When I was a teen in the 1980’s I had quite the vinyl collection going. I was heavily into U2, The Virgin Prunes, PiL, and other bands that were considered ‘alternative’ during that time. Over the years, for various reasons, that old collection disappeared. I moved around so much after 2000 that there was no way I could hold onto them. The only ones that survived all of the upheaval were the 45’s that I kept in my mother’s linen closet that are still sitting there to this day. I actually plan on sending her some money within the year so that she can mail them to me.
Collecting vinyl has become very popular due to a huge kick of nostalgia that society as a whole is going through right now. What’s really funny about all of this is that the import records that I bought over 30 years ago are cheaper now than they were back then. No joke! An import 12″ single from England could have cost you upwards of $20.00 back in the 80’s, and the same single will cost you only $10.00 now. It’s pretty insane!
I resisted all of this vinyl fetishization for quite a while and I have even made fun of the hipsters who have kept this trend in motion. What got to me was that these people, who weren’t even alive in the 80’s, were buying the music that had for years defined me as a person. The music wasn’t defining for them, rather they bought the music and wore the band shirts because they thought it would make them look hip and trendy. A prime example of this is what has been done to Joy Division. Every member, and ex-member, of New Order now makes a hefty check off of performing Joy Division songs live. A band that they had totally disavowed back in the 80’s has suddenly become their main meal ticket because of the hipster contingent spending gobs of money to have an ‘experience’.
I finally came to the realization about a year ago that I have the absolute right to buy back all of the vinyl I once owned, because I have actual past memories associated with the music rather than creating false ones. For example, I have started to collect and buy all of the U2 vinyl that I used to own. Even though there is a huge resurgence of interest in all things post-punk right now the younger crowd automatically dismisses U2’s early albums, even though they are 100% post-punk in sound and tone. Their loss is my gain because the majority of U2’s work from Boy to The Unforgettable Fire is very affordable. You can get a nice first UK printing of the War gatefold album for only £20.00.
I’m writing all of this just to tell you not to let hipster morons dictate what you can or cannot listen to or buy. Just because hipster scum ‘love’ Joy Division doesn’t mean that you have to stop enjoying them. I’ll be damned if I let a bunch of tragically hip morons dictate what I should or shouldn’t like listening to. I’ll buy the vinyl I want to buy because I genuinely love the music, not because I want to be seen as ‘cool’. I have never been ‘cool’ so why would I want to create a false persona at my age?
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