Buy George. (The Roving Eye).WHEN it comes to rock and roll memorabilia, there's the Beatles and there's everything else. So it was no surprise to Wayne Johnson that when George Harrison died earlier this month, interest in all things Beatles spiked at Rockaway Rockaway, narrow peninsula, c.10 mi (16 km) long, SW Long Island, SE N.Y., in Queens borough of New York City. Separating Jamaica Bay from the Atlantic Ocean and isolated from the rest of New York City, the densely populated peninsula owes its growth to road and rail Records, his Silver Lake record store that doubles as a veritable mini-museum of rock and roll lore. "We've sold a lot of collectible CDs, all the Traveling Willburys stuff sold out," said Johnson, 47, who has been collecting since he was 10 and who began buying and selling rare LPs at swap meets with his brother, Gary, a quarter a century ago. "I didn't think it was right to raise the prices and the stuff was cheap so it sold." Alas, even in death Harrison is destined des·tine tr.v. des·tined, des·tin·ing, des·tines 1. To determine beforehand; preordain: a foolish scheme destined to fail; a film destined to become a classic. 2. to remain the under-appreciated Beatle. His passing sparked interest, but nothing like the torrent of nostalgia unleashed when John Lennon Noun 1. John Lennon - English rock star and guitarist and songwriter who with Paul McCartney wrote most of the music for the Beatles (1940-1980) Lennon was killed in 1980. "The Beatles are the top of the blue chip stocks Blue chip stocks Common stock of well-known companies with a history of growth and dividend payments. of rock and roll," Johnson said. "When Lennon died things shot up dramatically." Harrison fans can take heart that his signature -- worth up to $500 -- now goes for about 30 percent more than that of Paul McCartney Noun 1. Paul McCartney - English rock star and bass guitarist and songwriter who with John Lennon wrote most of the music for the Beatles (born in 1942) McCartney, Sir James Paul McCartney , usually the most popular Beatle for collectors. The Johnsons have filled their store with a vast array of memorabilia and pop culture kitsch kitsch [Ger.,=trash], term most frequently applied since the early 20th cent. to works considered pretentious and tasteless. Exploitative commercial objects such as Mona Lisa scarves and abominable plaster reproductions of sculptural masterpieces are described as , ranging in price from $20 (Elvis Presley Shampoo from the 1970s) to $20,000 (an original gold record from the 1965 "The Beach Boys Today" that was owned by Brian Wilson). "I'm kind of hoping that one doesn't sell," Johnson said. "Personally I'm more into the Beach Boys than the Beatles." |
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