Shattered Records neon sign
Shattered Records was a music store in Cleveland, Ohio, that specialized in punk and metal records. According to Curse of Denial’s reminiscence:
Shattered was instrumental in bringing overseas underground death and black metal records to Cleveland as well as all of the staple bands on Roadrunner and Earache. […] Plus he had all of the hardcore you can think of and tons of rare rock records. It was a kick ass little shop.
The LA Times said they “specialized in obscure punk and metal treasures ranging from limited-pressing singles by such early punk bands as the Germs to African Metallica releases and Japanese Guns ’N Roses promotional items.”
The neon sign for the store boldly attempted to render the extremely complex forms of the Shatter typeface in the notoriously crude format of neon tubing. With the typeface name matching the name of the business, it’s also an example of an LTypI.
10 Comments on “Shattered Records neon sign”
Amazing! What an admirable and painstaking effort by the tube bender! Google street view archival photos indicate that the sign was often in disrepair, sadly. The LA Times article says the shop was about to close in 2002, yet the sign remained in the window and stayed (partly) lit until at least 2011. Would love to know what happened to it after that.
I don’t know what happened to the sign but I do have some info on what happened to Frank. In the early to mid 90s he has pretty much given hope on the shop as I remember he saying the last time I saw him in the shop “nobody collects records like they used to so what can I do”. At this point it didn’t really resemble a record store any more though he would pull our a few boxes from the back of random old inventory to browse through. I still have some of his wife/girlfriend’s? handwritten receipts and price tags which I genuinely treasure for their sentimental value. And I will NEVER part with ANY record I ever bought there for the same reason. Anyways, back to the store, at that point it was mostly filled with his second love, antiques, primarily old cash registers. And as for the next visit, no music at all in the store :( what became any music stock he had left he told me sold to Amoeba records in California.
kevin, i still have the sign and it works. thanks for supporting the store.
Frank! You’re still with us! I’m still with us!
Regards Paul (Epsom Record Centre)
I bought many Pink Floyd albums from Shattered Records in the late 80's – early 90's. I am a serious life-long Floyd collector and of course still have every one of those albums in my collection today. A crazy twist is that I was born in that Bldg in a back 2nd floor apartment in 1960. I attended elementary school literally a stones throw behind the Bldg at McKinley Elementary school. My father ran a Sinclair gas station right across the street in the early 60's where the convenient store is now. The front where Frank’s store was had been a Delicatessen we called Angie’s when I was a kid with short order cook, sit down food counter and soda fountain. I left Cleveland in 1978 after HS but have family up there so I always revisit that street and Bldg – tons of childhood memories there and young adult memories buying records there at Shattered. Thanks Frank – stay healthy and Shine On…
I just stumbled across this—damn, this brings back memories! Shattered was without question my favorite record shop of all time. I had a part-time job at Marc’s as a kid back then and remember spending quite a few of my paychecks at Shattered. I too still have everything I purchased from Frank and can’t imagine parting with any of it. I bought a copy of Ride the Lightning there that was signed by all 4—including Cliff! I think I paid about $300.00 for it—wasn’t too long after Cliff died. I remember $300.00 seemed like an insane amount of money back then! I still collect to this day, but that one will probably always be my prized possession. Had some great chats with Frank and his wife too—both really great people. I sincerely hope they’re both doing well these days!
Lol—and how could I forget— In the mid 90s, Frank agreed to sell me that “almost life-size” Ozzy No More Tears promo cardboard cutout. If I remember correctly, I believe it was kept in a back corner of the store with some sort of jacket around Ozzy’s shoulders. It’s still in the same condition as it was the day I took it out of the store. It moved with me a handful of times, and is now proudly displayed near my bar in my basement.
paul lloyd – hey paul, look me up on facebook
jason i still sell music on ebay
rick thanks and trying to stay healthy
Frank—what’s your user name on ebay? I’d love to check out what you have for sale.
Shattered owner eventually started selling items online in the early 2000s I believe, I think online record shopping hurt his brick and mortar store. There was also Extreme Music opening a handful of years prior around the Phantasy. Shattered had the rare items and priced to account for it, Extreme had current releases unless someone traded old discs in.