Collector's Corner: Mike Griffen

Today, we continue Collector's Corner, the feature where we talk to musicians, DJs, producers and fans about their record collections. Today, we're talking to Mike Griffen!
Mike Griffen knows his way around the guitar. In the past, he's pulled strings in Tsunami Bomb, Anchors CA, and BRÃœT NRSK. His newest band is called Emergencies UK!. But, Griffen is also a record collecting maniac. Read about his Gene Simmons and Converge records below.

What is your earliest (or one of your earliest) memory of hearing a record?
My earliest and fondest memory is of my brother bringing home Shout At The Devil. I was 7 and until then music had just been, whatever music is to typical 7 year olds. If it wasn’t cartoons or comic books I wasn’t concerned. So he brought this record over and my first reaction was “are those naked ladies?!”. I couldn’t believe it. My parents flipped out (remember this was the era of the PMRC), but I followed him/it around, just totally enamored by it.

What was the first record that you bought with your own money?
Ugh. The Gene Simmons record. It was a couple of years after Motley Crue had shown me the light and I was really at the mercy at whatever my brother was into. Kind of a “if you like them I like them” situation. He loved Kiss so I would as well. Also, coming from the Motley Crue record where I thought I had just seen naked women for the first time, Kiss looked liked monsters! Really cool monsters, and Gene was the coolest looking one. That record is terrible though. However, I did just pick it up again at a thrift store for nostalgia sake.

Why do you collect records?
For me it’s such a varying degree. I love Converge and even though that stuff is in my Spotify library I continue to hunt down and buy these records. It’s just such an experience with the artwork and the layouts. However I just bought a Nitzer Ebb record off eBay because it wasn’t available digitally and I don’t own a CD player. Nostalgia gets involved sometimes, sometimes a sense of escapism. It gets complicated.

What is the crown jewel of your collection?
My friend Rory sent me a Joy Division box set a couple years ago that is, amazing. The box is like this coarse cloth, there’s no artwork, there’s another book inside the box…it’s beautiful.

What is your most exciting story wherein you tracked down a record that you wanted?
This year I tracked down the first pressing of Unloved And Weeded Out by Converge for like 15 bucks! I was so stoked. I remember being on tour when that came out and of course I just thought I’d pick it up when I got home, which didn’t happen. That’s another situation where I’ve been listening to these songs for forever now, but having this package of these 4 colored 7”s with this really awesome inlay makes for an awesome listening experience.

There's the old adage "You never regret records that you buy, but you always regret the one's you *don't* buy". What record got away from you?
So many got away! I mean almost everything is available now, but it’s the feeling of having picked something up for 12 bucks when you can’t get it for less than 50 now. The self titled Jawbox record is one, those early Sonic Youth records…I could go on for days.

But, is there any record that you *do* regret buying?
Haha. I’d like to say it’s that Gene Simmons record, but that’s an integral part of a timeline. I don’t think there is. There are definitely instances where I’ve bought something and then found it later for less which can be disappointing. But in the end I wanted it and got it. One of the great advantages in the digital age is previewing before you buy. Save your money for the records you want!

How precious are your records- That is, do you play them regularly, or do you keep them safe and locked away?
All the time! Some I play less than others, like the Joy Division stuff, some rare-ish 7”s, but they all do their time. I have an old Gary Numan record that skips so every time I put it on I have to be ready to fix the needle but even that one gets played somewhat regularly.

Is medium itself important to you?
It used to be. When iPods came out it was amazing because it meant I didn’t have to take a giant booklet of CDs on tour anymore. When I started using Spotify it was great because I didn’t have to worry about a hard drive crashing. Now it doesn’t matter. Vinyl isn’t a convenient medium, but I’m probably getting a download card or I’m able to listen to whatever it is digitally… with the exception of that Nitzer Ebb record.

What's your white whale record?
There’s a Coalesce record called Last Call For The Living. They pressed like, 25 of them or something and it’s in this weird shape and I just want it. I saw one in person once but it was a little out of my price range at the time. I’ve seen a couple online recently and they’re still out of my price range. Someday though…

Do you have a favorite record shop?
When I lived in Los Angeles it was Amoeba, hands down. It was almost impossible to leave that place empty handed. Here in the DFW area there’s Good Records, which is awesome. They’ve been around for a long time, selection is great, and they do a lot of in store appearances. I also like Mad World Records in Denton a lot. They do a great job with the punk and hardcore sections, as well as just having random prize finds. I found a first pressing of Separate The Magnets by Grade there for 8 bucks and couldn’t believe it.

Any other comments?
Enjoy your records!