Allan Parkins has as many stories as records in stock at Cardiff’s Kellys Records, including anecdotes featuring Oasis and Bruce Springsteen
Parkins story is woven through the heart of Cardiff, having lived all across the east side of the city over the years. One of the most unforgettable chapters of these stories involves the Oasis brothers.
Liam and Noel Gallagher found their way to Kellys Records, Parkins’ long-running family business, based in Cardiff Market, and left a memorable impression that still sparks a laugh today.
Oasis invited me to their after-party, but I turned them down—I had a Champions League game to watch.
The Gallaghers’ visits were as casual as any other customer’s. One day, Parkins got a call, “Allan, the boys and I will be in in 10 minutes.” The boys, he discovered upon their arrival, were Liam and Noel walking in with their trademark swagger.
As a big Manchester United fan, Parkins couldn’t resist setting some ground rules. “Guys, there’s one shop rule—don’t you dare sing ‘Blue Moon’ in here”, which is, of course, a Manchester City song he quipped. The brothers, as Manchester City fans, bantered back in what Parkins recalls as ‘abusive but in the nicest possible way!’
An invitation from Oasis
“They invited me to their after-party,” to which Parkins responded ‘No, thank you guys’ Allan recalled upon the encounter “I turned them down—I had a Champions League game to watch.” The duo later sent their DJ back to the shop, who ended up asking him to join them again, before spending about £300 on vinyl and leaving.
His experiences with the Gallaghers are not limited to the walls of the market, with Parkins catching Liam in Selfridges in London. He caught Gallagher off-guard when calling him over, before he jokingly telling him ‘don’t look back in anger.’
These aren’t the only two famous faces to appear in Kellys Records, welcoming the likes of Bruce Springsteen, with whom Parkins chatted to about ice hockey, dogs and family.
“We’re all human; we all bleed the same.” This defines Parkins approach to dealing with more well known people coming into his shop: no fuss or photo requests. By doing this, he has been able to create a comfortable and genuine experience for everyone walking through his door.
A family business
Parkins’ life as a record store owner began in 1991, when he took over Kellys from his aunt and uncle, who had opened the shop in 1969. It was a quick, unplanned decision after leaving a high-stakes job managing a sports agency.
Upon taking over, Parkins expanded the shop’s inventory and embraced the internet, transforming Kellys into a destination with a global customer base- with customers coming over from Russia and America solely to shop with him. ‘My uncle and aunt ran it as a hobby, but we turned it into a proper business,’ he said.
His family has grown alongside the business. Married since 1970, Parkins and his wife have built a life together filled with children and grandchildren. Parkins joked that the key to a long, happy marriage is accepting that his wife is the boss — though he’s “still fighting back.” His grandson James, who has now joined the family business, is set to eventually take over Kellys, ensuring that the shop remains a family-owned fixture in Cardiff for years to come.
