Missing Link Records had a super deep history in Melbourne and stands as a true pioneering Independent Record Store which helped to pave the way of so many small businesses which were to follow. Starting waaaaay back in 1971, both David Pepperell & Keith Glass set out to rock a shop devoid of KAMAHL, JAMES LAST and co & get hep with the Hi-Energy of good Rock'n'Roll. Keith had just returned from a stint in Sydney in the musical HAIR (and had great history before this as a player in a few different 1960's Garage Pop bands, most notably CAMPACT, who would later debut in reissue form as the label took shape).  So with a few grand borrowed from a bank (let's just say for 'House Extensions'), Keith found a cool space on the Mezzanine floor of the Metropole Arcade for the princely sum of FIVE DOLLARS A WEEK RENT So with the idea taking shape and the idea to Import from the USA to stock shit that the biggies of the day were not aware of (Brash's, Allan's and Myer's) the ball was rolling after the acquisition of a record rack and some miscellaneous interior guff and those doors swung open on MARCH 3rd 1971 as a bold statement of what could be done working against the grain with a heavy love for great music and a desire to HAVE A GO!  The shop's first red hot shipment from across the seas arrived on May 21st with Keith's neighbour Graeme Willingham writing a full page article (now named ARCHIE 'n' JUGHEAD's) in the Young Sun section of the Sun Newspaper (pre - Herald Sun) with the response immediate and all the stock pretty much disappearing in Record time ( all puns intended) so they could pay their pal back for the help in organising the freight.

Seven years later in 1978 with the shop still an active concern the time was right for a name change and Missing Link Records was born and on it would thrive, strive, and work to stay alive as a place to be for the next THIRTY FIVE plus years, employing a host of people all with mini to major obsessions with local and global music and leaving a hot trail of memory for tens of thousands of people who walked through it's doors across it's various geographical locations, with influential life records first purchased there, top-notch recommendations from the staff of the day, band's being formed from notice board flyers and band's playing in the shop across many years to both thrill customers and annoy the cities bustling retail precinct with a good dose of rock racket. 

As this section of the site takes shape we will endeavour to identify individuals who made a difference both behind and in front of the counter, talk to people who had experiences for life via the insides of it's walls and showcase a cool array of shop memorabilia across a wide range of years to give you a half decent snapshot of it's history, it's place, it's fun times and it's importance in the support and standing within the Australian Independent Music Scene. 

The classic Missing Link 405 Bourke St had a stage area COUCH, which many a parent chillaxed as their kid/s poked around the shop with their eyes wide open and excitement set to '10'. It also served as a great place for School Kids to chuck their bags down and sit and chat, with some of them even getting a bit hot under the collar at times as they are prone to do and we had an unwritten rule that they could all stay there as long as they wanted...ONE HOUR or ALL DAY... whatever they thought was a good thing. There was a great assortment of FANZINES and nothing ever got stolen from that stash so Respect to all those who got cosy and didn't fuck shit up!

  • Words: Scotti w/: notes from David Pepperell 2004, also thanks to Brendan Neil
  • Note: I have a HUGE pile of interesting bits and bobs relating to the store, It's inception and growth with information across all eras and locations of the store, along with interviews with prominent ex: Staff etc... check back from time to time to check it out.
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With any good store there is always decent print goods which got the word out on what you had, when you had it, when you were gonna get it etc.. so a great way to communicate with your regulars as well as getting something tangible out there to people who were based regionally or Interstate who were STARVED for sounds and choices ( Especially in a Pre-Internet era) and needed some CULTURE and BITE to their lives to rebound from the stark realities of not being able to relate to anyone in NOWHERESVILLE ! These kinds of things became a LIFE LINE to many and were an integral part of any great Independent stores armory. 

Here we look at the LATE 1970's sheets that were on offer to customers and up into the LATE 90's versions which existed and onto the ones that I myself undertook from 2002 to around 2010. These could include news on upcoming releases, T-Shirts, Limited Edition Packs of the day, Staff Top Tens, Band Interviews, Staff Recipes, Customer Input, Artwork, Reviews and more... 

