Derrick May discusses 'Strings Of Life'

[FlakaB1234]

Whats the name of the film this clip is from

[felixdadeathcat]

Are all the parts to this on your channel looks interesting...

[alicatsf]

I like this song, but I'm curious why the early Detroit legends were so unproductive? Other techno artists seem to churn out record after record, album after album. It makes this song just seem like a happy accident. Get to work Derrick!

[Kint0]

This dude is full of himself, as much as he doesn't want to admit. Largest flaw.

[rafaelsoyyo1981]

10 pessoas são anormais!!!!!

[najlosiji]

10 Kesha & Justin Bieber fans =O]

[deadmau5suckz]

@najlosiji I cannot understand why your comment doesn't have thumbs up. I mean, it's a justin bieber joke :3

[HSXgirl]

I love how he says he got scared because he knew he had done something. Isn't that always The Way. The Way of "The Road Less Traveled" (poem by Robert Frost). Thanks for the reminder Derrick!

[airthreypark]

Pure genius..........!

[1alopezpr]

Sorry,but this will go in my favorites,If u don't mind of course! =) This will be my mistake!!!

[djtonytwist]

What is the name of the film?

[acedaface954]

love this man.

[zodram]

saw him last nite ! legend !!

[cisumesouh]

Not many house artists (if any) share his legendary status or humble openness.. great video!

[p4ddythehelipilot]

Ain't it mad how even Derrick May was blown away by his own creation

[Mr1SXM]

SOL is overrated!

[MCELVAINE6996]

you are the best

[vanhoveseb]

... That really WASN'T a mistake Derrick !!

[supersonicfairy]

LEGEND, LIVING LEGEND!!

[Sulto94]

people says my music sounds like derrick may's.. i know its not as good as his but well

/watch?v=rB3brIG3gl0

[aristicolombia]

Derrick May is a fking GOD

[whateverhte]

Brilliant/emotional. I remember Thom Yorke posted this on Radiohead's blog a few years ago while recording In Rainbows. I can hear a bit of Derrick May influence on his song Eraser and definitely on the end of Reckoner as played live, but no one has ever really hit on the simplicity and the depth of this timeless beautiful song.

[footmarshian]

What a fantastic guy he is Derrick may the best ;-)

[rickroller99]

10,000 years from now, if they had only one song to pick an entire youth movement to characterize an era, this would be it and yet it is so much more and less, thats the beauty of this peace and love to derrick and 430west

[rob57uk]

Great post, Figfilm. Thank you.

[roddi733]

the definitive house record

[1jaybo]

what a nice guy

[Torley]

Deep! And I don't just mean, as in "house".

[cavaleer]

Derrick May, brother, IT WAS NOT A MISTAKE. IT WAS CREATION!!!! You're an artist. The creative process IS NOT PLANNED. IT IS NOT LINEAR. IT GROWS INSIDE AND COMES OUT WHENEVER THE CONDITIONS ARE RIGHT.

Never think of yourself or your creations as a mistake.

"Something hit..." hahaha......That American swagger hit. hahaha

Rock on......

[vicetube]

@cavaleer Incredible thesis sir, however - do you believe that instead of only having art born from within, that an artist can be stricken by a bolt of how shall one say, "noetic lightning", from the outside? Perhaps a spontaneous harmonic "streak" of both inwards and outwards psychedellium? How curious....

How curious indeed.

[cavaleer]

@vicetube External influences are obviously a part of the creative process. I'm a literary artist and an aesthete overall and I'm acutely aware of my environments....sunlight, rain, lightning, sun, moon, mountains, oceans, snow, sleet, plant-life etc.But all of this is merely raw background material for the internal alchemy that creates ART. The internal is infinitely superior to the external. Darwin was dead wrong. Nietzsche discusses this at length.....

[vicetube]

@cavaleer Spot on. The internal is the key to life, it can allow humanity to live for eternity. Our subconcious is stirred abnd we reach for the stars.

Indeed.

Thank you good man.

[cavaleer]

@vicetube The pleasure's all mine. And speaking of "mistakes", Live For Eternity happens to be the name of my novel. haha Check it out on Amazon. All the best.

[cavaleer]

Great work but please understand, this is HOUSE MUSIC, or ACID, not techno. Techno is a totally different derivative.

