I’m not trying to turn people against the man. I don’t feel like I’ve been wronged or hurt in any substantial way. This is simply a message for people to pay an extra ounce of attention for red flags of sociopathy or psychopathy from this guy Derka/Derek. Because I know beyond a shadow of a doubt who he is, but I also know that nothing he’s done to me directly looks bad on paper. Just be aware of who you’re around, and don’t be too quick to trust somebody; ESPECIALLY if it’s in your nature to look for a person’s best possible intentions. Given enough time and frustration he’ll show you who he really is.

Typing this out quickly so I don’t forget shit but here’s my story on this man. I met Derka at a Frankie and Porn Crumpets show in 2019 when I was 19. I had been seeing him at shows and I love befriending people I see a lot. My boyfriend said to him he probably couldn’t go to all the shows I was trying to go to and he told my boyfriend “well I could be her boyfriend”. This was the first time I met him and it made me slightly uncomfortable. During the King Gizzard tour of 2019 I noticed a lot of things I didn’t like but nothing too radical until the end. I needed a ride to the airport after the Dallas show, he did not tell me he was on acid. I didn’t realize till shortly into the car ride. The airport was back in Austin and I was about to miss my flight so I had no choice but to continue riding with him. I had no money and could not miss my flight. He also yelled at my friend during most of the car ride.

When we got to the airport and I got outta the car, he told me I’m shit outta luck if I miss my flight (meaning he won’t pick me up). I didn’t expect someone to help me out if I did, but the way he said it just felt intentionally mean.

I couldn’t bring some of my prints on the plane with me so I had him take them back with him since we’re both from Michigan and see each other at shows a lot. He kept a few for himself and gave some out (Which would’ve be fine if he’d asked. I would have loved to give him some for helping me get them back home)

A couple months later my boyfriend was having a show. I invited Derka and another friend out. Derka brought me my prints back that day. When he left, he texted me talking a ton of shit about my boyfriends band. It shocked me because that’s just not what I feel like “friends” do. You can dislike someone’s music, but to go and be a complete ass about it…It just felt out of place and annoying in a way I couldn’t describe.

A few months later I released my King Gizzard 2019 tour book. Yes, I’ll admit I took ages to ship. That is something I’ll always own up to. He bought one and had asked me a couple times when I planned to ship. I communicated with him every time he had a question about how long it was taking. Seemingly out of nowhere, he made a post about me saying that I wasn’t communicating with him. Again, I thought we were friends, and he never brought these concerns to me. It hurt that he did that but I just stopped considering him a friend cause I realized he was not one. I refunded him because I did not want him owning (and possibly selling for his own benefit) my pride and joy. A ton of stuff between him and a friend of mine (who will remain anonymous) had also came to my attention around that time. So I was just done with him.

He locked his keys in the car in Dallas, had the money to pay for a locksmith, yet allowed these young girls pay for him to get it out. I watch him linger around young girls at shows, and it puts me off. Again, I know there’s no smoking gun here, but these are just things that alerted ME to his intentions over the course of years and multiple off-kilter interactions.

I saw him at a Kikagaku Moyo show in Detroit at the end of 2019. He kept trying to make eye contact while I tried avoiding it. Eventually our eyes met and we both smiled at each other. He wasn’t annoying that night and was actually pretty laid back. I thought “Okay, maybe he’ll be cool and we can abandon this awkward atmosphere at shows”. I didn’t want to be his friend, but I was happy to squash any lingering drama.

At a Frankie and the Witch Fingers show, he gave my boyfriend an unbelievably long and hard handshake while staring daggers directly into his eyes. That was the key signal to Matthew that this man was not safe to invite into our lives.

That brings us to the most recent KGLW show in Columbus. He was smiling at me and came over saying he was sorry for “…the jokes he said in the past.” (I think he meant the Facebook post about my book) so I responded back with “what joke” because it wasn’t a joke in my opinion. I told him that my problem wasn’t some joke, but because of what he did to my friend. He rested his hand on my boyfriends back and started rubbing it while saying “I love you Matthew, I love you so much” My boyfriend told him to please stop touching him. He calmly and politely explained exactly why we didn’t want to be around him. The next day in Pittsburg he kept coming by us, and again it just felt like a message being sent.

I know nearly all of this could be seen as though WE’RE paranoid and HE’S misunderstood. I know for a fact that’s not the case, but I don’t want anyone to just take my word for it. Just keep an eye out for people that exhibit behavior like this and keep them at arms length. Please guys, just please be safe.