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Giant Steps: My Improbable Journey From Stage Lights To Executive Heights
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.
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.
- GenresMusic
304 pages, Paperback
Published December 2, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 8, 2026
I discovered Gentle Giant after Steven Wilson remixed one of their albums. I have been a huge fan for the last 10 years and I’ve devoured everything Gentle Giant that I could find. This book was a treat. I did not know of their history as a pop band in the 60s with connections to the mafia! Having studied the band quite a bit over the last 10 years, I did notice a few errors, a couple of wrong dates and incorrect factual data about other bands that Derek Shulman worked with over the years after his days and Gentle Giant. A highly recommended musical biography!
January 30, 2026
A Genuine Giant.
As a long time GG fan i could not skip this read .
I was not disappointed.
Although every reader has his or her expectations or specific period that they would love the author to delve deeper in,we get a good balance between Derek’s carreer as a musician ans his later incarnation as a record executive.
The man has a good story to tell and i found the book very enjoyable.
As a long time GG fan i could not skip this read .
I was not disappointed.
Although every reader has his or her expectations or specific period that they would love the author to delve deeper in,we get a good balance between Derek’s carreer as a musician ans his later incarnation as a record executive.
The man has a good story to tell and i found the book very enjoyable.
October 22, 2025
Being a lifelong Gentle Giant fan, I preordered the cool as soon as I could.
It didn’t disappoint.
While the GG history was already familiar to me, there was less new there. But the stories before and after… Starting with the father’s death, then origins of Simon Dupree band, including touring with someone named Reg Dwight…
Executive years with discoveries of Bon Jovi and organising Monsters of Rock festival in Moscow…
Stories about rappers and hip hop artists sampling (and sometimes bluntly stealing) his music.
And, as a cherry on a cake, news about remixing “In a glass house” using AI to recover lost multitrack tapes…
Must read for any Gentle Giant fan, and just for anyone who deeply cares about music.
It didn’t disappoint.
While the GG history was already familiar to me, there was less new there. But the stories before and after… Starting with the father’s death, then origins of Simon Dupree band, including touring with someone named Reg Dwight…
Executive years with discoveries of Bon Jovi and organising Monsters of Rock festival in Moscow…
Stories about rappers and hip hop artists sampling (and sometimes bluntly stealing) his music.
And, as a cherry on a cake, news about remixing “In a glass house” using AI to recover lost multitrack tapes…
Must read for any Gentle Giant fan, and just for anyone who deeply cares about music.
June 14, 2026
Selvbiografien til primus motor i progrockbandet Gentle Giant. Hadde håpet å få flere funfacts fra GG-perioden, for jeg har lest ganske gøye historier fra turneer i musikkblader tidligere. Her bruker Shulman mye plass både på barndommen, sitt første band og livet i musikkbransjen etter egen bandkarriere (det er jo en selvbiografi, tross alt), og i en relativt tynn bok blir det da lite plass til detaljer. Enkelte album (og tilhørende turné) blir avspist med så lite som et par sider. Men det lille jeg får, er interessant.
Et større problem for boken er at Shulman virker som en ganske pregløs person, både i livet han har levd og måten han forteller om det på. Han var rockemusikeren som ikke tok dop og sjelden tok et glass vin, og språket er enda mer edruelig enn hendelsene det beskriver.
Det er dog gøy at han velger å være såpass ærlig om hvilke folk i bransjen han virkelig ikke likte (The Beach Boys og The Eagles får det glatte lag).
Et større problem for boken er at Shulman virker som en ganske pregløs person, både i livet han har levd og måten han forteller om det på. Han var rockemusikeren som ikke tok dop og sjelden tok et glass vin, og språket er enda mer edruelig enn hendelsene det beskriver.
Det er dog gøy at han velger å være såpass ærlig om hvilke folk i bransjen han virkelig ikke likte (The Beach Boys og The Eagles får det glatte lag).
October 19, 2025
I should start with a confession: I am a huge Gentle Giant fan, and have been for the last 45 years. Unfortunately, I discovered them just as they split up. If only I'd been born ten years earlier, eh?
There was no way I was not going to love reading this or, give it a bad review 🤣
It's often hard to be objective about something you are so invested in but this was not what I was expecting.
