Perthshire Advertiser, Friday, September 30, 1994
SET meeting to decide future
of pop memorabilia collection
Gordon Bannerman
Gordon Bannerman
ROCK music archivist Roy Deane yesterday revealed that an October meeting with district council and Scottish Enterprise Tayside officials will go a long way to deciding the fate of a unique collection gathered over more than two decades.
The Coupar Angus based musical magpie has pieced together the largest collection of its kind in the country, with music industry paraphernalia packing the house. He has amassed 5,000 hours of rock video, more than 10,000 music papers, hundreds of books, cuttings-galore and 25,000 hours of unreleased audio. Earlier this year, he announced he was preparing to part company with the collection - but that decision has been put on hold until a head-to-head with SET and the district council's economic development department.
Referring to last Friday's 'PA' article on the rock museum possibilities - which highlighted such in-demand pop trivia as Jimi Hendrix trousers and branded coke cans - Mr Deane stressed any exhibition possibilities would be built around the cultural impact of rock and pop music, rather than "the sensationalist aspects."
He emphasised he wasn't calling for the creation of a rock museum - but was ready to listen to suggestions.
He recalled that the archive provided the focal point of exhibitions in Aberdeen ,Dundee and St. Andrews, "stirring public interest and fascination in the art, personal writings and memorabilia of those who have become cultural icons."
He said his sale plans went on hold as discussions on the future of te collection were mooted. It had been suggested the archive would benefit the college Rock School and new library - and he felt he should follow through consultations with the council and SET.
"I agreed from the outset to hold off the sale until the project was turned down or given the go-ahead," he said. "I have made it clear that unless some other plan has been put to me, some of the memorabilia will be handed to the auctioneers in December for pre-publicity for a sale in March."
Mr Deane felt that, properly handled, the archive would appeal to residents and tourists, and provide an information centre for the media. His archive, he stressed, had always been self-financing.
"Unfortunately, the space taken up by this huge collection - and the hours needed to catalogue and update it - have taken over my home and my life. If any individual or authority were to approach me with a serious proposal or project, I will gladly consider it.
"Until then, it seems certain that by December much of the memorabilia and parts of the archive will already be advertised for sale."