Skeleton Records, a Birkenhead shop with more than 200,000 items, has been attracting customers "from all corners of the globe" for decades. Founded in the early 1970s, the shop, also known as Skellies, has cemented itself as a legendary destination for generations of record collectors.
From hosting punk bands to tricking bailiffs to save their stock, Skeleton Records has survived and evolved throughout its 54-year existence. The first Skeleton Records opened in Argyle Street, Birkenhead, in 1972, and moved to several locations in the town before settling in a side-street off Oxton Road in 1994, where it has remained ever since.
Owner's journey and the shop's history
Ben Savage, 30, from Rock Ferry, took over the business when founder John Weaver died in January 2022. Ben told the ECHO: "John started Skeleton Records on August 25, 1972 with his friend John Poole, but John sold his shares quite early on."
"In the 1970s it attracted all kinds of bikers and progressive rock fans. The place was renowned in its Argyle Street lair for smelling of trog oil and incense and who knows what else."
"When punk came along in 1976 Skeleton was very quick to embrace it. John moved into gig promotion around the same time and he was in the right place to book a lot of the first wave punk bands. Some of the bands that played in Birkenhead for Skeleton Records include Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Jam, The Adverts, Motörhead."
The most famous band John secured was the Sex Pistols, who he managed to book three times, but sadly every gig was cancelled. Ben continued: "Two were cancelled by their manager Malcolm McLaren and the other one was cancelled by Wirral Council because they didn't fancy a riot."
Surviving bankruptcy and a legacy continued
In 1976 John founded the Skeleton Records music label, releasing a number of singles and two albums by local artists, but the venture proved to be a financial failure. Ben said: "John ran into some financial difficulties in the 1980s and he successfully filed for bankruptcy."
"He avoided giving his stock to the bailiffs by getting a friend in London to give him the worst record collection in history at 10p a go, which he handed over to them instead. They smuggled the good shop stock out through the back door just as the bailiffs were turning up and they said to him 'no wonder you went bankrupt selling things like this'."
Ben was the shop manager when John died, and he said his loss is still felt by the community. He said: "He was a massive part of not just our lives but the local community as a whole. The shop's been open for 54 years and there must have been a good million people who have walked through the doors in that time. He's touched the lives of so many through educating their music taste and he was a massive loss."
"When he passed away, I was the only one who knew where everything was filed so it was kind of me or nobody. I think we've succeeded in keeping the shop going as he would have wanted it."
"The only major change we've brought in since his passing is alphabetical ordering, which he'd kill me for. Customers are able to find the Fleetwood Mac section without going through 400 albums beginning with the letter F now."
A personal connection and a sentimental sign
The shop is full to capacity with records and is frequently described as an Aladdin's Cave. Ben said: "We sell everything in the history of the world. We have about 200,000 LPs, CDs, music DVDs and seven inch singles and we stock everything from rock, pop, indie, jazz, metal, folk and soul. If you can name it, there's a good chance we've got it."
Skeleton Records has been a part of Ben's life for nearly 20 years, and he's proud to be playing a part in the shop's legacy. He said: "I first wandered into Skeleton Records with my nan when I was 12. She was very suspicious of what on earth the place was meant to be but I was captivated by the quantity of stuff there was and the overall atmosphere of the shop."
"I kept coming back and I started volunteering at 18, I became the shop manager at 22 and I've owned the place since 2022. My favourite part of the job is the variety. No two days are the same and you never know what records someone's going to bring you so if you're a music lover then nothing beats it. I really enjoy keeping the place going and it's quite satisfying seeing so many people coming in and appreciating the place for what it is."
"We get a lot of regulars and a lot of them have been coming in since the shop opened in the 70s but we also get people coming in from all corners of the globe."
Ben is also responsible for Skellies' social media, where he's created the popular series 'Customer of the Day', documenting the interesting encounters Ben has with shoppers. He said: "The first time I did it people appreciated it so I kept doing it with all the curious people who wander in. We greatly appreciate everyone who comes in and 95% of the people who come into the shop are absolutely lovely and we couldn't stay open without them but music shops do draw their fair share of eccentrics."
While Ben is surrounded by thousands of records every day, he said there is one record he's come across in the shop that means the most to him. He said: "Skeleton Records is named after a Syd Barrett song called If It's in You. There's a line in it that says 'Skeleton kissed to the steel rail' and two days after John died a collection came in and it had that Syd Barrett album in it. It was a first pressing of it which is quite a desirable record and it felt like a nice little sign which was quite sentimental and I appreciated that."
