Marillion's early albums were my life blood in my mid teens, now I'm 51 and they are still so relevant, ageless, timeless.

Fish is a great man and an even more awesome person. He knows what’s really important in life.

Awesome man! I loved Marillion with Fish in it, I was sorry to see him leave the band but watching this I have nothing but even more respect for this man.

At age 15 I lost my mother to cancer and Misplaced Childhood, released that year, took me to a different place and helped get me through some very hard times. Roll on 3 years and I was working as a barman in Edinburgh (Sneaky Pete’s in the Cowgate) and I had the pleasure of serving (buying) Fish a drink and thanking him for the music that had helped me so much. The man was a gentleman and very kind to me....I’ll never forget that or his music.

What an honest and straightforward man. No matter how hard you try to avoid fame, you're still a hero, a poet and a star to me, Derek William Dick !

Fish is a brilliant lyricist and poet. Time will tell how incrdibly gifted a wordsmith he is. He's a modern poet.

This man was Marillion. I grew up through my teens and into my early 20's with their albums during his reign and was lucky enough to see them live numerous times. Script, Fugazi, Real to reel, misplaced, clutching at straws, Thieving magpie all albums I still listen to now. Will buy the last solo album and wish Fish the best of luck in music retirement. This was my music in the 80's and I am stilling listening. Thank you sooo much Fish.

Clutching at straws is one of the greatest albums ever recorded ... it takes you on a whole journey through so many emotions !! As for Fish's lyrics he is simply one of the greatest poets to ever put pen to paper .

At 2:28 I was half expecting him to say "a villa in France, my own cocktail bar, and that's where you're gonna find me". Fish is so great.

Fish is like Mick Fleetwood,Phil Collins,and Peter Gabriel all in one...loved the attitude of playing to 300 people. Love him.

And that's why I like scottish people..they speak genuinely and with a heart

Often in life, less is more! My heart was broken when Fish quit MARILLION in 88. Now this vid makes me understand why he quit. Shouldn't we all follow our heart more often? Thanks Fish...

Last week I had an evening of listening to the album script for a jesters tear. And this week misplaced childhood. I slipped away into my late teen years memories. Full of friends. Situations. The first girl I ever loved and the one I married. Including the birth of my daughter Kayleigh named after your song. God bless you Fish your a true legend

Such class. Pure brilliance. This is what a true artist looks like. Love those early Marillion albums with Fish. Respect!!! ❤️

I wish him all the best. The guys a legend.

I've been a Marillion fan since the Script for a Jester's Tear album and was gutted when Fish left after Clutching at Straws. I saw Marillion on the Season's End tour and Steve Hogarth looked a little nervous for the first two songs, but after that, he gave an excellent performance. They have been a great band from the first album. Fish continues to produce fantastic albums with lyrics which never fail to hit the mark.

Such an honest, humble man, I could talk to him all day!

I was 15 when Misplaced Childhood came out. That album shaped my life in the next years.... SO GOOD.

Clutching was the natural conclusion for Fish in Marillion and it's a stone cold classic. Best album in their catalogue, hands down.

The legacy of the poet, the magic of the lyrics, brilliant! Fish and Marillion for ever!

Being a performing musician for over 40 years, I love this. Great perspective on life/music.

I could listen to this all day. Very sincere, no bullshit and I totally agree with him.

A true lyrical genius, and a genuinely decent bloke, saw him in hull doing his last clutching at straws album, was BRILLIANT.. long live Fish

The band was called Marillion after Fish left but it wasn't Marillion any more.

Just re-bought Script & Childhood on 5 disc special edition including blu-ray 5.1 audio. Never gets old.

I respect the man for sticking to what he wanted to be instead of just being miserable.

I love the early Marillion, the fish era.. Clutching at straws are a masterpiece.. And after seeing this video.. I understand why I like the fish era. I have always feel Mr Fish have been a down to earth character.. Thank you Mr Fish. For being so real and natural. And thank you for the excellent Marillion albums. 🙂✌❤

Amazing the music of Fish and Marillion I discover this music yesterday and I can't stop listening Lavander and Keileigh. Full of meaning and energy! I am 42

Simply the best! The simple life, the interaction of people is one of those fantastic skills from Derek. During a performance here in Brazil, after a song, he just sat on the stage and started a very nice conversation with us. The unforgatable day!

