THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 12, 1994 TAG: 9406090196
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: John Harper
DATELINE: 940612 LENGTH: Medium
On the walls are rows of gold record albums. Racks and racks of rock 'n' roll T-shirts fill the floor space. In a display case are rare box sets of CD's, imported CD's, and picture discs. This is not your typical record shop; this is rock 'n' roll heaven.
{REST} Bryan Conners is owner/operator of Rock 'N' Roll Rarities. He's been in the record business since 1979. His love of music started much earlier.
``I worked in a record store when I was about 12,'' remembers Conners. ``They couldn't pay me, so they gave me records.'' Young Conners picked up his first 45 that year. The record was Tommy James and the Shondells' ``Crystal Blue Persuasion.'' Conners also acquired The Archies' first LP and a Steppenwolf 8-track.
Conners parlayed his love of music into an 11-year career in radio. The radio work centered around his hometown of Raleigh. In 1979, Conners' radio career took him to Greenville, where he started his own mail-order business specializing in hard-to-find recordings, tour T-shirts, autographs and rock 'n' roll memorabilia. Advertising in record-collecting magazines, Conners received calls from all over the world that first year of operation. The business got so good that by 1984 the record mail-order company became Conners' full-time job. Conners called his company ``B's Wax.''
As the business grew, customers began asking for things other than recordings. Things like Elvis Presley jewelry, Kiss makeup, autographed pictures and posters.
``It became a real challenge to track this stuff down,'' says Conners, ``but because I love rock 'n' roll so much it didn't matter.''
Conners' big break came in the mid '80s. B's Wax acquired licensing for official tour merchandise. Stuff like Pink Floyd hats, Eric Clapton tour books and Rolling Stones key-chains could now be purchased via the mail.
Conners moved to the Outer Banks in 1993. His mail-order business could be located anywhere, and the beach seemed like ``a good place.''
``I rented some space in the shopping center, never intending to open a retail business,'' says Conners. ``I'd be talking on the phone and I would see all these faces at the window.'' Conners let some folks in and the rest is rock 'n' roll history. B's Wax is the mail-order company. Rock 'N' Roll Rarities is the retail operation. They're two businesses in one.
Conners still takes hundreds of calls a day on his 800 number. The calls from other time zones come in around the clock.
``Today, I had calls from Japan, Australia, Sweden and Germany,'' says Conners. What do the callers want? One wants a Hank Williams gold 45 recording of ``Cold, Cold Heart.'' The asking price is $300.
Conners is one of about four rock 'n' roll brokers in the country. His clients include the legendary Los Angeles-based Hard Rock Cafe. Conners supplies the Hard Rock with signed guitars, autographed posters and pictures for display on the cafe's walls.
While the mail-order business is going well, Conners is picking up a healthy local following in the retail store.
``I'm the only guy on the beach selling vinyl,'' says Conners. On the day we talk, new arrivals include vinyl on Stevie Nicks, Pearl Jam and a ``Kiss'' tribute album.
Conners is also looking forward to the arrival of the official Pink Floyd ``Division Bell'' Tour T-shirt. ``It's gonna be a monster seller.'' Also on the horizon: The Rolling Stones ``Voodoo Lounge'' tour T-shirts.
Although Conners doesn't stock a huge quantity of current CD's, he does have the best sellers. ``I do it more as a favor to my customers,'' says Conners.
I have to buy something before I leave the store. I find it. For two dollars, I acquire a Rolling Stones' tongue-logo air freshener.
by CNB