What music is not derivative?

Roxy Music and The Talking Heads were a much needed breath of fresh air in the late 1970's and 80's.

It could be argued that there is no such thing as music that is not derivative. I guess Derek Bailey, Edgar Varese, and most Anthony Braxton recordings might come close. Not sure you would want to listen to them much. Alot of great stuff is challenging, innovative and derivitave, (like Gentle Giant, Roxy Music or some Radiohead). Checking out Terje Rypdal, Uwe Koprinski, Squarepusher, Lucas Niggli(Zoom), X-Legged Sally, Sonny Sharrock (Sieze the Rainbow), Massacre (w/Fred Frith), Octavo, Steve Tibbets, Allan Holdsworth, Jean Derome, Eberhard Weber, David Torn or Egberto Gismonti might fire up some under used neurons.

I think it's all basically derivative, but that doesn't deter my enjoyment one bit. I think there are more excellent practitioners today than any time before, and I enjoy what they produce despite it being derivative.

As with many terms we use, derivative can by used as a descriptor or as an (implied) insult.

I'd be curious to look back in 100 or 200 years and see if history sees the Beatles and/or the 60's as being non-derivative.

I think Kthomas is right. The Beatles weren't even that original. Lots of groups did the same things, they got the recognition. It's all in the marketing. I get the feeling most of the best and original music will never be recorded or heard by the public at large. Most people don't like or want change.
As long as people are using the same instruments they will be making the same basic music. How many variations can there be to one theme? This is one of the reasons I prefer music that incorporates instruments not typically associated with that genre.
We could certainly stand some originality in music today. There are too many Eminems to every Mozart!!!

One can be derivative yet original. Early Chicago is clearly rock/jazz, but the complexities of orchestrations and arrangements were highly original, but vey derivative.

Agreed that early Beatles weren't original (straight forward rock-n-roll), but several of their later works after they went "studio band", like Sgt Pepper's and the White Album left nearly everyone in the music biz with jaws dropped. Another of the more well-known groups that were extremely original was Yes, especially with Rick Wakeman on board.

Jim