Obviously, I knew that Derek Shulman had become a record company man after GG had finished but I did not realise the scale of his achievements. Anyway, the first half of the book is much as you would expect, a history of the Shulman brothers, their upbringing, Simon Dupree & The Big Sound, and the Gentle Giant years, which included quite a lot of interesting information that was new to me.
The second half of the book is all about what happened after GG called it a day. Having been in the music business, and acting as the band's de facto manager following some really bad manager experiences, Derek moved into the Business of Music. His unusual approach led him to become the man that would help Uriah Heep, and AC/DC to kickstart their careers, sign Jon Bon Jovi, Cinderella, Pantera, Slipknot, and Nickelback, and put on a concert in Moscow, after the Soviet Union fell, amongst other achievements.
This is a fascinating autobiography and a terrific read for anyone into rock music. Derek's honesty and candid style make this a most engrossing and revealing memoir of a life in the music business.
There was no way I was not going to love reading this or, give it a bad review 🤣
It's often hard to be objective about something you are so invested in but this was not what I was expecting.
Obviously, I knew that Derek Shulman had become a record company man after GG had finished but I did not realise the scale of his achievements. Anyway, the first half of the book is much as you would expect, a history of the Shulman brothers, their upbringing, Simon Dupree & The Big Sound, and the Gentle Giant years, which included quite a lot of interesting information that was new to me.
The second half of the book is all about what happened after GG called it a day. Having been in the music business, and acting as the band's de facto manager following some really bad manager experiences, Derek moved into the Business of Music. His unusual approach led him to become the man that would help Uriah Heep, and AC/DC to kickstart their careers, sign Jon Bon Jovi, Cinderella, Pantera, Slipknot, and Nickelback, and put on a concert in Moscow, after the Soviet Union fell, amongst other achievements.
This is a fascinating autobiography and a terrific read for anyone into rock music. Derek's honesty and candid style make this a most engrossing and revealing memoir of a life in the music business.
October 30, 2025
Great to read about my absolute favorite band Simon Dupree and the Big Sound (just kidding - Gentle Giant). Derek does not shy away from sharing very personal stories and his insecurities which I found very interesting. I was surprised to find out how he reacted to Phil leaving Gentle Giant. Too bad the marketing was so bad here in the US. I would have loved them to have put out a few more albums.
September 28, 2025
Giant Steps is an honest memoir where Derek Shulman tells his music journey. From having an alter-ego as Simon Dupree, to experimenting with the music of Gentle Giant, to filling in the new role of record executive, and then full circle to seeing how the legacy of Gentle Giant is still alive today. Whether you’re intimately familiar with the lore of Gentle Giant or not, this is a fantastic read.
June 26, 2026
I'm a massive Gentle Giant fan.
In terms of their place in rock, Gentle Giant were never a Led Zeppelin, AC/DC or Pink Floyd. Heck, even amongst their progressive rock peers like Yes, Genesis and King Crimson, Gentle Giant is not only under the radar, but very much a square peg in a round hole.
They never did an "epic" prog track, long sweeping instrumental passages or really even all that much sword and sorcery themed lyrics. Instead, Gentle Giant mixed hard rocking riffs and funky rhythms with medieval motifs, quirky and surprising counterpoint and intense, jaw-dropping musicality. They were born out of the ashes of the 60s psychedelic band, Simon Dupree and the Big Sound lead by singer and multi-instrumentalist Derek Shulman.
In Giant Steps, Derek gives a full account of his life, starting with the shocking death of his father when he was 15 and how the trauma of that event shaped his life. He would go on to form the seeds of what would become Simon Dupree with his brothers Ray and Phil Shulman in their hometown of Portsmouth. The group would eventually score a couple of hit singles in their native UK and Europe and become successful touring musicians, lifting them out of their relative poverty.
Of course, Derek and the band would soon become disheartened with the limits of pop stardom, and would dive head first into experimental progressive rock with the formation of Gentle Giant, recruiting blues rocker Gary Green on guitar and the maestro Kerry Minnear on keyboards. From here, Derek regales the reader with his adventures in Gentle Giant, with the group trying to push the envelope with their music, touring life, the hardships of navigating the very shady music business of the time, the hardship of Phil Shulman eventually leaving the band, and stories of touring with fellow giants like Kiss, Jethro Tull, and, most infamously the near disastrous tour with Black Sabbath.
