The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds

Ed Colver [https://edwardcolver.com/] discusses his iconic punk rock photography career, including shooting legendary album covers like Black Flag's "Damaged" and Circle Jerks' "Group Sex," as well as his passion for collecting strange "crackpot records".  Topics Include: * Ed Colver [https://www.instagram.com/edwardcolver] known for punk photography, also collects strange records * Calls his collection "crackpot records" - religious, political, spoken word * Started buying records at 14 in 1964, Pretty Things album * Always liked heavy underground psychedelic music growing up * Collected antiques, spent time at flea markets and thrift stores * Would hide good records behind Sean Cassidy albums * Put Herb Alpert records in front to fool other collectors * Music and art were everything to him growing up * Exposed to avant-garde classical in 1967 by art teacher * Learned Stockhausen, John Cage, Edgar Varèse, Toru Takamitsu * Called electronic music "your grandfather's punk rock" * George Antheil's Ballet Mechanique caused riots in 1923 * Hated high school, dropped out at 18 for junior college * Studied all kinds of applied art classes and woodworking * Made skateboard in 1963, year Kennedy was shot * Beatles on Ed Sullivan made no impact on him * Preferred Pretty Things over Beatles and Rolling Stones * Never tried playing instruments, glad didn't buy drum kit * Started photography in late 1978 at punk shows * Took friend Robert Hill to shows, now works national security * Couldn't afford much film, had to be selective * Used manual focus with small flash, paid attention constantly * Shot rhythm-timed photos, watched for dramatic moments * Lost lens in right eye 30 years ago * Famous Chuck Berk stage dive photo taken July 1981 * Met Chuck next night, never saw him again since * Chuck gets paid when photo is licensed commercially * Levi's and Vans perfect product placement in photo * Circle Jerks "Group Sex" cover shot at Marina skate park * Was there specifically to shoot album cover, not spontaneous * Used color film, took more than one roll * High contrast printing saved the mediocre color photo * Black Flag "Damaged" cover concept was Ed's idea * Shot near La Bianca murder house location coincidentally * Made fake blood from ink, coffee, and dish soap * Red-eyed Henry photos were rejected as "too demented" * Original red-eye photos lost for 35 years * Channel 3 Pure Life photo originally for Damaged insert * Typeset layout ruined the backward gun photograph's power * How to Overcome Discouragement record from early 1970s * Played it as soundtrack at art walk event * Has broken glass on cover, similar to Damaged * Wild in Streets cover shot during San Francisco parade * Circle Jerks crashed parade, Ed ran ahead shooting * Parade doesn't show in final photo, just street * Shot Darby Crash mohawk photo backstage at Starwood * Darby died about two months after that photo * Ice Cube portrait shot in one minute, ten frames * Used medium format camera with professional lighting setup Extended and high resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide [http://www.patreon.com/VinylGuide] Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0 [http://apple.co/2Y6ORU0] Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8 [https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8]

Fred Schneider [https://www.instagram.com/funfred1/] of The B-52s [https://www.instagram.com/theb52sband/] discusses his massive 10,000+ record collection while sharing stories about the B-52's early days, the original "Rock Lobster" single, vinyl reissues and new boxset. [https://store.rhino.com/en/rhino-store/artists/the-b-52s/] Topics Include: * Massive record collection visible in wall-to-ceiling custom cabinets * Estimates 10,000+ records, considers himself a "record nut" * Collection includes avant-garde, classical, funk, soul, bad records * Loves bad Christmas records and Halloween records specifically * Been collecting since age 13, started in early days * Currently has broken receiver, can't play main system * Portable player works for 45s but stops unexpectedly * Still adding records but doing major purge now * Selling and donating records, too many to listen to * Donates to Archive of Contemporary Music organization regularly * Most precious records are original 45s from youth * Still has first album mother bought thinking Beatles * Moved into funk, Led Zeppelin, then New Wave music * Was Sirius Satellite Radio DJ for three years * Prefers first pressings, doesn't care about reissues much * Looking for "When I'm Gone" by Brenda Holloway * Will clean up scuffed records if sound improves * Vinyl never left his turntable despite CD popularity * Listens to music most of day while doing activities * Plays classical mornings while reading magazines and coffee * Enjoys electronic music from 50s/60s and harp music * B-52s sound came from all members' varied influences * Band was lumped with punk but more "freak punk" * Original "Rock Lobster" single recorded in Georgia mountains * DB Records pressed 2,000 copies, sold out quickly * Eventually pressed 30,000 total copies of original single * Australia embraced band early, rolled out red carpet * Band never saw penny from original single sales * Talking Heads recommended B-52s to their manager successfully Enter to win a record from us to celebrate Ep500 [https://thevinylguide.com/500] High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide [http://www.patreon.com/VinylGuide] Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0 [http://apple.co/2Y6ORU0] Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8 [https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8]

