With
radio not spinning out much Metal (local or national) it’s sometimes hard to
keep up with what's going on in the genre these days. But for well over two
decades, one local shop has kept on peddling and banging its head for
--- The Heavy Metal Shop has been a staple of the music scene in
Kevin Kirk
http://www.heavymetalshop.com/
Gavin: Hey Kevin, first off, tell us a little bit about yourself.
Kevin: Music has played a big part in my life from a very young age. I
was fascinated by anything Rock 'N' Roll when I was a kid. Sounds kind of funny
now, but I loved The Archies, had a huge collection of the Archies comics. As
a kid growing up in in the '60's and '70's, The Monkees & The
Partidge Family were TV shows that I loved to watch. I even had a David Cassidy
poster! But then when I was in 6th grade (1973) I saw Alice Cooper on TV.
This was way before MTV and all that bullshit. There used to be these late
night music/concert shows, like Don Kirshner's Rock Concert and In Concert.
Alice Cooper was performing on In Concert, I remember my little sister was
watching with me and she screamed when she saw
Gavin: For those who don't know, what is The Heavy Metal Shop?
Kevin: The Heavy Metal Shop is pretty much me living the Rock 'N' Roll
dream. I get to listen to music that I love all day. I love to sell the music
that I love and to talk Rock with my customers. A big part of the Shop's
business is our shop merchandise. I am flattered and thrilled when I see people
at shows or wherever wearing shop clothes; I feel a real camaraderie with these
people.
Gavin: What was it like for you growing up a metal head here in
Kevin:
Gavin: How was your time spent in local bands? Any memories or stories
you care to share from that time?
Kevin: I played guitar with friends when I was in high school, my
friends and I would play out in our garage, nothing real serious, but lots of
fun. I played guitar with Hank Heartless & The Homewreckers in
1984-85. Our big gig was a house party on Halloween. I also played drums
with the Maggotheads from 1990-1995. Maggotheads played quite a few shows
at the Speedway, The Pompadour, The City Park in Tooele, we went up to Wyoming
and played on a flatbed semitruck trailer in a parking lot with another local
band TRUCE who happened to be first band to play in The Heavy Metal Shop when
we were in Sandy, over 20 years ago! TRUCE will be playing a reunion show
in The Heavy Metal Shop in March.
Gavin: Where did the idea come from to start up the store?
Kevin: It made perfect sense, being the huge music fan that I am. My
first shop that I opened in 1986, The CD Shop, was an all-around regular record
store; I was selling all types of music, Metal, Rock, Country, Jazz, and New
Age. But I was always listening to the heavier stuff in the shop. It was
hard to sell Fresh Aire CDs with Reign In
Blood blaring in the background, so I decided to specialize in Heavy Metal.
Gavin: What was it like setting up the first shop, and how did you
decide on the location?
Kevin: It was a lot of fun setting up the shop. I originally wanted to
open The Shop in Sugarhouse, which is where my wife & I lived at the time,
but nothing was available, so a real estate agent found me a spot in
Gavin: How was that first year for you in 1987?
Kevin: 1987 was a little tough, but when 1988 rolled around and Z-Rock
came to town, things picked up quite a bit. I have to thank Gene at
Z-Rock (wherever you are). He had The Heavy Metal Shop on the air every
day, with ads and promotions, live remotes. He was so cool too, had me pay
whatever I could afford, so when we started to make some money, so did he. It
was a perfect union at the time. Of course, that only lasted a couple of years.
But then Tom Araya started sportin' a Heavy Metal Shop shirt everywhere, which
was the beginning of the next chapter of The Heavy Metal Shop.
Gavin: Has it ever been a struggle to stay open as trends in music
change?
Kevin: The Heavy Metal Shop doesn't worry too much about trends; we
leave that up to the mall stores.
Gavin: Has the merchandise changed over the years, or have you been
pretty consistent over what you keep in house?
Kevin: The Heavy Metal Shop merchandise hasn't changed much at all over
the years. You will always find Anthrax, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Metallica,
Megadeth, SLAYER, etc. Every so often, there is a band that comes out
that you know is going to last and be added to the the list. Lamb Of God
is definitely one of those.
Gavin: Where did the main logo from the store come from?