I'll never forget walking through Dublin in 1985,l wanted to buy the latest KERRANG Magazine and nipped into an Easons ( lrish WH SMITH) l picked up a copy and started reading it,a hand reached in beside me and grabbed a Kerrang too and l paid no notice till l heard this booming,exotic,Scottish accent,it was of course Fish and Steven Rothery reading a Marillion article,l was stunned! ( Especially since l had handpainted the "Script" album as a backpatch on my Denim jacket and had about 12 Marillion patches on it. "Nice artwork" Steve said,l was too shocked to respond! Then Fish asked me where the Venue in Dublin was for the gig over the next two nights,was it close? (It was 3/4 of a mile away) "It is! Follow me,i'll take you there!" I got to hang with them for a 3/4 mile walk and it was a very cool experience for a 16 year Old Marillion Nut. A brilliant day and both gigs were amazing. ( Fish cried on the second night) amazing times. Thank you Steve and Fish.

Fantastic interview that shows Fish has a heart and soul and his head is in the right place. The system hates this kind of individual. Join us as we use our music to shine some light on the truth in these twisted and dark times. TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER.

Fish is a true musician. Does music for the love of it and does it his way with no pressure telling him how he should do his music. I'm a great admirer of this guy. Big fan of Fish era Marillion and his early solo albums.

10000000% respect to him. He did a Dave Chapelle before Dave Chapelle did. A Pearl Jam before Pearl Jam. You could always hear the integrity in his voice on those Marillion albums. That was what made them so special and utterly inimitable. Why they inspired such passion in their fans. Love to hear this. He personally gave me the rest of his cigarette he was smoking from the stage, when I was 17 in 1986, Massey Hall, Toronto.

I talked to Mark Kelly after a concert in 1991, post-Fish, and asked him what had happened, why did Fish leave, he told me 'One by one he just pissed us all off.' and that was that. Well, then we drank. I never really listened to them beyond the first two Hogarth albums, but I still listen to the first four albums.

Love all their stuff, but have to say my favourite album is still Misplaced Childhood. Fish, IMHO, is THE best lyricist of the last 50+ years.

Me too. I’m now 55. Fugazi is one of my favourite album albums of all time. Definitely in top 5.

This man is a legend. First Marillion song I heard was Grendel... never looked back.

Brilliant! What an absolute legend. In it for the music and the passion of what that means, not only to the bands or artists, but the fans too. Fair play to you Fish. What a top guy!

Clutching at Straws. What a masterpiece that record was?! One of the best of all time I think

That really is him. I met him in Paris backstage after the concert thanks to one of the organizers I met in Brussels at their concert. He walked up to me and kissed me on the cheek .. I was stunned...now listening to this .. I can tell “fish” .. you made it “

I remember when I was 17 and clutching at straws came out, every second of that album is a punch of joy. Best rock album ever been made.

I've always loved Fish and now I love him even more; wonderful artist and human being.

I shook hands with Derek during Sheffield concert 2015, as he sat & sang next to me in row 7. Still own & enjoy all Fish era Marillion albums on CD & vinyl.

Thanks for this interview, so relaxed and natural. My congrats to the Interviewer. Some absolute gems in here about this great man and the band.

Fish speaks with a realness and an honesty you can't help but respect. No fakery whatsoever.

What a great guy. That’s real passion for your music! A lot of artists could learn from him.!!

I was devastated when Fish left Marillion, In my view as Marillion the whole was more then the sum of it's parts. But then I did love his first solo album and also Marillion's first solo album. I can understand his choice and totally agree to what he needed to do. I do love all his solo work. Marillion is just a small part of his career but for me growing up into adulthood a very important part of my life. I played their songs every day in the eighties and early nineties. Let's say they kept me alive. I kept on following Marillion too but my heart lies with Fish. His music comes from his heart.

You are a true legend !!! Your music is wonderful 😁

I met Fish back in the 80's and was mesmerized forevermore.