In 1980, Gentle Giant would call it quits for good, and the last third or so of the book is Derek's fascinating career on the other side of the business as he puts it, "Turning into Darth Vader". Becoming a very successful ANR man and eventual record executive who launched the careers of legendary artists like Bon Jovi, Pantera, Dream Theater and Slipknot. Derek's insights on some of these bands and what he had to go through to support them is genuinely gripping to read, and there's some really amazing rock and roll stories.
Throughout the whole book, you get the feeling that, whether a pop star, frontman of an experimental prog group or a record company executive, Derek worked really hard to be true to himself, live cleanly and with integrity and most importantly, to do everything he could to serve all of the music he was involved with the best he could.
Long story short, this was an absolutely cracking read that any rock or music fan (not just Gentle Giant fans) should check out, as it tells that very rare story in music of a guy who seemed to genuinely try his best to put his artistic integrity and music before anything else. And Derek has got to have one of the most unique careers of anyone in the business.
In terms of their place in rock, Gentle Giant were never a Led Zeppelin, AC/DC or Pink Floyd. Heck, even amongst their progressive rock peers like Yes, Genesis and King Crimson, Gentle Giant is not only under the radar, but very much a square peg in a round hole.
They never did an "epic" prog track, long sweeping instrumental passages or really even all that much sword and sorcery themed lyrics. Instead, Gentle Giant mixed hard rocking riffs and funky rhythms with medieval motifs, quirky and surprising counterpoint and intense, jaw-dropping musicality. They were born out of the ashes of the 60s psychedelic band, Simon Dupree and the Big Sound lead by singer and multi-instrumentalist Derek Shulman.
In Giant Steps, Derek gives a full account of his life, starting with the shocking death of his father when he was 15 and how the trauma of that event shaped his life. He would go on to form the seeds of what would become Simon Dupree with his brothers Ray and Phil Shulman in their hometown of Portsmouth. The group would eventually score a couple of hit singles in their native UK and Europe and become successful touring musicians, lifting them out of their relative poverty.
Of course, Derek and the band would soon become disheartened with the limits of pop stardom, and would dive head first into experimental progressive rock with the formation of Gentle Giant, recruiting blues rocker Gary Green on guitar and the maestro Kerry Minnear on keyboards. From here, Derek regales the reader with his adventures in Gentle Giant, with the group trying to push the envelope with their music, touring life, the hardships of navigating the very shady music business of the time, the hardship of Phil Shulman eventually leaving the band, and stories of touring with fellow giants like Kiss, Jethro Tull, and, most infamously the near disastrous tour with Black Sabbath.
In 1980, Gentle Giant would call it quits for good, and the last third or so of the book is Derek's fascinating career on the other side of the business as he puts it, "Turning into Darth Vader". Becoming a very successful ANR man and eventual record executive who launched the careers of legendary artists like Bon Jovi, Pantera, Dream Theater and Slipknot. Derek's insights on some of these bands and what he had to go through to support them is genuinely gripping to read, and there's some really amazing rock and roll stories.
Throughout the whole book, you get the feeling that, whether a pop star, frontman of an experimental prog group or a record company executive, Derek worked really hard to be true to himself, live cleanly and with integrity and most importantly, to do everything he could to serve all of the music he was involved with the best he could.
Long story short, this was an absolutely cracking read that any rock or music fan (not just Gentle Giant fans) should check out, as it tells that very rare story in music of a guy who seemed to genuinely try his best to put his artistic integrity and music before anything else. And Derek has got to have one of the most unique careers of anyone in the business.
December 28, 2025
A book you'd only read if you are a fan of Gentle Giant (I am) or if you are interested in the cultural history of the music of the late 1960s and 1970s.
I really enjoyed the book, especially the sections dealing with the making of their albums and the state of the music business at the time. Some aspects of the lifestyle, especially whilst Derek was in the predecessor band, Simon Dupree and the Big Sound, had troubling aspects.
The change of career into the business side of music, once Gentle Giant called it a day, was less interesting. It did, however, expose the unpleasant nature of the music business, in which many of the people aren't interested in music, only in the powdery and fleshy perks and the money they can make.
Amongst the story we encounter Elton John (before he was), Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, Bon Jovi, Pantera and NWA amongst many others. A fun read and a must-read for any fan of Gentle Giant.