[NeuropolitiqueCOGGER]

Cavaleer - you really don't get it do you!

[cavaleer]

What is it with douches like you saying dumb-half thoughts out of the blue??

Keep movin'. Clearly you've never created anything.

[NeuropolitiqueCOGGER]

The lady doth protest too much, methinks

[cavaleer]

Well, at least you've been studying the American masters so maybe there is some hope for your corn-ball ass yet.

Stick with 300 year literature. Leave creating to the creators.

[NeuropolitiqueCOGGER]

A ball of popcorn and molasses?

And a mule?

What a sight that must be.

"Stick with 300 year literature. Leave creating to the creators." -

This really is a non sequitur and as many times as I read it

I am still unsure to what your point is?

Grammar 7/10

Composition 3/10

See me after class.

[cavaleer]

Pathetic. There is no hope for you. You're congenitally, hopelessly corn-ball. I'm sure it's a multi-century condition.

As I said, stick with you corniness and leave creating to the creators. You're way out of your league, son.

[BillandEric]

ha-ha... this is too funny!

cavaleer, do you even know who matt cogger is?

open a new browser and google him!

he lived techno with derrick and them guys in detroit back in 89..he made some of the best uk techno of those days and as far as i can see he's making pretty cool videos. creation? wtf have you created?

apart from laughter that is!

[NeuropolitiqueCOGGER]

This is getting silly.

It's a bit like the Marshall McLuhan scene in Annie Hall!

Thanks BillandEric though.

My original comment was directed at this nonsense:

"... this is HOUSE MUSIC, or ACID, not techno. Techno is a totally different derivative"

Cavaleer - you are wrong my friend.

But I am interested as to the credentials of your wisdom.

Unfortunately you seem to be of the anonymous bent - apropos your profile.

'The Graduate' is certainly apposite in this case.

[cavaleer]

To an American who heard and rode the music when it first appeared, in NYC, DC, Chi-town etc, House music is a very distinct sound, as Acid is. Techno is a completely different sound and groove. They sound similar but the feel is completely different. To a European this may not be the case. You all may think/feel that all of it is Techno. I don't know.

Check my novel on Amazon, it is called "Live For Eternity." Then you'll understand my POV.

[allroundpower]

House has feeling, dropped beats etc, Techno is stiff, on the beat (quantising) and more about the creation of new sounds as opposed to rhythms and melodys within the 4 on the floor stomp!!!

[cavaleer]

Recall- you started the discussion on a silly note. My post was addressed to Derrick May and his comments about his moment being "a mistake."

I just listened to a few of your songs and they're interesting and they are definitely techno. It's neither House nor Acid. And here is the difference between House-Acid, and Techno.

Techno does not motivate the dancer to House, as in the distinct style of dance that developed in the late 80s specifically from House music.

[NeuropolitiqueCOGGER]

I, like many reasonable people, take umbrage when others are told that what they have said about their own work should have been expressed differently.

If Derrick read your book and then deigned that you, the author are wrong in stating this, that or so-and-so ,you would feel rightfully slighted.

As a writer, one would hope that when you opine about a subject it would perhaps be slightly more judicious to proffer any opinions purely as such. That way you will not come across as a know-it-all.

[cavaleer]

Listen. I made an original statement to Derrick May about the creative process; namely that it was NOT a mistake. He described the creative process to a tee, until he used the word MISTAKE. You tried to tell me that I didn't get it to which I have given several lengthy replies to illustrate that, in fact, I do get it, especially on the subject of a music I love and feel in my blood and bones. If you don't agree with my views about the differences between House/Acid and Techno, cont'd....

[cavaleer]

I will be more than happy to explain the subtleties. The only point I made about Techno was that it was a derivative of House that was different because of its effects on the dancer, the American dancer who knows how to House. I have seen people dance to Techno and I'm sure people enjoy themselves. I never said they did not, could not or should not. But with House, because there is no definite structure, it's all about the feel. Earth People, Work it To the Bone, Soho's Hot Music, are all....

[cavaleer]

Are all about the feel, how they make you want to "jack your body". Acid Crash is totally different from "Luv Dancing" but they both make you want to House. Larry Heard is the unquestioned master because his music, in the late '80s esp., makes you want to House but it can be enjoyed just for the pleasure it brings to the ear. It also has a mystical depth that is unparalleled, at least from what I've heard. His fertile period seems to have passed, unfortunately. The attention was too much.