I’m 50 and grew up with these guys, love the music, .My 16 Year old Son now loves them too, I’ve done my job as a dad😊

Despite growing turbulences in the band, I consider Clutching at straws a f..kin masterpiece! My beloved album from Fish era. The entry suite: Hotel hobbies/That time of the night/Warm wet circles is among my favourite pieces of rock music ever written/played. There are moments in this suite that still send shivers down my spine every single time I listen to it (after 23 years since I discovered Clutching at straws in my uncles record collection).

Clutching at straws and Misplaced Childhood are my favorites. I was fortunate to see Fish playing the whole Misplaced Childhood-album at Sweden Rock Festival a few years ago.

Thank you for opening up - your honesty, warmth of heart and playfulness in spirit is enthralling to observe. May God bless you with distinction on your miraculous Earthly Sojourn...

What a man. Straight up down to earth. Complete contrast to the so called superstars today.

I saw them @ Reading in '83 as a 17 yr old. Its hard to believe its 40 yrs ago! Blimey how time flies. Im 57 now but i still feel like im 17 lol. Never cared for them after Fish left. Their debut is their best work imho.

I've discovered, F Marillion in 1979 , i'm 63 and still listening to their master pieces Fish i like a lot

"ìm 70 years old and every day I listen at least one song of old Marillion I like also "Fellini days"

I love Misplaced childhood album & also 1 of my fave songs is "that Time of the Night I think you were a great storyteller in your lyrics 👌👌👌

I discovered this band today. Hearing him say “It wasn’t about the money” makes me want to dive into their discography!

When Fish turned his back on the band, so did i. I'm happy to say i saw them live in the 'painted' and 'unpainted' days. I think the last time was at the Milton Keynes Bowl. It might have been Quo's so called last gig. The best one was when they showcased Misplaced Childhood. Playing it through in it's entirety. I remember Fish saying it had two tracks, one called side one and the other side two... It's still my favourite album of theirs and in my top ten of all time!

I know what he means because i was at the Ahoy show. Only show i’ve seen with the original line-up. Memories… thanks for sharing.

Fish came to Brazil, doing a solo tour, at Olympia on May 11th, 2005. That’s a great concert which inspired our song “Um Homem Qualquer”. Clutching at straws, my favorite, Marillion album. Never give up playing or listening to Progressive music, just for the record, great interview. Hello Fish, thanks for the awesome music and lyrics...

What a great man, So refreshing to hear, Played in my home town, sadly I couldn't go. Must get a T-shirt xx

Been FOLLOWING YOU & MARILLION Since 1985.....LOVE FOREVER.......LAVENDER GOT ME......

Awesome vocals. It impress me every time i listen to you, for the last 30 years. And make sense every word you say in this video.

If you listen the script for a jestures tear, the web, et al…the lyrical symphony arouses emotions, curiosities, questions - timeless spectrum of a journey every human goes through, teens, early twenties…the passage for thinkers is captured like none other in Marillion and Fish.

What a great guy .Ive just listened to your music after a long while and its just so good.

Fish is such an intelligent and sensible man. He couldn't associate with all those sharks around him. I love his attitude. the downside is, we never heard them again. we we're never more touched by their talents... that's what's sad.

Great interview from an amazing guy.

I was fortunate to see the Clutching at Straws tour in A small club in NYC and what a show it was!!!

I'm a bit shocked listening to him. He sounds so ... normal. Not the way I envisioned that voice, singing those words. He just seems so down to earth. Thanks for the interview!

Freedom is the most important thing. And happiness comes with simple things too. Cant agree more to his words although I was blown away back in the days as I was big Marillion fan mid to late 80s.

I respect him so much for this but still miss Marillion with Fish.

Great job! This is the whole Marillion spirit missing along these latest years.. Fish.. he is talented and his nature always moved us as real stone Marillion fans since the 80s. Fish will always have our big respect.

Chateaux Fish, from the beginning until the end, you did it your way. Fabulous

Fish is a great man, I used to live near him in the 80's in Gerrards Cross i'd see him on his bike while i was on a sit on lawnmower he would always say hello just a nice fella enjoying his day. i'd walk past house and see the Gold Albums on his living room wall. I live back in south yorkshire now but i would like to to see him perform if he gets close to Sheffield.

