Tribute to Bill
By: Andrew Thomas

Bill. You were a creepy mother fucker back in the day. Glaring with sharp eyes with a cigarette hanging out your mouth, unmoving. Skeptical of high school aged customers with faded thrift store t-shirts and pretending like they knew what everything was. I knew more than average high school drifters; I knew where to find a Tripping Daisy cassette tape or an obscure stereo cable. But that didn’t mean shit to you, Bill. You still would interrogate me and make me feel like a nobody. And you didn’t put price tags on fucking anything.

I hadn’t seen you in years when I finally dropped by to pick up some vinyl in 2017. You smiled, Bill. You were answering questions, Bill. Hell, You even told me the story of Radiohead dropping by the shop on the 1997 OK Computer tour. What had happened? Was it that I was older or the fact that you’d finally given a shit? Sure you still ripped cigarettes, had little organization in the store and didn’t put price tags on anything but you actually seemed like a nice guy.

When I heard the news in late 2018, I actually felt a little sad, Bill. I wish I could give you an official nod because you did all the shit your own way. I hate to admit that feeling like a naive high school kid with the fear and anxiety settling back In I still will remember you as a unique person forging your own path. So kudos, Bill. Thank you for being into cool shit.