[NeuropolitiqueCOGGER]

How do you know that "the attention was too much"

Do you know Larry personally?

[cavaleer]

No I don't know him. I stumbled across and interview with him several years ago where he said something like, "I just want to be left alone", or something to that effect. Artists of his caliber are often very delicate creatures. They require just the right conditions to tap into their creativity. It is one of the great misfortunes of America that we have never had environments conducive to and protective of our artists. This will change, however.

[cavaleer]

This is my view of art, taken from Nietzsche's "Twilight of the Idols."

"For art to exist, for any sort of aesthetic or perception to exist, a certain physiological pre-condition is indsipensable: INTOXICATION. Intoxication must first have heightened the excitability of the entire machine: no art results before this happens. In this condition one enriches everything out of one's own abundance."

And this is at the beginning of my book.

"In art, man takes delight in himself as perfection."

[NeuropolitiqueCOGGER]

On which note, I am off to the pub.

[cavaleer]

Rock on, and don't get too "intoxicated". haha

[cavaleer]

From those quotes, I see Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock, or Frank Lloyd Wright in his studio, or John Coltrane playing anything from 1963-1966, or Thelonious Monk dancing while the sax player solos. It is also the sensation of hearing Acid Crash pumping over the speakers at Zanzibar at 2AM and I'm housin', covered in sweat, digging deeper, creating new moves, and watching others doing the same thing.

[cavaleer]

And you'll notice with Larry, that his best music, when he was at his greatest strength and power, was almost exclusively minor-key based. As time passed and he ran from the spotlight, his music became more major-key, almost exclusively major. There is a key in this.......

Look. You're making good music. I think we got off on the wrong foot. Perhaps you've never thought about the differences and origins of the styles as much as I have because you were deep in the pocket, as we say here.

[cavaleer]

Techno is usually too fast, like what they play at gay clubs. Or the rhythms and chords aren't placed on the proper beat. Though slight, the difference is profound. And when you listen to the origins and classics of House, whether it be Chi-town with Fingers, LNR in Detroit, or what Tony Humphries was doing at Zanzibar, they all make you want to HOUSE. Even acid like Farley Jackmaster Funk or DJ Pierre make you want to House. Or Fast Eddie.

[BillandEric]

i'd stick to your saucy novellas if i were you mate.

you're clutching at straws here

too fast? says who?

rhythms and chords misplaced? there is no rule book.

thompson & lenoir (LNR) were from Chicago.

it's 'acid-house' not house-acid!

your comment that techno does not motivate the dancer to house is just bonkers.

- try telling that to anyone who was at clink street in '88!

[cavaleer]

Like, I said, you're European. You have a totally different sensibility. You play some techno at club Zanzibar and watch the dance floor clear out.

You're European. I'm American. That says it all.

[cavaleer]

Actually, you;re British. I'm American. That definitely says it all. Techno is your style. Have at it.

[cavaleer]

"Saucy novellas"....lol....

I used a dash for House-Acid instead of a slash dumbo. You'll see my explanation of House and Acid below.

If you knew anything about American music since the 1960s, you'd understand that there has always been a polarity between pop-major key music and harder, more masculine minor-key music. Thus you have disco vs. funk, house vs. garage/disco, then acid. You have metal vs. pop. The entire genre of rap is basically the use of minor-key samples from major-key songs.

[cavaleer]

And it seems my point was too subtle for you. I did not say it doesn't make you want to dance, which to me it does not, although I have seen people dancing to Techno. My point is that it does not make you want to HOUSE; that specific dance style that grew directly from the style of music. Whatever you were doing over there is something else entirely, I assure you.

[cavaleer]

This is why I call Techno a derivative. I know the difference as soon as I hear it. To understand what House is, you have to understand the Garage and Disco. The music they played at the Garage was a Disco off-shoot but the sound was thoroughly gay. It grooved but it was soft and sweet. As the music spread, men in NYC, NJ, Chicago, Detroit, began transforming it. You hear Mr. Fingers working through the changes in 1986 and such. By 1987 he had the blueprint and began his string of masterpieces

[cavaleer]

I don't give a fuk who he is. If he has actually created something he would understand why I said what I said in my original post.

