper Jack
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 05:54 AM

Oh yes. You will enjoy!

He performed at the Gower Folk Festival a couple of years ago.
For an old fart - he is brilliant!

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: mooman
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 07:56 AM

Perhaps I am alone here but I found some of his rather racist and sexist jokes rather annoying (although it's a good 12 or 13 years since I last saw him and maybe he's changed a little since then). Good singer and guitarist though.

moo

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 08:28 AM

See Derek as a double header with Les Barker at the Turks Head in Lincoln on 23rd February. You may need reinforced foundation garments.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: The Admiral
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 11:02 AM

And if Lincoln's a bit far for you or you think Les and Derek might be too much for the weak bladdered, Derek's returning to Maidenhead Folk Club in June. A slick performer, understated but very clever guitar style, an esoteric repertoire and links that get you everytime! His book (about growing up in the East End during the war)is worth a read as well!

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Dave Wynn
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 11:29 AM

I endorse the comments about his being a superb performer and add that he has written a superb book on his early life and teens in the east end and during his national service days. It's a very good read. It's called "Till I was Twenty" and as funny as (in parts) as his live performance.

Spot

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: breezy
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 02:00 PM

How do you spell 'frayling'?
Cos he is and very few 'ave mentioned he does it on a banjo.
***king good times ahead and with Les!
he tells a good tale of the two of them in Hong Kong.
Ask him what he thinks of Harvey, but dont tell Harvey.
Calls a spade a spade.
Good on the 'old man gags' like you can walk down the road with your flies undone, people say 'Oh thats all right, he's old'
Hear him about the violence in the street.
I asked him if I could record him, he let me,what a nice guy,the women love him.
Sit near the front cos he sits to perform,always has and if there is no stage he dissappears, and you have to be able to hear him or you miss the one-liners.
Mooman, it sounds like your not on the wavelength, you are alone ,goodbye.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: mooman
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 05:42 PM

Thank you for your kind words Breezy. We are all still entitled to our opinion on this forum as far as I'm aware without being invited to go away. I don't remember being rude to you.

Regards,

mooman

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Lanfranc
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 06:54 PM

Derek has been a friend and an inspiration to me for more years than I care to mention. A genuine and very funny man, who has not had the breaks his talents deserve. Both volumes of his autobiography are hilarious - you can hear him as you read!

See him, if you ever get the chance, then buy the books and CD to cheer you up whenever you need it. Should be available on the NHS.

Alan

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 07:10 PM

Aaaah yes , the Gower Festival. Wonderful setting, like a miniature Stonehenge.

I was lucky enough to see Del there six or seven years ago.Bill Caddick was there that year too, first time I'd seen him.

I remember helping Derek change his guitar strings. He didn't have anything to pull the pins out with , I had to lend him a pair of pliers. He belongs to the "wind fifty times around the string post"
school. I tried to explain the Martin philosophy of folding the string back on itself to provide automatic self locking. I think he thought I was mad .....

Even off stage he is the funniest person I have ever met.

Murray

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: GUEST,Bill
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 08:59 PM

Tell him all the best from Bill and Fred at Newport. He's just brilliant.
Thanks Bill (the sound)

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 05:14 AM

Well Lanfranc, are we going to see you on the 29th ? You know how to get to the Tudor Barn - so no excuses.

The same goes for any other Brimo fans. The Tudor Barn is near Eltham Station (Connex SE - from Charing +, Waterloo East, London Bridge, or DLT from Lewisham), and just off the A2 near Blackwall Tunnel.

Let's see you all there.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: My guru always said
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 05:40 AM

I've read his first book & his second one 'I'm Glad I Practised' is nearing the top of my 'to read' pile. He's got a way (away?) with words! Really worth reading :-)

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Schantieman
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 05:44 AM

Breezy: I think it's 'frailing'. Sara Gray is a fine exponent.

Mooman: If you find his jokes annoying, you don't have to listen.

All: Wish I could get there - it's a bit far to come from Liverpool! Does he ever come oop north? Saw him at a festival last year - first time for ages - brilliant! (and, come to think of it, not much that was racist). Very laid back, funny and entertaining.

Steve

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Mr Red
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 11:48 AM

I lived with a lass who didn't like Derek - and his vocabulary - each to their own - I moved on. She didn't like Martin Carthy either. I rest my opinions there.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: John J
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 12:46 PM

It sounds like this guy's a bit good. Anybody know if and when he's venturing up to Manchester?

