News / Montpelier
Dismay as DJ Derek tribute mural painted over
A mural remembering one of Bristol’s most-loved DJs of recent years has been painted over.
The tribute to DJ Derek was completed at the beginning of 2017, a few months after his body was found following a nationwide search.
Derek Serpell-Morris was an accountant from Bristol who found fame as a Patois-speaking reggae DJ. Hundreds of people attended his funeral in St Paul’s.
is needed now More than ever
Covering one side of a house on Richmond Avenue in Montpelier, near to where Derek first started DJing, the memorial wall was painted by Sepr, Deams, 45RPM and Piro.
The owners of the house on the corner of Richmond Avenue and Richmond Road had asked the artists to pay tribute to Derek.
But all that now remains on the wall is a stencil of a duck by Stewy, with a stencil of Derek by Stewy also remaining on a gate next to the wall.
This is what the mural used to look like:
There was no answer from 1 Richmond Avenue on Monday morning but a passer-by said that the mural’s demise was “very sad”.
Despite not being able to speak to the current owners of the wall, Bristol24/7 understands that the wall needed to be repaired and a new piece could soon be commissioned.
The reaction to the DJ Derek mural being removed, however, has been overwhelmingly negative.
On Twitter, @allseeingiyers said: “Bit pissed off that the tribute to DJ Derek has been painted over.”
@DrPennyC tweeted: “That’s just wrong.”
@Milesband added: “What the hell? Why?”
But graffiti artist John D’Oh said: “Street art is a temporary artform. I am sure plenty of artists would step forward if the owner wanted it replaced.”
A limited edition screen print of the mural is still available to buy from the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft Shop – photo: PRSC
The wall is no longer so colourful – photo: Martin Booth
A stencil of DJ Derek remains on a gate on Richmond Road – photo: Martin Booth
But all that remains of the memorial wall is a stencil of a duck by Stewy – photo: Martin Booth
Main photo: Martin Booth
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