Kevin: One of my old customers, Rob Will, from the old CD Shop days came
up with the logo. At the time, The CD Shop logo was pretty much block
letters, not really a logo at all, and Rob was always asking me if I ever
needed a logo, he would love to do it. So when I decided to switch over,
I asked him to do it. He wasn't much of a Metal Head, he was more into
the New Age & Jazz, but I asked him to give it a try anyway. The first
thing he came up with had a half of a record album, instead of the the
skull. I told him that was cool for a regular record store, but we were
Heavy Metal, so we need some blood or skulls, or something like that. So
he came back with the half skull. I loved it immediately.
Gavin: What do you think of the idea that it's become one of the most
famous icons of our scene?
Kevin: It is a thrill and an honor to be a little part of Heavy Metal
history. Tom Araya and SLAYER are definitely a big part of The Shop's
history. I still get a thrill when I see old pictures and videos of
SLAYER sportin' The Shop clothes.
Gavin: You've had a number of musicians come through, Alice Cooper is
the big one that comes to mind. What do you believe attracts them to come check
the shop out, and who are some of the people who have popped in over the years?
Kevin: Tom Araya used to have a girlfriend from
Gavin: Going more local, what are your thoughts on the local metal
scene, both good and bad?
Kevin: The local Metal scene is very healthy. It is good to see TRUCE is
at it again, one of my favorite of the old school Salt Lake Thrash bands.
Thunderfist is another great band, more of a Motorhead type Metal band, which I
love.
Gavin: Same questions, but on our music scene in general.
Kevin: Heavy Metal is with you for life, so there are always the old
guys, like me, and the new kids that are just discovering Metal. They are the
smart ones, which is funny, because people often associate Metal with
stupidity. And these kids are not following any trends; Heavy Metal has
always been on the fringe of popular music, the bastard child of Rock 'N' Roll,
music for the outcasts.
Gavin: Anything you believe could be done to make it bigger or better?
Kevin: Just keep going to the shows, buying your favorite bands' music and
merchandise. Copying your buddies' CDs or getting the music free online
is not helping support your bands. Most of my customers don't do that shit,
they support the bands. But I can see how that happens; it's hard to argue with
free.
Gavin: What are your thoughts on our local labels, and do you feel like
they help or hinder artists?
Kevin: I am all for the DIY ethic; that is what I did. If you have the
resources and talent, start a label, or band. Just be true to what you believe
in. If you go in it just to make money, you will be in for a big surprise. But
then if you do make some money, good!
Gavin: Nation-wide, thoughts on rock and metal music as it is today, and
where would you say its headed?
Kevin: Like I said before, I believe that there is a very healthy Metal
and Rock 'N' Roll scene going on all around us. It might not be the Big thing;
you don't see it on TV or hear about it on the radio, but there has always been
this fringe music that is on the outskirts of popular music, every so often one
slips by into the mainstream, which I think is great. Metallica did a lot
for Metal Music, you have to give them credit for that.
Gavin: Being a part of the downtown area, what are your thoughts on
surviving as a local business right now?
Kevin: Downtown seems to be coming around again. I think people are
getting a little bored with Wal-Mart and the Internet. They want to go back to
the downtown way of a life a bit. I remember when I was a teenager and riding
my bike all over downtown, checking out all the record stores, meeting Lynyrd
Skynryd and Blue Oyster Cult at the old Odyssey Records on
Gavin: What are some of the events you've got coming up down the road,
and what can we expect from you the rest of the year?
Kevin: You can expect about one live in-store performance every month at
The Heavy Metal Shop. As always, these Shows are FREE, and all Ages are
welcome. I am always thinking about what New Heavy Metal Shop merchandise
I can put the logo on, so watch for that too.
Gavin: Is there anything you'd like to plug or promote?
Kevin: Feb. 23rd my buddy Mike Damron is coming back to once again grace
The Heavy Metal Shop stage. He always kicks ass! Whatever you have to do,
don't miss this one! In March, we will be hosting an in-store performance from
local old school thrash Gods TRUCE. They were the first band to play live in
The Heavy Metal Shop over 20 Years ago! This show will be a celebration of
former TRUCE bassist and old friend of mine, Brent Barker, who recently passed
away. So come out and pay your respects to Brent and TRUCE. On April 17th, from