John

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: breezy
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 01:04 PM

too wet for him.
Sorry mooman, but Derek wouldnt put it that way.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Sooz
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 01:35 PM

A poem about Derek by Les Barker: (with Les' permission - hope Derek doesn't mind)

I have catalogued my friends and my relations;
Through their characters there runs a common thread.
It seems that everyone I know today is younger;
I knew some people who were older but they're dead.

I have wandered my address book and it strikes me
If I can't recall their death, I knew their birth;
Among my elders there is only one survivor;
He saw tyrannosaurus walk the earth:

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.

Each day it seems more bits of me don't work;
Each day it seems I'm coming more untied;
My waist has been misplaced; I can't make hay, I can't make haste;
I knew some people who were older but they died.

Derek knew the mighty redwood as a sapling;
Derek knew the artist later known as Prince.
He knew King Harold when alive in the year 1065
But he hasn't seen a lot of Harold since.

Nobody's as old as Derek Brimstone;
He pre-dates Charlie Chaplin by a mile;
Not many had the chance to see Wilson and Keppel dance,
But Derek.......... he was Betty for a while.

I have seen on film the first Wembley Cup Final;
Derek, it would seem, was at the game;
Some say that Derek knew Lloyd George's father;
Some say they're in fact one and the same.

Noah, it is said, sent forth a budgie;
"Tell me where the drier patches are."
It returned and told the chief, in tones of total disbelief;
"I've just seen an old bloke with a guitar."

Nobody's as old as Derek Brimstone;
He doesn't fade away; he's marching on.
Gloria Gaynor may survive, but Derek too will be alive,
And asking:"Gloria; where's everybody gone?"

Long before Caruso sang, when syne was neither auld nor lang,
Around the time West Ham last won the Cup,
They say Sir Isaac Newton rang for Del's advice on the Big Bang
And Derek answered "It was loud; it woke me up."

When God was getting on with Eden Project number one,
Derek was around, you understand;
He came early on the scene - he's in Genesis, twelve, eighteen -
Which was long before Phil Collins joined the band.

Nobody's as old as Derek Brimstone;
He recalls the bow and arrow and the spear,
The wheel, the flood, Prince Albert and the dodo,
And when all of us have gone, he'll still be here.

I'm looking forward to seeing them both at Lincoln even more now!

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: breezy
Date: 17 Jan 03 - 12:42 PM

and on that note,happy new year Derek.
Catch 'im if you can, so you can say you saw and heard him, even if you dont believe what you see and 'ear.
Sit near the front.
Fri 6th June Comfort |Hotel St. Albans, Herts., Eng. on the tourist trail, he probably helped to build the Abbey, but Les missed that and he's there the week before! mmmmm

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Mugwump
Date: 17 Jan 03 - 12:54 PM

No need to wait 'til June. You can see Derek at one of the best folk venues in the country on 29th January at FolkMob Acoustic Music Club The Tudor Barn, Well Hall Pleasuance, Eltham. LONDON SE9 - ONLY £4 entry

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Roxanne
Date: 17 Jan 03 - 01:21 PM

Seen him a few time, excellent entertainer, but, and i say this with tonge in cheek, each time i saw him he used the same stuff, so very funny maybe, but it can wear a bit thin after a while. Still having said that, take your hankie cause he will have you in tears. The first one is alway the best.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Marion in Cornwall
Date: 17 Jan 03 - 01:54 PM

For those in the far south-west, Derek is at Wotter, The Moorland Hotel,on Sunday Feb 23rd.at 8.00pm.

Marion

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jan 03 - 06:29 PM

Brilliant. quite a character. Ladies beware if you get into a cuddle with him!!

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Boab
Date: 18 Jan 03 - 02:25 AM

Last heard Derek live around 40 [f-o-r-t-y!] years ago in Hexham. Does he still pack his family around with him?

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 29 Jan 03 - 11:58 AM

Don't forget that the legendary DEREK BRIMSTONE is appearing tonight at "The Tudor Barn", Eltham.

He should even be able to eclipse last week's double act of RHONA & KENNINGHAM.