I really enjoyed the book, especially the sections dealing with the making of their albums and the state of the music business at the time. Some aspects of the lifestyle, especially whilst Derek was in the predecessor band, Simon Dupree and the Big Sound, had troubling aspects.
The change of career into the business side of music, once Gentle Giant called it a day, was less interesting. It did, however, expose the unpleasant nature of the music business, in which many of the people aren't interested in music, only in the powdery and fleshy perks and the money they can make.
Amongst the story we encounter Elton John (before he was), Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, Bon Jovi, Pantera and NWA amongst many others. A fun read and a must-read for any fan of Gentle Giant.
February 10, 2026
This is a solid, above-average rock autobio. Derek Shulman comes across as a very forthright, sanguine guy; he's unapologetic about his artistic and business decisions, and while the book isn't terrifically introspective, it's consistently vivid and clear-eyed. Shulman's initial career as rock frontman (for Simon Dupree & The Big Sound, then for Gentle Giant) is covered in detail, of course, but the coverage of his later career as executive and decision-maker at a series of record labels is, perhaps surprisingly, just as interesting; he recounts his role in signing and developing Bon Jovi, Pantera, Dream Theater, Nickelback, and Slipknot, among others, and it's interesting to get a label guy's perspective on these things.
June 3, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. As someone who worked in the music business for many years, Derek was someone I respected from afar. I didn't know him but knew of him. I mean the guy signed some of the greatest hard rock and metal bands of all time. Not to mention he was a pioneer in progressive rock music fronting the seminal band, Gentle Giant.
As good as it was to hear about his work with Bon Jovi and Pantera, I found the details of the formation of Simon and the Big Sound and its evolution into Gentle Giant fascinating. Derek and his brothers were on the frontlines of the birth of British rock music utilizing many of the same team that worked with the Beatles.
He's had quite a professional life, one that would be hard to replicate in today's world.
As good as it was to hear about his work with Bon Jovi and Pantera, I found the details of the formation of Simon and the Big Sound and its evolution into Gentle Giant fascinating. Derek and his brothers were on the frontlines of the birth of British rock music utilizing many of the same team that worked with the Beatles.
He's had quite a professional life, one that would be hard to replicate in today's world.
December 29, 2025
Without a doubt the best music autobiography I have ever read. Derek Shulman captures the sixties psychedelic era wonderfully well then on through to the prog era of the 70s and the continuous development of Gentle Giant. No TV sets being hurled out of windows but just a fantastic appraisal of the heights and numerous downfalls of a band - not particularly easy even when it involves your own siblings. Honestly written and a must have.
February 19, 2026
I’m a music lover but I never got into Gentle Giant so I was hoping this would pique my interest and give me an insight into a very well known guy’s career across the music industry. I struggled through about a third but found it SO hard to read - just not engaging, rather pompous and very dry. Probably one for people already super interested or aware of GG rather than interested in the music business
January 4, 2026
Closer to 3.5 ⭐️
An easy to read recollection of Derek Shulman’s professional life in music. Most of the time it was enjoyable (especially as a Gentle Giant fan), but a handful of passages suffered from ego (Shulman really thinks he is one of the greatest things to happen to music, in some aspects). Either way, very enjoyable and a must-read for all Gentle Giant fans.
An easy to read recollection of Derek Shulman’s professional life in music. Most of the time it was enjoyable (especially as a Gentle Giant fan), but a handful of passages suffered from ego (Shulman really thinks he is one of the greatest things to happen to music, in some aspects). Either way, very enjoyable and a must-read for all Gentle Giant fans.
March 9, 2026
Excellent book, especially if you are a fan of the musical group Gentle Giant. Beyond that though, the book is very well written with prose that flows like music. Derek Shulman is very articulate and shares many stories from his years in the band and his career as a music industry executive. This volume is a real page-turner.
December 21, 2025
As a Gentle Giant superfan, I can't really talk about this book with any kind of objectivity, so I'll just say thank God for the Shulman brothers and their wonderful creation, and for providing a platform for the genius that is Kerry Minnear.
November 25, 2025
One of the best memoirs I have ever read. Very honest, sometimes funny, often sad, but full of information I did not know about Gentle Giant.
May 4, 2026
Keren banget. Highly recommended. Dari musisi ke ngurusin bisnis musik. Juga membuat saya eksplorasi musik Gentle Giant.
June 15, 2026
Para fanáticos de Gentle Giant
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