It is a very sad way to celebrate a thirty-fifth anniversary: Dub Vendor is closing its doors. After the one in Lardbroke Grove in 2008, the flagship shop in Clapham Junction is pulling down the shutter. The famous London record shop, a reggae institution in the land of the Queen and especially popular with the French on their trips across the Channel, will nonetheless carry on with its online business.
Founded in 1976 by John MacGillivray and Chris Lane, Dub Vendor was at first just a stall at Clapham Junction market every Saturday. The following year, the first shop opened in Peckham, but the venture was short-lived. In 1979, John recruited Noel Hawks to handle mail order sales through the newly created company Dub Vendor Mail Order. It was at this time that the new shop opened in Lardbroke Grove (Dub Vendor Record Shack), followed in 1982 by the Clapham Junction shop, which would become its stronghold until this summer of 2011.
More than a shop, it was the place to come to discover new releases and rub shoulders with people from the scene. A true rallying point for the whole community, with a studio in the cellar to boot, the A-Class Studio. Dub Vendor thus stood at the crossroads of the London reggae scene of the 80s and 90s. Drifting naturally towards label activity, Fashion Records was created in 1980, which would go on to accompany the success of Smiley Culture (who passed away in March 2011) and his famous Cockney Translation and Police Officer, but also General Levy, Cutty Ranks, Top Cat, Junior Delgado, Alton Ellis… Finally, let us mention the Dub Vendor All Stars, the house crew that brought together Papa Face, Supa C, Oxman, Gaffa Blue, Warrior and the Russ Disciples.
We should soon hear from all these artists again, since Fashion Records is working on reissuing its back catalogue. For it is now on its website, created at the turn of the millennium, that Dub Vendor will continue its activities. As with the Larbroke Grove shop, the departure from Clapham Junction (and the 35th anniversary of its physical presence on the streets of London) will be marked with music, at a party on Friday 2 September at the Music Bar on Brixon Hill.