Good Vibrations are back

For people of a certain age, Belfast was the home of a fascinating and innovative record shop: Good Vibrations.  I first remember it in the mid-1970s as a wee pokey shop above the Sassafras wholefoods shop in Great Victoria Street. It later crossed the street and opened as a proper shop by the bus stop just down from the Presbyterian church.
  Terri Hooley, the shop’s owner, is one of Ulster’s legendary characters. He has long had a passion for sharing music with ordinary people.  HMV and Zavvi may sell lots of CDs between them but they are soulless and dull in comparison.  That was the secret of Good Vibrations.  It caught the imagination of many people at a time when Belfast was a cultural desert.  The troubles raged daily and the city centre was abandoned and empty by six o’clock most evenings.
  Thirty years ago, Terri launched Good Vibrations Records and signed up a number of new exciting bands; notably Rudi and The Undertones.  The Undertones’ terrific song, Teenage Kicks was taken up by Radio One’s John Peel and shot them to lasting fame. Since then he has been celebrated as the Godfather of Punk in Ulster.
  A gig celbrating Good Vibrations’ 30th Anniversary took place in the Mandela Hall at the end of April.  To Terri’s amazement he received a letter of support from the former US President, Bill Clinton.
 Ex President Clinton wrote:
In his letter (full text below), President Clinton said:
Warm Greetings to everyone celebrating the 30th anniversary of Good Vibrations Records.
 Music is a powerful, unifying force in our world, bringing people together across boundaries of geography, background, religion and culture. Good Vibrations provides a unique and inspiring example in that endeavour. By supporting young musicians in Northern Ireland and introducing them to audiences in England and elsewhere, Good Vibrations not only helped individual musicians to realize their dreams but also offered listeners the opportunity to better understand and appreciate one another through the common language of music.
  As you probably know, Northern Ireland holds a special place in my heart. Good Friday, April 10, 1998, the day that all the parties in Northern Ireland agreed to a plan to end 30 years of sectarian violence, was one of the happiest days of my Presidency. While I’m proud of my contribution in bringing about the Agreement, I know that no government policy can truly succeed without the grassroots efforts of those people the policy would affect. I commend Terri Hooley, and all those involved in Good Vibrations, for giving young people something positive to say, “yes” to.
 Best wishes for a memorable and meaningful anniversary celebration.
Bill Clinton (signed).
When Terri showed me the letter he wasn’t sure whether a commendation from a former American president was a good thing for his reputation or not as in the sixties he used to picket the US consulate in protest at the Vietnam war.
Terri’s shop, Phoenix Records in the tiny Haymarket Arcade off Royal Avenue has closed for the last time on the last Saturday in June.  This shop did not do a lot of business as many folk didn’t even know it was there.  It was a refuge for Terri’s business after his previous shop in North Street Arcade was destroyed by unknown arsonists who have never been brought to justice. The closure of Phoenix Records is a good thing, though.  It’s not the end of an era but the return of a legend.  
Good Vibes is back!  A new shop - Good Vibes - has just opened in Winetavern Street opposite Smithfield Market close to the side doors of the CastleCourt shopping centre.
  Haymarket has little passing trade, so the shop there tended to rely on a few regular customers. I caught up with an excited Terri Hooley as he put the finishing touches to the new shop. He is really looking forward to new customers coming in through the door to peruse his eclectic mix of CDs, DVDs and vinyl LPs. Check it out the next time you’re in Belfast.