[robophreeq]

Incredible. Simply incredible. How many thousands of lives have been touched by this track? It is impossible to guess.

MAYDAY FOREVER <3

[AskYerMaHa]

i will never 4get this tune

[airthreypark]

This is the dogs! What a tune. Massive. I love it as much today as I did all those years ago. Has there ever been a better dance record than this?

HiFliSi

[djpageone]

awsome,!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Oli3TB76]

what a tune! its only kind of a classic!

love detroit, but its all about chicago =D

[PESHOPIKATA]

just one of the most genius traacks ever!!!

[dakotawatts86]

BEST TUNE EVER!!!

[wilfgregory]

does any no the name of the tv programe that was on itv which was in a series that ran 3/4 years back and this was used

[uxbboy]

Pump Up the Volume

[bobbitt187]

crazy - i love this guy - He created a great modern classic and he s humble about it! what a man! Strings is amazing.. I always thought it was sampled or played with from a classical piece - Cant believe its from scratch- Makes it even more incredible!.

[Euro3urger]

i was just 17 when i got that record changed my life for good of for worse aint sure lol :)

[sonicadv27]

i might being a lil satupid, but what the hell have Doves to do with Derrick May? They're a Rock band...

[Figfilm]

doves were once an electronic band called subsub... the williams twins discussed starting sub sub after bumping into their old friend jimi at the hacienda, dancing to early house music. they were all heavily influenced by dance music, which i think you can hear in doves records... and at the end of the day music is music - why shouldn't a rock band talk about dance music? what a strange comment...

[sonicadv27]

yeah but we have to admit that rock bands don't usually get too linked to electronic music... But thank you for the info...

[woolowl]

There ain't no love and there ain't no use.

Ha Ha

[myoldreteacher]

@Figfilm - Sub Sub's "Space Face" is such a great tune - and has been very influential in my own song writing. They only became "The Doves" after their studio burnt down and they lost all their work. So they reinvented themselves... BTW - They do a great live version of Space Face (as The Doves), which you can find about the place on You Tube. Thanks also for this doc. - I watched it and loved it! Very interesting and important record of our musical heritage!

[kdehead]

Derrick May = GOD... end of story....

no one comes close.

[numnuts1010]

cheers for posting rare intervivie with tthe innovator of bleeps and beats which is the basis behind most electronic music how he manages to achieve so much emotion into such simple music ??

[Jaggabone]

Bleeps & Beats? An original description of what I love ... Progressive House!

[djsmithy]

I hate labeling things but its detroit techno, not progressive house im afraid!

And derrick would tell you that himself.

[djsmithy]

Ah Jagga misread what you said!

Thought you meant this was prog house!

And not many producers out there would be so honest to admit they used someone elses recording to sample that piano.

Gotta respect May for that.

[kdehead]

bleeps and beats? wtf is that? derrick may invented techno for christs sake...

[barlasha]

This link I got from radiohea's official site

[luigiboyuk]

thanks for posting this, interesting to hear the background. nice job getting an interview with the guy btw.

[Spindles15]

he should use more guitars that are like....double guitars, ya know?

[crewcarl]

great song. too bad there's no way to talk about your own music without sounding like the world's biggest blow hard.

[zkwaerwaivbace]

lol... so true

[Pyrethryn]

One of the best. And not to sound lame, but anyone know the first song of this video (the intro stuff?).

[Old8oy]

Hi mate. The track in the intro is May, too: Rhythm is Rhythim "It Is What It Is" on Transmat.

[Pyrethryn]

Thank you- I love that song. Both of them, really.

[flaresol]

A Man of Brilliance!!!!!

[theobserver317]

STILL bumping this one! AWESOME CLIP!

[pedt]

Uma Lenda na House

[cazzacmc]

Met the legend that is D May in sankeys in Manchester and he was sooooo lush. Danny Tenaglia is the maybe the next best thing at Sankeys is and on there this Sunday 23/09/07, Loved D carter at Crobar in Chicago and Jaydee at Escape with he's plastic dreams and went stupid to a set played by Frankie knuckles at Groovejet in Miama who do you love? x

[RRKS69]

One of the best musical mistakes of all time.

Derrick May - thank you.

Keep it ACID...