I saw them in 87 at the Wembley arena, Clutching at Straws, I am still drowning! 😢😢😢

Amazingly so huge and popular that I have never heard of them. Perspective is everything I guess, once you are surrounded by a few thousand, it feels like it goes on forever.

Fantastic interview and very insightful. Wonderful to hear it straight from the horse’s mouth. Great journalism.

Fish and Marillion all found a way ultimately to be happy with themselves and thankfully that has resulted in another 30 years of incredible music from all of them - so it was all for the best!

Appreciate the thoughts from Fish, and I get that lots of artists prefer small, intimate gigs, and I get the committee thing too, and also the concept of 'becoming famous' - but that's just what happens when you get successful in this game. What you are actually telling us is you didn't want to be famous, you wanted to remain small. I still feel it was a big mistake leaving Marillion. You were excellent. The ensemble you created with Rothery, Kelly, Mosley and Trewavas was unmatched. I listened to the 1987 Wembley gig tonight - I have never heard better music. You are right on one thing, Clutching at Straws is mind bendingly good, although almost everything you did in those four albums, was excellent. I have seen and heard some of your shows, the level of musicianship isn't the same as with Marillion. Your last point is true, but ironic. You stated you write what you want to write and you do what you want to do. Marillion have been doing this for years via the power of the internet. PS, I always preferred you to Hogarth.

I was introduced to Marillion, post-Fish, 13 years ago. Marillion is now my favourite band and I love Steve Hogarth, but I adore Fish-era Marillion, too. One exquisite band with two different and delicious flavours.

Thanks so much for your honesty and sincerity, Fish. You are the best. I agree with you. "Clutching at Straws" is definitely the best album you made you Marillion. It is simply brilliant. I am so glad to hear that you are happy with your life and what you do. I sincerely wish you all the best, good health and success in your projects. Thank you so much for all the beautiful work you have created so far. I really respect and admire you.

Clutching is a masterpiece imo. Both Rothery & Fish were on fire. There's been awesome glimpses of brilliance since,but nothing equal. Do yourselves a favor and pick up the recent remaster.

they were never the same once fish left, a true great band

This man sang and sings the most important songs of my life. This is what music is for. On e of the best singers I have ever heard. Best music I know. Thanks for conducting this IV

This is what music and life is all about 💪 so much respect for this man !

My brother got me into Marillion back when Script For A Jester’s Tear came out. He had the full color “picture disc” vinyl. I fell in love w/Grendel, as Beowulf is my favorite poem. I rediscovered Marillion when I got a 3 song sample cd w/The Great Escape. Fell in love w/that as well. Pretty cool how the band has evolved over the years. Love early Marillion w/Fish & the live video of Grendel. I’d actually like to see another harder band cover it, staying true to the original, but amping up the bass & guitar. As far as “current” Marillion goes, Brave Live 2013 is my fave.

Great stuff, loved this interview. thank you

Legal saber que o Clutching at Straws é o álbum favorito do Fish! Curti muito esse álbum em CD no meu carro por longas noites na cidade.

I have seen Fish in Islington 2015 and 2016. 2015 was just after the Paris attacks and Fish was greater than ever. my husband who was a music promoter was very impressed and he took me back the next year. My personnal favourite: Script for a jester's tear

Clutching at straws was, is and will be one of the most shining jewels in rock history!

A man of integrity ❤️👍

Nice honest guy he definitely interviewed himself there loved that well done fish and good luck ...

Respect. I’ve always said that when it’s not fun anymore, I’ll stop doing it. Good to see someone putting their money where their mouth is.

I love Clutching At Straws!! Amazing and awesome masterpiece.

Respect man for walking away from the madness of the whole situation of the commercial side of the music industry.

A great artist and a good person

I saw Marillion a few times many moons ago, was anyone else at the Swansea gig in 1983 when they got on stage about midnight as they had to rush down from the top of the pops studio the same night. Excellent gig, I vaguely remember queuing up for the one public payphone to tell my parents I'd be very very late home 😅

He is true to himself- I wouldn’t have expected anything else frankly. It’s all there in his lyrics… Long live Fish!!