About me?
Laurent Dekeyzer
I am Belgian and, above all, a music lover. I am not a musician, although I have tried my hand at the guitar, but music is a part of my everyday life and I am eternally grateful to the artists who bring me so much pleasure and comfort.
I collect records: vinyl, CDs, cassettes and a few rarer formats. I find them in record shops, at flea markets or at conventions, and I also read a lot about music.
Photos showing how the collection has evolved since 1990 can be viewed in the FAQs.
Simple Minds
It’s 1990, and I’m 17. It’s a year of big changes for me, starting with starting at a new school, where I have to make new friends.
I can still picture myself during a break, under the huge covered playground, when Philippe, a classmate, asked me what sort of music I listened to. I didn’t know much about it and, so as not to lose face, I replied: ‘Whatever’s on the radio. ’ He immediately realised that my answer meant nothing: ‘So you don’t listen to anything!’ Then he handed me the headphones from his Walkman: ‘Here, have a listen to this!’
And then, it hits me. The opening notes of ‘Street Fighting Years’ hit me like a ton of bricks and give me goosebumps. Philippe, the school playground, the school, the world… everything around me fades away: I am completely spellbound.
After school, he took me to a nearby record shop so I could buy the Simple Minds cassette, without even knowing if there was a player at home! It was the start of a great love affair, with all its ups and downs.
Since then, I’ve opened my heart and mind to other bands and explored many other genres, but I remain unwaveringly loyal to the one I affectionately call MY band.
Discology
My first management tool was called GDC (‘Gestion Disques et Cassettes’), programmed in QBasic. With the advent of the Internet, PHP and MySQL, I created Discology in 2005: a play on words on ‘disques au logis’ (records at home).
I develop and update it myself, spending several hours a week on it. It is a personal website, with no adverts or commercial purpose: simply a desire to share my passion. Keep an eye on Discology for updates as the site develops.
The Odyssey of Progressive Rock
I’ve also written a book: *The Odyssey of Progressive Rock*, the history of progressive rock through a selection of around a hundred albums. It’s free to read online or as a PDF.
Do you have a question, a comment or have you spotted an error?
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