Giant Steps
My Improbable Journey From Stage Lights To Executive Heights
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In Giant Steps, Derek Shulman chronicles a truly incredible life and career in music--first as the leader of the progressive-rock pioneers Gentle Giant, then as the record-label executive responsible for cultivating and signing the likes of Bon Jovi, Dream Theater, and Slipknot and orchestrating comebacks by AC/DC, Bad Company, and more.
Beginning with a young Shulman confidently telling his school teacher that he would grow up to become a pop star, this eye-opening memoir explores a Zelig-like existence on both sides of the music industry. Shulman found fame first as a teenager in the 60s group Simon Dupree & The Big Sound, then took rock music to the outer reaches across eleven albums with Gentle Giant. In the 80s, he switched gears to become a record executive, first at Polygram and then at Atco and Roadrunner, working with everyone from Black Sabbath to Dr. Dre to Pantera to Men Without Hats.
Along the way, Gentle Giant would become a defining influence on hip-hop, their music sampled by many of the genre's leading lights--including J. Dilla, De La Soul, and dozens more--and the band acclaimed by The Roots bandleader and filmmaker Questlove as one of his favourite rock acts of all time.
Clean-living and career-driven in a world of debauchery and excess, Shulman is perfectly placed to explore and explain the major developments in popular music and youth culture from the 1960s to the present day, making Giant Steps a must-read for fans of prog, rock, hip-hop, and more.
About this Author
Derek Shulman is a celebrated musician and music executive best known as lead vocalist and founding member of the progressive rock band Gentle Giant. Born on February 11, 1947, in Glasgow, Scotland, he grew up in a musical family, which greatly influenced his artistic journey. After achieving success with Gentle Giant in the 1970s, Derek transitioned into the music industry as an executive, playing a pivotal role in signing major acts including Bon Jovi, Pantera, and Dream Theater. With a career spanningover five decades, Shulman remains an iconic figure in the music world, well known and widely respected for his creativity and dedication. Jon Wiederhorn is a veteran author and music journalist. He is the co-author of Louder Than Hell: The Definitive Oral History Of Metal, Dreaming Japanese (with Marty Friedman), I'm The Man: The Story Of That Guy From Anthrax (with Scott Ian), Ministry: The Lost Gospels According To Al Jourgensen, and My Riot: Agnostic Front, Grit, Guts & Glory (with Roger Miret), and is the author of Raising Hell: Backstage Tales From The Lives Of Metal Legends . He also has worked on staff at Rolling Stone, MTV, and Guitar Magazine, spearheaded the 12-episode exclusive iHeart Radio podcast Backstaged: The Devil In Metal, and written for LA Times, Classic Rock, Guitar World, TV Guide, SPIN, The Village Voice, and Melody Maker .
Reviews
'I was first turned onto Gentle Giant in high school when the Power And Glory album came out. The articulate and musically experimental yet beautiful music that came out of the speakers was captivating. When I met Derek many years later, I was gushing on what a fan I was.' Steve Lukather, Toto
'Many years ago, I had the privilege of playing with Simon Dupree & The Big Sound on a tour of Scotland. It was a joyous experience. The musicianship was of the highest quality.' Elton John
'You can spend hours studying what they did and still not fully get it.' Nik Kershaw
'I thought I was the only Black guy into Gentle Giant!' Questlove
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