It really WAS the kind of shop that garnered joyful visits, and would often see both sporadic AND regular customers dig deep for an hour or two and walk out with a serious HAUL of RECORDS/STICKERS/DVD's/CD's/T-SHIRTS/FANZINES /BADGES/ PATCHES/ POSTERS/ and more which was great.

  • Click on any image below to view
 
So this is a start to try and get as accurate a list as possible of the bands and people who played in the shop from 2002 and beyond. If you are in a band who played a gig and have someone who is meticulous w: dates, then drop us an email so we can add it to the list. As you can see, some incredible bands & people passed thru the doors w: some of these shows ending up on CD, Vinyl &Cassette. 
The first nine shows were at the 262 Flinders Lane location pre - the 405 Bourke Street move.

2002:
  • George W. Bush / St Albans Kids - date unknown
  • Hot Water Music - date unknown
  • No Use For a Name - June 10th
  • The (International) Noise Conspiracy -(Signing) October 17th
  • Sommerset - December 12th
  • Far Left Limit - December 24th Xmas eve show

2003:
  • Off Minor / St Albans Kids - January 3rd
  • My Disco ! - February 5th
  • Love Like.....Electrocution / Missing Teeth / All in Deep Shit - December 12th ( First Instore at the new location)
  • Buck 65 - December 17th  ( A Magical In-store this one )
2004:
  • Bob Log III -date unknown
  • Unholy Grave / Agents of Abhorrence - February 22nd
  • R.A.M.B.O. / Dying Breed - February 27th
  • Immortal Lee County Killers III - March 28th
  • Mindsnare - April 16th
  • Death From Above /Snap Crakk ! - May 15th
  • Love Like...Electrocution /My Disco ! - May 30th
  • Good Riddance /Missing Teeth - June 6th ( this remains the biggest instore in the shop's history)
  • Exhumed /Garbage Guts - June 12th
  • Die! Die!Die! - ? June ( Vice Launch)
  • Miles Away /The Collapse - date unknown
  • Off Minor - date unknown
  • 4dead / Taking Sides - date unknown
  • Sommerset - August 3rd
  • ABC Weapons / The Execution - August 13th
  • Hawnay Troof /The Coolies - date unknown
  • The Nation Blue - date unknown
  • Sage Francis - date unknown
  • Wishful Thinking /Sounds Like Chicken - Ocotober 24th
  • Yidcore /No Idea - October 31st
  • Cockfight Shootout - November 5th
  • Fire Witch / Spider Goat Canyon - November 14th
  • Limited Express (has gone?) /Grey Daturas - November 26th
  • Colditz Glider / This Night Creeps - December 5th
  • The Sailors - date unknown
  • Fast Times / Twin City Faction - December 12th

2005:
  • Japanther/ Black Panda - date unknown
  • A Death in the Family / Angry Kid - January 1st
  • Dillinger Escape Plan - (signing) March 4th
  • Macromantics /Chasm with Hykoo /Living Dead Dudes - date unknown
  • Nick Sweepah / Aux One - March 3rd
  • Iron Lung / Straightjacket - March 12th
  • A Secret Death / Stolen Youth - April 17th
  • In Name and Blood /The Scandal - date unknown
  • Exhumed / Garbage Guts - June 12th
  • Kiosk / Hit The Jackpot - June 19th
  • Bastard Squad - June 29th - Instore/ filming for Clip
  • Thalia Zedek - date unknown
  • Bleeding Through - (signing) date unknown

2006:
  • The Day everything became nothing , Fuck....I'm Dead  May 21st

2007:
Edge of Spirit , Palm - May 30th
Dad they broke me, Birushanah - June 8th
Cut Sick - September 14th

2008:
  • Roskopp, The Kill - July 13th
  • Pissbolt , Realized - August 12th
  • Worms of the Earth , Pig Destroyer - October 29th
  • The Kill, Captain Cleanoff - November 2nd