Music Man Reading: Store celebrates 30 years on Oxford Road

That’s how Peter Sirrell would sum up his time as Reading’s Music Man after recently celebrating 30 years on Oxford Road. 

The shopkeeper marked three decades in his jam-packed second-hand music goods store in July having started out in 1992. 

Peter with Elvis.

Peter, who grew up in Reading, gave up a job at Heathrow working for the British Airports Authority before heading back to Berkshire.

And he’s not looked back since. 

“It’s been very enjoyable”, he tells the Chronicle, eager to spill the beans about the famous faces and quirky characters he’s encountered in his shop. 

In 1994, Peter caught legendary composer Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber looking in his window. 

“I said what are you doing outside Andrew? Why don’t you come in?”, the businessman recalls. 

Sadly, Lloyd Webber did not step inside to see what the shop had to offer, which has included second-hand instruments, music equipment, CDs, vinyls and more for three decades now.

Peter Sirrell with an Epiphone Jimmy Page double neck guitar

One music legend that did come in - several times - was The Libertines frontman, Pete Doherty. 

The rocker was staying in Reading for a few weeks and became well-acquainted with the other Pete. 

“He came in to buy cheap guitars and comedy DVDs. I’ve never seen a guy tune a guitar so quickly”, Peter says.

Pete (Doherty, left) and Pete (Sirrell, right).

Other stars to step through the doors at 207 Oxford Road include band members of The Kooks, Cooper Temple Clause and Reverend and The Makers. 

But it’s not just the famous faces Peter - who counts Paul McCartney and Wings, The Stranglers, Blondie and Jamiroquai among his musical favourites - remembers. 

“I sold a saxophone once to a lady in 1994/1995 and she went away and learnt it. 

Elvis outside Music Man

“Then she came back with her daughter 25 years later and bought another one for her.”

The most remarkable part of that story is that Peter and the saxophonist recognised each other from more than two decades ago. 

“She was amazed I was still here,” Peter laughs.

The end of August is typically a good time for Music Man, with many Reading Festival revellers passing by. 

While not as many festival-goers come in these days, Peter said this time of the year was typically so busy he was forced to employ someone on the door to stop so many people from coming in. 

“I used to have a sign up saying ‘buy a cheap guitar and burn it after’”, the shop owner says, adding that revellers would also come in for flute tin whistles, bongos, harmonicas and more. 

While instruments have been a mainstay in the shop window and inside the cosy store, the nature of Peter’s music sales has changed dramatically over the years. 

He explains: “CDs were all the rage in the ‘90s, I couldn’t get enough of them. 

“I was almost on the verge of throwing my vinyls out to make more space for CDs.

“I’m glad I didn’t because it’s all reversed now, vinyls are popular and CDs are as flat as a pancake.”

Sony Walkman handsets and cassettes have also come back into demand as people are “fed up with downloading”, Peter argues. 

Recently, Music Man sold three Kate Bush tapes for £150 - when they might have fetched £5 each without the popstar’s Stranger Things-inspired renaissance.

But Peter has not made a success of his humble business alone. 

For the past 30 years on Oxford Road, the 59-year-old father-of-two has been accompanied by a lifesize Elvis replica that sits just outside the shop. 

Rarely a day goes by that pedestrians or customers walk down Oxford Road without stopping for a selfie with the crooner.

Peter with Elvis

Peter says: “It’s become a landmark. I tell people to look for Elvis and they can find me!”

Although he has racked up an impressive innings on Oxford Road, Peter has no plans to stop being Music Man yet. 

“Keep bringing your stuff in to sell to me, and if you want a good musical bargain, you know where to come!”