BTW Les Barker doesn't usually get things wrong, but I can't find any reference to Brimstone in Genesis 12:18. The earliest reference that I can find in the Bible is Genesis 19:24 where he visits Sodom and Gomorrah (true) - it was the just sort of place that would book him.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: BanjoRay
Date: 29 Jan 03 - 12:12 PM

Derek Brimstone has just joined FOAOTMAD, since I told him about it at a gig he did in Doncaster. He's a fine Old Time banjo player in addition to the rest of his talents. Maybe we'll get to see him at the
Gainsborough Old Time Festival.
Cheers
Ray

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 30 Jan 03 - 04:27 AM

Brimmo did a great night at "The Tudor Barn" Eltham - wonderful to see him again.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: breezy
Date: 30 Jan 03 - 05:23 PM

Book now for the 6th June at St Albans, lucky it didnt snow yesterday then cos Hemel's been cut off, at last.
Derek has read all this but he's too stuck up to put one in 'imslf miserable ole FOAOTOAD
The 6th June, 2003, summer time, Brimmo in khaki shorts and a knotted 'ankie, deckchair at the ready.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 06:55 AM

Pity St Albans isn't !

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Brimmo
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 08:07 AM

I really must thank you all for the nice things that you've written. Very gratifying, and it's done my old heart good. But take no notice of Breezy - he's mad. Hemel is all snowed in. It's a white hell out there. I'm just going out for a paper - I might be gone for some time...................

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Schantieman
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 08:18 AM

OK Derek - now we've got you here.....

I sing a song, and I can't remember whether I pinched it from you or John Foreman! It's The Westminster Rat Catcher's Daughter. One of yours? If so (or even if not) do you know who wrote it? It sounds like a music hall song.

Cheers!

Steve

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Trevor
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 08:34 AM

Have a look here for a bit more.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 09:41 AM

The Ratcatcher's daughter is a music hall song - It doesn't appear to be in the DT - and at the moment the Forum search facility isn't working. I'm sure that there was a thread on it earlier this year.

John Foreman knows it, and if you really want to get hold of him, PM me and I'll let you have his phone number.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: MMario
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 09:56 AM

Levy has sheet music

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: breezy
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 01:14 PM

the newsagents is open on Holywell Hill tonight opposite the Comfort Hotel Derek, well done my son,welcome to the assylum, ignore Bryant or do what we done, move norf, then norf a bit more.
dont you feel sorry for eltum too?

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: harvey andrews
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 02:53 PM

Breezy you're a real shit stirrer aren't you? I won't give you or anyone else my opinion of Brimmo, except to say that once in Northern Ireland he nearly got both of us shot in a stationary car.The book is excellent as are his performances.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Sliding Down The Bannister At My Auntie's House
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 07:27 PM

Derek Brimstone was great at the Tudor Barn on Wednesday - but wow! The main act, Dave "The K" Kenningham was unbelievable!!! Even Brimmo was knocked out by the sheer talent of the bald headed one.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: breezy
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 07:54 PM

Thats what happens to a lot of banjo players Harvey,guess thats why you two didnt become a double act.
Bring your own shovel and stir well.
See you on the 20th June at snorbens.
Weather hit us tonight, only 10 regs plus 2 off the street,and they stayed till the end at 11.30.
But a very good evenings entertainment it was.
Mike Sparks was as bright as a button.
El Greko was emotional.
Hilary was great in a scots dialect.
Piers was too bloody intelligent.
I pulled it together.
Never mind the weather.
Now where can I do some more stirring?
Must be mad, I've booked Brimmo twice for this year!!

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Sliding Down The Bannister At My Auntie's House
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 07:58 PM

Wha?

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Brimmo
Date: 02 Feb 03 - 07:57 AM

Hello Schantieman,
                  Reference 'The Ratcatcher's Daughter'. No, I never did sing that one. There was a time, when I was starting out on my career, just before the First World War, when I intended to do the 'cockney' bit, an incredibly rich, ethnic seam of folk music, but then I heard John Foreman (who's even older than me). I figured that there was only room for one, especially one so incredibly good at it, so I went in a different direction. What's happened to John? Where is he? I've heard nothing of him for years. Indeed, is he still with us?
   I've always found it strange that apart from the superb Cozmetheka, I can't think of any act on the Folk scene that worked within that genre. (Genre is a real word. I saw it in an old Guardian that I found).
                  Derek.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Schantieman
Date: 02 Feb 03 - 10:06 AM

Thanks Derek.

