One Collector's Story: David Grimmett

David Grimmett’s poster wall.

Introduction:

I met David Grimmett in a cafe one day, a friend introduced us. He told me he had 'a few cassettes'  - well, that was an understatement! David has a comprehensive collection that he is keen to keep in as original condition as he can, and we are eager to help him out, with the tips we have gathered so far. Next time, look out for cataloging tips from Martin Phillipps. 
FG.

David in his own words:

I grew up in the Roslyn/Belleknowes area and attended Arthur Street School, Balmacewan Intermediate and then Otago Boys High School.  My class mates at primary school included Alastair Galbraith and Robbie Muir then at Otago Boys Chris Heazlewood and Damien Woodhouse.  Alastair Galbraith left after the 5th form to join Robbie Muir at Logan Park High school as Otago Boys wasn’t very supportive of Art or Music at that time.

Cassette tape collection

I think I finally woke up one day in late 83 when I walked into Records Records and met Roy Colbert.  1984 was my first year at Otago Uni and this was my first real experience with live music.  I can remember going to see The Rip in the main common room one night and Alastair Galbraith introduced me to The Orange.  I think that night I fully realised what I had been missing and was driven to catch up.  I went back to see Roy Colbert, asked him to recommend what I needed to listen to, and from then on I was hooked and Flying Nun/Dunedin Sound became an ongoing obsession for me.

1984-89 in Dunedin was an amazing time.  I went to every gig I could and collected every record, cassette and band poster I could find.  I became a serious groupie.

7 inch singles.

In 1990 I packed all my records into beer crates, loaded my Peugeot 404 to the roof and drove to Wellington.  Luckily many Flying Nun bands were touring and the Bar Bodega was my local for the next 5 years. 

In 1995 I moved home to Dunedin and later that year a record collector caught me at a weak moment and convinced me to sell him many of my records.  Looking at the prices people are willing to pay for these rarities I now see he certainly picked the eyes out of my collection.  I have started to replace a few now and also loving some of the re-releases and the T-shirts from Flying Nun.

I listen to some of the music now and find myself in a spiritual place.  I can vividly remember the total bliss and joy of listening to live bands.  The vibrations and harmonics flowing through my body.  I dance on the inside.

Preservation:

Most of my vinyl I recorded cassette copies and compilations and then played these in my car so now the vinyl is still safely stored in the old plastic zip lock covers having only been played a few times in 30 years.  Sadly a few of my 7” vinyl was water damaged when there was a flood in my flat in Wellington so Pink Frost, Rolling Moon and Block of Wood got a bit stuck together and the covers were a bit ripped when I pulled them apart L.  My cassettes have also been carefully stored and treasured.  Out of the sun or damp and hopefully relatively stable temp. 

Silk screened Tall Dwarfs poster by Chris Knox.

Diverse Cassette releases.

Life’s rich tape history… - many gems here!

Stones and Double Happys ‘Live’ - a night to remember.

Six fine 7 inch singles.