Avalanche boss seeks help with Scottish rock and pop museum

Scotland’s vibrant music scene is renowned around the world, producing chart-topping bands famed from America to the Far East. And now plans are afoot to celebrate the history of our guitar-wielding pioneers in a permanent collection set to be held in the Capital.

Spearheaded by the boss of legendary record store Avalanche – which has operated out of a variety of locations across Edinburgh over the last 32 years – the scheme would be the first of its kind north of the border.

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Goodbye Mr McKenzie - John, Rona, Kelly, Martin, Finn and Shirley. Picture: supplied

And rumours abound that it’s already attracting interest from cultural giants such as the National Museum of Scotland.

Avalanche owner Kevin Buckle said he hopes to combine his own collection with memorabilia donated, loaned or bought from music fans across the country.

He is now calling on the city’s residents and musicians to root around in their attics and dig out any old tickets, posters, records, T-shirts and pictures that might be gathering dust in dark corners.

“There has already been a great amount of interest but it would be good to cast the net much further,” he said.

“You never know what people have got. People have their own personal memorabilia, and it’s always interesting when there is a story with it as well.”

Businesses are also being encouraged to sponsor the exhibition so that funds can be raised to secure a suitable venue.

Kevin said space was already being sought over the festival period to “give a hint of what is planned” and allow people to bring in items. And he insisted the provisionally-titled History of Scottish Music Centre would also focus on the contemporary music scene – providing a comprehensive resource for those who want to find out more about the country’s musicians, as well as a place to buy their albums.

“It will be Scottish music from the 1950s to the present day,” he added. “It’s really important to stress that we move it all the way forward, as opposed to looking backwards.”

He added: “The idea is hopefully to interest young people more. Bands in the old days always knew about their predecessors. It’s interesting stuff and it’s really just going to be a case of putting it all together and seeing what we’ve got.”

Kevin revealed earlier this year that he was winding down his iconic record store to concentrate on the ambitious plans.

Avalanche closed its last permanent store in the Grassmarket in 2014, but has since traded online and via pop-up market stalls.

• Anyone with memorabilia can contact Kevin on avalanche [email protected].

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