Steve

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Feb 03 - 10:10 AM

I moved to escape Bryant and the bugger followed me.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: cockney
Date: 04 Feb 03 - 10:46 AM

i say Guest of no name - what's that got to do with the thread?

p.s. Dave Bryant is one of the best performers on the SE folk cicuit at present!!!

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: breezy
Date: 04 Feb 03 - 12:14 PM

Know the feeling Guest,the mistake was telling bryant where you went.
Woodsie, you do mean S,E Eltham Folk circuit? He's certainly the loudest.
All the others have moved away.
We still get gigs there from time to time, but make sure that bryants elsewhere on the night.
We all love you bryant, dave old buddy.
See you at the Herga 40th no excuses now.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Brimmo
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 06:52 AM

Oi, leave my thread alone.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 06:58 AM

Derek, Magic Lantern did some Mudsic Hall stuff for a while. There was an outfit called Gladstone's Bag, who were a biot OTT; don't know what became of them. Then there was Barrie Roberts (and me) ...

Steve

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 07:23 AM

Mr Gladstone's Bag were wonderful. They brought all sorts of wonderful props with them and while I agree that they could be OTT at times, they were probably one of the funniest acts on the folk scene. In spite of that, their musicianship was first class - especially John Watcham's concertina playing. They used to perform one number "Beautiful Bird Sing on" through megaphones containing mechanisms to provide a scratching sound like that on early recordings, with an incredible instrument which they called a "pneumatic nightingale". This was basically a vastly scaled up version of the bird warbler whistles which contain water made out of a car tyre pump, a watering can and a large whistle. Although vastly hilarious, the final sound almost exactly matched that of the original Edison phonagraph recording.

John is still playing concertina, but sadly Mick (?) the flamboyant other half of the act died some years ago. Both were members of Albion Morris.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 08:18 AM

Sorry to hear about Mick, Dave. but thanks for the news.

How did they mke water out of a car tyre pump?

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 11:57 AM

I made water out of a window once ...

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 12:30 PM

Schantieman - Here is the thread for "The Ratcatcher's Daughter.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: sinpelo
Date: 19 Feb 06 - 09:58 AM

Thanks for the Les Barker poem, Sooz. I've been trying to get hold of the words for a while.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: sinpelo
Date: 19 Feb 06 - 10:24 AM

"I really must thank you all for the nice things that you've written. Very gratifying, and it's done my old heart good. But take no notice of Breezy - he's mad. Hemel is all snowed in. It's a white hell out there. I'm just going out for a paper - I might be gone for some time................... "

I really don't want to talk about Del while he's out buying a paper but take no notice of what he said about Breezy. Breezy's OK. He gets the info out there. Try getting dates off Brimmo! You can try water-boarding, electrodes to the wassnames, you-name-it. He just sits there dribbling and rambling on about the war (Crimea, that is).

You carry on spilling the beans, Breezy and keep us up to date.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Splott Man
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 04:32 AM

Any news on Derek's health? I heard he was quite ill back in the autumn.

Splott Man

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: sinpelo
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 05:10 AM

"Any news on Derek's health? I heard he was quite ill back in the autumn.

Splott Man "

He didn't mention his brush with the Grim Reaper when he posted on here on 2/2/06. Unless, of course, "Brimmo" isn't really Derek at all but an evil imposter. I think we should be told.

OK "Brimmo"...... let's see if you're who you claim to be: What shape is the birthmark on your right buttock? Is it shaped like:

(a) a banjo
(b) Diego Garcia
or (c) the Napster logo?

Only Derek (or someone VERY intimate with him) will know the answer.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 06:34 PM

You're all quite wrong of course. He's not important enough to be mentioned on the BBC4 version of English folk music.

I don't think any of you lot who went to folk clubs are worth a mention.

nowadays all the kids are morris dancing cos it a really cool thing to do.....

if you were real folk music enthusiasts you would have been aware of that.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: sinpelo
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 06:48 PM

We all stand corrected and humble ourselves in your presence.

Morris dancing is cool???

Beam me up, Scottie!

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Snuffy
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 07:45 PM

Morris dancing is cool???

