Podcast Summary: Takin' A Walk – Music History with Buzz Knight

Guest: Derek Shulman

Episode Title: Exploring Music History and Legendary Stories from the Music Industry
Release Date: December 10, 2025
Host: Buzz Knight

Overview

In this insightful episode of Takin' A Walk, Buzz Knight is joined by Derek Shulman: former frontman of Gentle Giant, influential music executive, and author of the new memoir Giant Steps. The conversation spans Derek's formative years in music, the creative journey of Gentle Giant, the art and business of A&R, legendary record deals (including Bon Jovi), and the enduring qualities necessary for a lasting career in music. Candid anecdotes, wisdom for artists and executives alike, and powerful stories from inside the music industry's evolution permeate the discussion.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. If You Could “Take a Walk” With Anyone…

[04:22]

• Buzz asks: If you could take a walk with someone, living or dead, who and where?
• Derek answers: His younger brother Ray, who passed away from cancer. Ray was not just family but his best friend, musical partner, and fellow Gentle Giant/Simeon Dupree bandmate.
  • Quote: “He was my best friend as well as my sibling, and he was my musical partner... We were almost twins.” (04:47–05:33)

2. Early Musical Influences & The Start of a Lifelong Journey

[05:33–11:43]

• Derek’s father was a jazz trumpeter—music was ever-present at home.
• The Beatles’ debut single “Love Me Do” was a musical awakening. The Beatles' impact was transformative:
  • Quote: “Had it not been for the Beatles, I think that our lives would not be the way that they turned out. Certainly my life didn’t.” (06:53)
• Derek started his first band with his brother Ray (then a classical violinist), which evolved into Simon Dupree and the Big Sound.
• Their first big break: auditioning (performing their entire set) for EMI at Abbey Road, impressing a room full of legendary producers—including George Martin and Jeff Emerick.
  • The outcome: Landed a record deal with Parlophone Records.

3. The Path from Schoolboy Dreamer to Rock Star

[10:20–11:43]

• Attended a grammar school, where students were expected to become professionals like doctors and politicians.
• Told his teacher he wanted to be a “rock star”—was met with skepticism and laughter.
  • Quote: “Don’t be silly, Shulman, that’s impossible. One in a million.” (11:19)
  • Two years later, he returns with a hit single and the same teacher asks for his autograph.

4. Abbey Road & Interactions with Giant Industry Figures

[12:03–13:12]

• Regular sessions at Abbey Road, working directly with Jeff Emerick (engineer of both their debut and final albums) and George Martin.
  • Quote: “Jeff Emerick was the bookends of our recording career, if you like.” (12:46)

5. Founding Gentle Giant — From Pop to Progressive Complexity

[13:31–15:57]

• After years as a successful pop band, the Shulman brothers wanted creative growth.
• Influences from jazz, Frank Zappa, and even Miles Davis, as suggested by temporary keyboardist Reg Dwight—later known as Elton John.
  • Fun anecdote: Elton John almost auditioned for Gentle Giant, but their directions ultimately diverged (thankfully for both parties).
• With managerial support, Derek and his brothers founded Gentle Giant, recruiting exceptional musicians and setting out on a much more complex musical path.

6. Gentle Giant’s Artistic Ethos: Complexity & Audience Connection

[15:57–18:35]

• The band sought both technical mastery and audience engagement, wanting their enjoyment on stage to be infectious.
  • Quote: “We wanted to entertain the audience with our music, and not just…playing music…We’re a band that was having fun and…wanted to see smiles on the audience’s faces.” (17:31–17:59)
• Prior experience as entertainers (with Simon Dupree) set the foundation for balancing showmanship and musicianship.

7. Reflecting on Gentle Giant’s Legacy

[22:02–25:00]

• Writing Giant Steps brought perspective on the legacy of Gentle Giant.
  • Quote: “There’s nothing like the feeling of being on stage and knowing that you’re doing something that is yours…That is very important.” (22:22–22:47)
• Memorable Moment: Selling out LA’s Shrine Auditorium (~1975–76), the crowd demanding encores until the band ran out of material, finally playing “In The Midnight Hour” as an impromptu finale.
  • Quote (on that moment): “…If you could bottle that and sell it, it would be worth billions for me.” (24:44–25:00)

8. From Stage to Boardroom: Transition to Executive Life

[25:02–29:30]

• The move into music business was accidental.
• First executive role: PolyGram, initially in promotion and artist development—“the Darth Vader side of the business.”
• Key realization: The music industry is “the business of music,” with each office at a label pursuing its own agenda.
• Early management and production experience (while still in Gentle Giant) gave him a unique artist-centered perspective.

