Cult following

I hear you.

So you got your first record deal in 1976, and your debut album came out that year, which started to build this whole cult following for you.

In fact, you built on the, the first three albums hugely, didn't you?

Yes.

Fans who'd only heard their later songs now trace back to this debut.

The cult status grew further because the record was a tangible object of rebellion, owning a piece of punk that had been pressed with cheap vinyl, hand-stitched sleeves, and a label that bore its own name.

the independent distribution network also served to break down the gatekeepers.

People in other states could find this album through college radio shows or even on tour bus stops, essentially circumventing big label marketing.

Pretty much it vanished from sight for a long time until the internet came about and people discovered the game again through emulation.

And because of that, the game kind of has a cult following

Right.

These days.

So this is curious.

I did find a very unusual price.

I did not see any repros directly mentioned as being so, which is strange, because I kind of expected a game as popular as this was, where the cult following might have some repros ever made.

Right.

Chris Gaines wouldn't be this character floating in space, where we're all going, "Why did this happen?"

But I think that floating in space quality might have something to do with the cult following that Chris Gaines has today.

You know, it's more fun to think about what that movie would be-

Mm

You know, it'd be a good Andy Samberg vehicle or something like that.

Mm.

But Steven, I am curious about this cult following that exists around this album.

Can you speak to that?

Yes.

A cult following.

Yes.

Building up from the

And, but if he doesn't grab that moment in time, that moment in time, Vanishes.

It vanishes.

You know, and then, you know, you can do what I've done, you know, I put out albums and I have a loyal cult following, which is great.

But I mean, if you were to interview Dave, he wouldn't be as honest and forthcoming as I am, because I'm telling you right now that Virgin Steel was bigger in 19... 81, 82, and 83 than they ever have been afterwards.

Then there's the headline recently in the Wall Street Journal, the one thing everyone in America can agree on, Costco.

So what can't Costco do? We're gonna spend the rest of the show today waxing poetic, I think, and maybe some of you don't feel that way, about the fluorescently lit, overcrowded big box store that has a cult following, including the two of us.

Even in this era of buying local to protest corporate overlords, Americans can't get enough of Costco.

Maybe it's the prices, maybe it's the cafe.