The second-best kept secret of all time: it always has been.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 07:58 PM

I think he's still in shock at discovering he wasn't part of the folk revival according to BBC4. I talked to him last week and he seemed okay-ish. there are obviously problems, but he didn't make much of them.

they had got his regimen of drugs wrong and that made him ill for a while - they straightened that out about a month ago.

whatever Derek sings, he turns it into an English folk song. you can't get more English than Derek brimstone. he's more English than most English folksongs - if you get my drift.

when will they ever own up and admit that they've got it wrong. if you don't relate to English people in the intimate mainstream way that artists like Derek,and Bernard Wrigley do, what you're doing isn't really folk music. It's something cerebral and factitious.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: Brimmo
Date: 21 Feb 06 - 12:38 PM

Hello Troops.
      Just to say that my health is restored. I'm OK now, although I have to keep taking the tablets (as they say).
       I saw those BBC4 British Folk music programmes. I must say that I was seriously annoyed at most of it, although some of it was very good. It was all so very heavily biased towards Traditional English folk music, which of course has it's place in the scheme of things, But only a part of it, and a minor part at that, at least in the scene that I remember. Anyone watching, who had never been in a folk club in their lives would be left with a very false impression of what it was really about. I was there. I was that soldier. I remember when for instance, there were seven folk clubs in Walsall alone, all of which were well attended. I remember the Pipers and the Folk Cottage in Cornwall, Les Cousins, The Troubadour, two whole pages of the Melody Maker taken up by what was on in the London Folk clubs, The Boggery, well I could go on and on. A lovely, lively, happy folk scene with lots of new songs performed by superbly talented singer/songwriters. Lots of lovely music and lots of laughs. Where did it all go? Well, I could tell you, but don't get me started.......

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: sinpelo
Date: 21 Feb 06 - 01:54 PM

Apart from one or two "purist" clubs at which only traditional music was acceptable, I seem to remember folk clubs covering a very wide range of musical genre (you're right, Del. It IS a word). Folk clubs were the substance of the folk scene... not the recording industry. Artists like Derek, doing the circuite and, like a juggler spinning plates, managing to keep more or less everyone happy were the mainstay of clubs. The chances of getting artists who had been absorbed into the mainstream record industry (Donvan and suchlike) back into folk clubs was pretty slim. I'm not saying they were wrong or that they owed some form of alleigance with clubs but they were portrayed as much more pivotal figures than I think they were. The people who really kept the plates spinning were the Dransfields, Derek, Nic Jones, Rosie Hardman and a whole list of people who have managed to earn fame without the pretentions of celebrity. Not to mention an even longer list of people the majority of us have never heard of.

The BBC seem to have a penchant for coming up with good ideas..... then buggering them up. Well done, Aunty. You've done it again!

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: breezy
Date: 21 Feb 06 - 03:53 PM

BBC always wary of political controversy and most of the singer's repertoires contained such material .


but thats England

Political correctness began here a long time ago.

Also our club singer/writers were very much influenced by the American style.

The 'traddies' could make it hard going for newbies and it was a slog at times. I well remember being bored at many folk clubs that I often wonder why I kept going but it was the likes of Derek, Noel, Tony Cap, Alex and even Vin G that kept my hopes up.

It took me too long to find out that the Herga folk club is an O K place and its image of being a bastion of trad folk was a common misconception, or maybe its just that it has changed with the times.

Maybe its a acquired taste.

Glad to hear you are still with us Derek

Pop over a get a date fixed, the weather will soon be warmer and you can go out again

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: GUEST,Bill the sound
Date: 21 Feb 06 - 07:11 PM

If You've had a night at one of Derek's gigs you've had a great night
Ask him to do Myrtle it's agreat laugh.
Bill the sound

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: GUEST,wordy
Date: 21 Feb 06 - 07:40 PM

Nice one Brimmo. I remember all that too.Better write it down so it's not forgotten because of the London centred arbiters of taste. Did Christine Neville pay you yet?

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: danensis
Date: 22 Feb 06 - 05:35 PM

"I think he's still in shock at discovering he wasn't part of the folk revival according to BBC4".

Of course he wasn't part of the revival - he was the original folkie.

Subject: RE: Derek Brimstone
From: sinpelo
Date: 22 Feb 06 - 07:24 PM

Brimmo seems to have been a part of everyone's story. The one guaranteed link between all the major folk singers that have evolved since the sixties is that they all know Derek Brimstone. They might not all know each other but they all know Derek. I was amazed that he wasn't included in the programme.

Even Bob Dylan claims to know Derek Brimstone.... but that's Bob all over.......... f***ing name-dropper!