[trancefiguration]

I first heard strings back in 89 in England. Techno was in it's infancy back then and the power of the scene and music changed many lives including my own. This will and always will be, a seminal record.

[MATTHEWFLANAGAN]

A PURE LEGEND!

[p4ddythehelipilot]

aaaarr!!! 'THE' Anthem of 89. I just wana put on my kickers again & dance!!! i just got in from work & found my fiance looking at this as an option for music played at our wedding :) I have it as my ring tone. Derrick May i salute you!!!!

[danielreal2k]

genius

[mistaxs]

I wish i made them kind of mistake's! lol. Derrick may we slaute you.

[tkatschuk]

NOSTALGIC!!  Memoreeees!!!

[kevin1051]

wow i haven't seen my friend in years thanks

Peace

brett

Gherkin Records

[rabbitlegs]

Thankyou..This tune is very special, it still sends shivers down my spine!!!

[TruGroovez]

Derrick May - I salute you!!!!! TruGroovez(dot)com

[cdgoa7]

goddam!...words can't express enough for this jam............"the accident, is that it happened".....thx d. may

[pjsb67]

Absolute Hac classic,Chicago helped,Pickering was priceless when he dropped this. Thanks for the history of a legendary tune...Mucho Respecto & Peace

[JellyBean2144]

A freaking classic jam!!! The Strings of Life is like the anthem of Techno. When people hear this song..no matter how old you are, you know it is time to jam!!

[jakobfrederik]

Amazing, the creative proces is magic isn't it. But two things; why was he afraid, I don't get it, and I don't understand what came first the orginal instrumental house track, or the pianoriff he had sitting in his computer for a year.

[pavman2]

bloody brill brings back all those nights dancing in sweaty clubs or open fields thank you for a top tune

[DaftPhunk]

AHHH i'm going to see him in NZ soon!!! woohoooo!

[heartslad]

It goes on & on & on ...

Classic Still ahead of it's time now !!

[radiocoocoo]

this video reminds me of the good ol times at the motor...

RIP the motor club

[carrozo]

timeless.

[lkspence]

If I don't have one of the originals, I've got to have one of the first reprints. To say this track is hot is an understatement. Detroit techno was and remains a lifeline to me, and the staying power of Strings of Life stands as a testimony. Where can I see the longer film?

[ResidentMich]

I'm VERY fortunate to have one of the original 1,500 melted down vinvl copies. Purr-chased from Eastern Bloc in '88. I met Mr May at Orbit, very down to earth, he was playing 3rd behind Andy Wetherall & Underworld.....he only got on around 2.00am and the closing laws were very stringent then, he did AT anyhow. Fantastic night.

[osmanTZ]

Detroit techno rules ! Thanks to these people, show must go on !!

[happynullipara]

I met Derrick May when he DJ'ed at the Hacienda. I knocked on the DJ booth and thanked him for making 'Strings of Life". WHAT A TUNE!

[retro1992]

the tune is awesome and its good to see the famous hacienda crowd scene in the dry ice not seen it for years their were certainly the best days of my life

[yazzaa81]

i love you derrick may. really!

[doubleblue1878]

The tune of all tunes. Kin Classic Derrick. The Dance was also a classic.

[xlxEastxlxBelfastxlx]

that track will never die.

[jayabaroo]

Glad i found this there is a dvd available now ' High Tech Soul' that features Derrick May giving a similar interview. Has anyone posted a video of the song itself, dont know if one was made. The only one i found was that crass bubblegum cover version Soul Central which is a total fucking travesty. The original is a classic and should have been left alone

[vasyasvl]

i wonder if it's possible to see the whole movie in Russia

[whitelightdistrict]

excellent

[pokerdice10]

The classic of classics! Great film! Great insight! Nice one! '88

[MrMxyzptlk2]

Great to hear Derrick talk about Strings ,thanks he seems a lot more chilled than his rep makes him out to be.

[KarmaComaCat]

This was a Channel 4 Documentry, a very good one. lucky to have taped it lol 8)

[Figfilm]

hi. this wasn't a channel 4 doc. we made it for urbis museum here in manchester. it has never been on tv. thanks for your comment. figfilm.

[paudical]

nice video. he tells the same story in 'pump up the volume' but he's younger and a little more intense. this finds him a bit more chilled out it seems

[intermodulation]

cool, where can i see the whole of your film.