The Courier and Advertiser, Friday, February 22, 1991.
THE LIKELIHOOD of Madonna or Michael Jackson ever visiting Perth may be remote. but fans have the chance to acquire the next best thing - autographed photographs.
The items are the latest to come in to the rock and pop collectors' section of Bookshelf in Princes Street.
What started as a two week experiment by rock archivist Roy Deane and record shop owner Garry Smith looks set to continue for some time.
The fans' craving to own items associated with idols has surprised the two partners.
"We'd like to think we cater for people who have had to rely on magazines and auctions in the past to obtain items." explained Roy.
"It s hard to find unusual items in Scotland and already we have had people travelling from all over Tayside for items of memorabilia and clothing."
Autographed items have proved popular and their attractions are obvious.
If a collector has all the artist's records then they like to have something with a personal connection.
Very few people can afford stage clothes, guitars or handwritten Iyrics.
Autographed items are the cheapest start to collecting but there can be problems in getting items as Roy found out recently.
"I was asked if I could get some items signed by Bob Dylan when he was in Glasgow," he said.
After trailing round hotels hoping for a glimpse of Dylan, Roy drove to the concert hall to ask staff where he was staying.
After a two-hour wait he found himself with an oppor tunity to approach the singer.
After Roy handed over a programme to sign, he just flicked through it before boarding his bus.
Autographs of big stars are normally only found in rock memorabilia auctions but Garry and Roy have been working to change that.
"This week we've got a shirt worn by David Gilmour of Pink Floyd during the making of the group's "Animals" LP. It's a nice item but it won't excite as many fans as the Madonna or Michael Jackson photos."