A lot has happened in the last 30 years of music.
Michael Jackson hit the charts, albums were on vinyl then on cassette then on CD then on iPods then back on vinyl, Michael Jackson discovered hair straighteners, Beyonce proved dancing in your togs is acceptable, and Michael Jackson died.
But there has been one constant: Auckland's Real Groovy Records is celebrating its 30th birthday this weekend with a true rock and roll party.
As one of the longest-running music retailers in the country, Real Groovy has cemented itself as the go-to Auckland destination for every type of take-home entertainment possible.
Real Groovy became a cultural destination.
Owner Chris Hart opened the store in 1981 in Mt Eden, not far from its current location on Queen St.
And over the past 30 years, the independent store combined trading second-hand products, an import service, concert ticket sales, books and merchandise to stay afloat in an ever-changing music industry.
In 2008 the chain, which included stores in Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, went into receivership after what Hart called "a bad foreign exchange deal" that left the business in need of capital.
The receivers closed the Dunedin store, put the business up for sale and the Wellington and Christchurch stores were bought by their managers, while Hart and his partner Marty O'Donnell bought the Auckland store, bringing Ralph Brayham on board.
Now, three years after the sale, the Auckland store is the only one left standing - Wellington shut its doors yesterday and the Christchurch store was closed permanently after being damaged in the February earthquake.
But it's no longer just records that make the money. In an effort to keep overheads down, the Queen Street building is now shared with a vintage clothing store, a cafe and a hi fi electronics store, and according to Hart, there are more tenants on their way.
"The model for a half-acre record store no longer exists. We are actively gathering complementary businesses around us to preserve Real Groovy's value as a destination."
It's this feeling of Real Groovy as a destination that has attracted some well-known customers along the way.
"We have had a lot of people through," confirms Hart, including names like Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl, Morrissey and Metallica.
But what Hart describes as "possibly the single best moment" came recently when his son Humphrey - a keen guitarist - was working behind the counter and got to serve Carlos Santana.
"He was too awestruck to notice what he bought though."
Hart says getting the chance to connect with musical idols is a unique perk of the job.
"It's nice to chat to people who were friends with Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. Because growing up listening to them, there was an obvious divide, you felt far away. But then they are here, and they are just normal people."
He says it has been the support of well-known and local customers that have kept his store alive and kicking for so long.
"Real Groovy couldn't have existed if it hadn't been for the support of our customers over the years. While Auckland was the ideal size for a single deep-catalogue music store, as opposed to the range of specialist stores found in larger metropolises, it was the embrace of our customers that enabled us to grow and develop into a world-class music haven."
This weekend Hart, his team and hundreds of loyal fans will be celebrating Real Groovy's 30 years in style, with live performances from bands including Tono and the Finance Company, F in Math and The Broadsides, as well as giveaways and in-store specials.
And Hart says there is every chance the store will be around for another 30 years.
"When we started Real Groovy I must admit that I wasn't thinking about where we would be in 30 years' time. It's been a fantastic ride, with plenty more ups than downs.
"I'm excited to see what shape Real Groovy will take in the coming decades."
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