Epitaph [https://www.epitaph.com/] founder Brett Gurewitz [https://www.instagram.com/brettgurewitz/] discusses rare records, early Bad Religion releases, the lasting impact of "Suffer", format transitions, and staying relevant through punk's evolution and vinyl's revival. Topics Include: * Brett's first record: Cosmo's Factory at age 9-10 * Lost entire record collection after breakup with Susie Shaw * Greg Shaw's legendary garage rock collection inspired young Brett * Vinyl revival surprised Brett after seeing format cycles * Started Epitaph shipping vinyl from West Beach closet * CD controversy: expensive, poor sound quality initially * Made three formats: vinyl, cassette, CD for releases * Vinyl nearly died in late 90s, warehouse troubles * COVID lockdown sparked massive vinyl sales resurgence * Indie artists need vinyl for merch booths * Color variants important for hardcore collecting communities * Epitaph's mission: help artists, don't make records ourselves * Started Bad Religion at 17, Greg/Jay were 15 * No label knowledge, just entrepreneurial punk rock spirit * Dad lent $1500, found Alberti pressing plant * First 7-inch had skipping error, different pressings exist * Rodney on ROQ played cassette before vinyl * Fan mail arrived from Europe surprisingly early * "Into the Unknown" prog disaster: 11,000 returns somehow * Took day job selling gay disco imports * Learned recording at University of Sound Arts * Started West Beach studio in Pacifica's back closet * Cocaine-fueled 80s work schedule: three jobs simultaneously * "Suffer" recorded in seven days, transcendent experience * Eddie Schreier at Capitol gave Brett confidence boost * "Suffer" sound attracted top punk bands to studio * Signed NOFX, Offspring through West Beach connections * California harmonies influenced by Adolescents, Beach Boys * "Beginner's mind" philosophy keeps Epitaph current today * Authenticity and youth create that rock miracle Enter to win a record from us to celebrate Ep500 [https://thevinylguide.com/500] High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide [http://www.patreon.com/VinylGuide] Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0 [http://apple.co/2Y6ORU0] Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8 [https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8]

Billy Gibbons [https://billygibbons.com/] shares his lifelong passion for collecting vinyl records and vintage guitars, from his first Jimmy Reed single to his legendary "Pearly Gates" Les Paul [https://www.lespaulforum.com/index.php?threads/billy-gibbons-pearly-gates-a-short-history.224247/], revealing the stories behind iconic instruments and rare recordings. Topics Include: * Billy Gibbons [https://www.instagram.com/billyfgibbons] has honorary doctorate from Musicians Institute * Extensive record collection includes many well-preserved 78s * Takes records on tour bus, plays DJ with Elwood * About 1,200 legitimate record stores exist worldwide today * Favorite shops include Waterloo Austin [https://waterloorecords.com/], secret Vegas spot * Record stores create communities with great coffee, food * British resurrected American blues through vinyl reissues * Girlfriend "Stick" sent Hendrix record from London early * Moving Sidewalks learned Purple Haze before tour * Jimi appreciated their nerve playing his songs first * Saw Elvis at age five in 1956 Houston * Witnessed B.B. King recording at ACA Studios age six * First record was Jimmy Reed single via housekeeper's list * Parents supported musical tastes, dad was MGM pianist * Mom "knew how to play the radio" best * Dad's family immigrated 1908, became musicians avoiding gloves * Samuel Goldfish (Goldwyn) brought dad to MGM Pictures * Elvis lit fuse, B.B. King sealed musical deal * Beatles introduced unusual harmonies, more than three chords * First vinyl appearance: Moving Sidewalks "99th Floor" * Recorded at Doyle Jones studio in Houston * Houston had rich recording scene with multiple studios * Various labels operated from Houston recording schools * Pearly Gates Les Paul bought for $250 originally * Searched for guitars matching Pearly Gates' magic sound * Three vintage Les Pauls appeared at Carter Vintage simultaneously * Nacho Banos recreating vintage Les Pauls in Spain * Recently played Albert King's custom Flying V gift * Recording "Chronicles 2" using Albert's original Flying V * Robert Johnson legend, pictures and collectables * Guitar collection includes meteorite picks, slides, Bo Diddley rectangle Enter to win a record from us to celebrate Ep500 [https://thevinylguide.com/500] High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide [http://www.patreon.com/VinylGuide] Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0 [http://apple.co/2Y6ORU0] Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8 [https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8]

Billy Corgan [https://www.instagram.com/billycorgan] discusses his unconventional record collecting philosophy while revealing the complex saga behind the Machina albums, the 25 legendary vinyl copies, the upcoming Machines of God boxset, Mellon Collie vinyl releases and more. Topics Include: * Billy working on book for 10 years, restarted multiple times * Billy buys lots of records but isn't fussy collector * Prioritizes clean vinyl condition over perfect covers or variants * Worked at record store in 80s, understands collector mindset * Collects obscure major label releases from 60s and 70s * Searches for forgotten bands with no online information trace * Loves jazz on 10-inch records from late 50s/early 60s * Record collection has no organization, total mess at home * Bought thousand records on last tour, resells some * Machina originally sprawling concept record about band breaking up * Virgin Records treated band poorly despite massive previous sales * Never finished complete Machina vision during original 2000 sessions * Released truncated 15-song Machina I album through Virgin/EMI * Band toured 11 months knowing they'd break up afterward * Three weeks before breakup, Billy rushed to finish leftover recordings * Record company rejected finished Machina II * Billy dumped complete Machina II free on internet in 2000 * First major band to release album free online, predating Radiohead * Machina II became viral sensation, fans loved the record * Produced only 25 hand-cut vinyl copies of Machina II * Each copy uniquely wrapped in printed tape, all different * Sent copies to Robert Smith, fans; now worth thousands * Years of legal battles with Universal over complete release * Initial "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" vinyl release * Alterations for Mellon Collie running order * New Machina box set finally coming through Madame ZuZu's [https://madamezuzus.com/] * Box contains 80 songs: complete vision plus extra tracks * Universal separately reissuing original Machina I album remastered * ZWAN vinyl reissue underway * Archive contains over 60,000 pieces of physical media * Hundreds of live concert recordings from 90s tours available * Billy passionate about rewarding dedicated fans who dig crates Enter to win a record from us to celebrate Ep500 [https://thevinylguide.com/500] High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide [http://www.patreon.com/VinylGuide] Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0 [http://apple.co/2Y6ORU0] Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8 [https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8]