141. Lewis Burn
February 6th, 2011 | Published in Backers
Birmingham, UK
I grew up in Stockton, and spent many hours pouring over the treasures in Sound It Out, Trax, Record Mart – and if I made it through to Boro – Alan Fearnley’s, Playback, or the other one down the bottom on Linthorpe Road I can’t remember the name of. I feel quite sad that most of those shops are gone now, and even slightly guilty of my part in their demise. It used to be (pre-broadband) as a teenager that older friends record collections, the Guiness Book of Indie & New Wave, and an ace shopkeeper helped define and broaden my tastes. Guess I’ve caught up with the back catalogues of my heroes, and ebay solves the waiting round for the something to appear in the racks…
Not that i’ve totally foresaken independent music outlets: your film has inspired me to get down my local (Polar Bear in Kings Heath) several times this month, and with social network type stuff have bought direct from artists both big and small.
I remember Tom, he’s a top bloke and still have some of the records he sold me. I suppose my donation was a bit of thanks to people like him who were formative influences, a bit of regret for those kids who won’t experience the excitement, reverence and atmosphere of a decent indie, and finally – I hope – an encouragement for people like you who are doing their own thing, their way!
The first and last records I bought:
First: No Limits by 2 Unlimited (it *was* Teesside!)
Last: Selection 16 by Squarepusher