9. A&R and the Bon Jovi Breakthrough

[29:30–35:51]

• Heard Bon Jovi’s “Runaway” on radio; was struck by Jon Bon Jovi’s drive and ambition:
  • Quote: “He said to me, full on, with absolute, complete seriousness, ‘I want to be as big or bigger than Elvis.’ …I saw in him a drive that…if you could bottle…is worth a million, million.” (31:39–31:58)
• Despite early shows being “okay, not great,” Derek saw potential and signed them.
• Pivotal role in connecting Jon with Desmond Child (songwriter) and Bruce Fairburn/Bob Rock (production team), resulting in Slippery When Wet—the breakthrough to superstardom.
  • Quote: “I absolutely 100% knew then that Bon Jovi was going to be as big as Elvis.” (35:44–35:51)

10. Roadrunner Records and A&R Philosophy

[36:05–39:00]

• Derek discusses “passing” only once on a major artist (Beck’s “Loser”), reflecting candidly on industry intuition.
• Nearly all artists he signed—Bon Jovi, Cinderella, Pantera, Dream Theater, Slipknot, Nickelback—weren’t being chased by other labels.
  • Key to lasting careers: Authenticity.
  • Quote: “They were authentic. They were doing something which was theirs and no one else’s.” (38:08)
• Encourages A&R discovery rooted in originality, not trends: “[I] never got involved in chasing the next thing because it was big.”

11. Advice for Young Musicians

[39:24–42:01]

• Ignore metrics like likes or YouTube views.
• Quote: “Be fucking great at what you do and do something that’s yours and do something that is not anyone else’s. And…build a fan base that is yours and no one else’s.” (39:50–40:15)
• Laments the shift from craft toward fame, money, and quick internet attention.
• Gentle Giant’s enduring influence: Travis Scott’s sampling of “Proclamation” led to BMI Songwriter of the Year honors decades later.
  • Quote: “That says a lot about what I’m saying here: Be authentic and be yourself and be great.” (41:54–42:01)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I’m going to be a rock star.” (11:11)
• “Had it not been for the Beatles, I think that our lives would not be the way that they turned out.” (06:53)
• “If you could bottle that [encore feeling] and sell it, it would be worth billions for me.” (24:44)
• “[Jon Bon Jovi] said to me, full on…‘I want to be as big or bigger than Elvis.’ …I believed him 100%.” (31:39–31:51)
• “Be fucking great at what you do…build a fan base that is yours and no one else’s.” (39:50–40:15)
• “Gentle Giant, 50 years later, is still—I won’t say it’s popular, but…in some respects more popular in today’s world than it was when we were on the road.” (41:22)

Closing

[42:01–42:26]

• Buzz invites Derek back: “Would you come back sometime on Taking a Walk?”
• Derek: “I’d love to, of course.”
• Buzz lauds Derek as “music history” itself.
• Derek: “You’ve created it.” (42:18)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 04:22 – Who would Derek “take a walk” with?
• 05:49 – First moments of musical inspiration.
• 11:11 – Proclaiming the dream of becoming a rock star.
• 12:03 – Early Abbey Road sessions with George Martin and Jeff Emerick.
• 15:57 – Creating Gentle Giant and defining musical goals.
• 22:14 – Gentle Giant legacy and most memorable gig.
• 25:02 – Transition from artist to executive.
• 29:30 – Signing Bon Jovi and keys to A&R.
• 36:05 – Discussing missed signings and principles of authenticity.
• 39:24 – Advice to aspiring musicians.
• 41:22 – Gentle Giant’s modern legacy (Travis Scott BMI sample).
• 42:01 – Closing and reflections.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about creative longevity, the inside workings of the music industry, and lessons on remaining authentic in art and business.