Earlier today, I received an email from a student who was putting together a paper on record collectors. He asked me if I would contribute and this is what he got.
how long have you been collecting and what got you initially started?
I’ve been collecting records since the late 90s. Probably 98 or 99. I initially started collecting shirts. Just buying a shirt every show. Back then, I didn’t care about records. I didn’t even own a record player so they didn’t matter to me. Then at some point, I realized, “whoa records are cool” and started collecting them.
why do you feel this has become such a big deal in the hardcore scene…basically why are people willing to pay tons of money on ebay for records?
Here’s my take on the matter, it may get a little philosophical.
Hardcore is an experience. It isn’t just music for music’s sake. It’s an experience that is enjoyed in VFW halls and basements and clubs all over the world. Records are snapshots of that experience that individuals can enjoy from the comfort of their bedroom or home, whether it be learning all the words for the next show, or perfecting the bed stage dive. But it’s more than that. When I started listening to hardcore, it was the early 90s. This was AFTER all my favorite bands had broken up: Gorilla Biscuits, Youth Of Today, Side By Side, Crippled Youth, … So in essence, by owning one of these records, I own an artifact from that time, as if I was there.
As far as ridiculous ebay prices go, hey, that’s just supply vs. demand. Basic economics. Sure, I’d love a chung king. But there are only 75 in circulation and there are WAY more than 75 other people who also want one.
how big of a role has this played in your life…money, time, etc?
I probably surf ebay every day. But I barely ever look at vinyl anymore. Right now, I’m only interested in getting a few old Rev releases or presses from bands that I’m friends with. At times, I have spent an inordinate amount on records. 2 stories for you.
a) Back in the fall/winter of 99, I run into a older hardcore dude. Actually, it was real weird. I ended up driving by his house and seeing him wearing an old shirt. Somehow we got to talking and he said he wanted to sell his record collection. This was my prime time of record collecting so I was psyched. Also, I had just taken down a hold em tournament at Foxwoods so I had a ton of cash burning a hole in my pocket. He let me into his apartment and I felt like the first 49er, “there’s gold in dem der hills.” We worked out a sale for a stack of early rev color vinyl (gb lp on purple, gb ep on yellow, sick of it all on red, 1st press together comp, …), the first press of the straight ahead LP and a CHAIN CREW. I handed him $400 and walked away. Yeah, $400. HAHAH, wow. The thing is, I left a ton of valuable records behind. He told me to call him again if I wanted more vinyl. I called him the next week, trying to pressure him into selling me his Together comp on orange. Finally, I just showed up at his house, handed him $1k in cash and took EVERY SINGLE RECORD he had left. Going through them all, I found more gold. Judge lp on green, shelter lp on maroon, cro-mags age of quarrel, … and SIXTEEN Converge Halo In A Haystack first press lps. I ended up selling or trading 15 of those lps over time and netted more than $1k from those sales. So yeah, I was stoked. He was psyched to get that $1k, I was psyched to get all that vinyl. My girlfriend wasn’t so psyched. She hates the smell of record stores, and these were a little worse off. For a week or two, they stank like cigs. Wack.
b) There was a record store in Boston called Second Coming run by this old punk/core dude affectionately known as King Mike. At least, that’s what I called him. Anyway, the store would always have a gem or two from random boston dudes selling stuff back. One rainy day, I was in the store with my wife. She was anxious to leave (recall, she hates the smell of musty record stores. The extra rain smell wasn’t helping either). However, there was a sign on the wall, “Punk and Hardcore EPs coming soon. Ask for more info.” I’m discussing the sign with my wife when King Mike overhears and asks me what I’m looking for. “Oh, you know, Judge, gorilla biscuits, chain of strength, …” After each band, he would say, “yeah, I have some of that.” He then says, “hey, I’m leaving for my lunch break, do you want to come back to my house and look for those records? I have that GB todd youth b-side at my house.” My eyes nearly burst out of my face; I knew this would be my second potential gold mine. I conned my girlfriend into making the trek to his house. Walking through the rain for 4-5 blocks wasn’t fun, but we got there and got down to business. “ok, the records are in here. [to my gf] you can watch some tv if you want.” and turned on the tv for her. Him and I entered a den sized room converted into a record store, basically. There were white EP boxes EVERYWHERE. And to my chagrin, “these aren’t alphabetically at all. Sorry.” For the next 4 hours, we went through record box after record box. At the end of hour 3, we had gone through all of them, but hadn’t found the chain ttd on CLEAR vinyl. “Oh we must have missed it. Oh well.” HELL NO, I went back through the boxes until I found it. I recall walking away from his house a very happy person. The major find was the Chain of Strength EP on clear. After we left the ATM kiosk and Mike with a nice sum of money, my girlfriend began telling me horror stories about her 4 hour sit. “The tv remote was messed up. It didn’t work. I had to watch a family ties reunion. 4 hours worth!! Also, the couches were COVERED in cat hair and now I’m feeling sneezy and scratchy. Also, the cats were deranged. They kept climbing on the counter top and dive bombing me. I think they hated me …” Ah, good times.
what does this all mean to you as an individual…why is hardcore and vinyl an important part of your life?
Check my philosophical answer on that one.
As for vinyl currently, it doesn’t mean as much anymore. I haven’t bought any vinyl in quite some time. I’d rather get back to my main focus; t-shirts. It also doesn’t help that I’m now addicted to Nikes. I went from one expensive collection to another. Luckily, I’ve found some rad dudes that will trade vinyl for kicks. To me, records don’t hold the same joy anymore. I can’t wear a GB ep to the local show. I can’t stage dive with a floorpunch on gold. Shirts and sneakers are way more accessible to me now. That’s where my head is currently. It could change in 3-4 years and I could regret selling/trading my records.
One last note: one of my favorite pieces in my collection is my Project X EP. I scored it off of ebay before kids got insane. It may have been badly listed too. I recall it only sold for $75 but was 100% legit. When I got it in the mail, I was doubly surprised. I knew it had hand written labels, but the message on them psyched me out. “Screw Skrewdriver” Perfect sentiment.
Diggity dope.
