When Good Pets Go Bad return this weekend with their follow up to the fantastically addictive pop pill that was debut EP Smpte Babies and Stereo Throat. Original turned-to-the-dark-side pet Seán Ryan chats with The G-Man ahead of Record Store Day and the release of their limited edition, cassette only double A-side single ‘Come Down’​/’​No Way’ which both – coincidentally enough – take place this weekend.

What is your favourite record store and where is it located?
Plugd Records!

Are there any specific happy memories that you have of this store?
The opening day in the Triskel last year on Record Store Day was amazing. Everyone was so happy to have a space to buy, listen to/talk about music again. And to have renewed access to giving out to Albert!

Are there any particular albums recommended to you by record store staff that have influenced your music over the years (or that you have simply loved and adored)?
Sonic Youth – Goo.
Sultans of Ping – Good Year for Trouble.
Archers of Loaf – Vs The Greatest of All Time


Too many to mention really. A great deal of my favourite albums were purchased from either one of the lads [in Plugd Records] and often I wouldn’t have heard a note from it until I set foot in the store that day.

Has a record store (i.e. the staff) helped you in your musical career/path in anyway over the years? If so, how?
They’ve always been really helpful, from prominently positioning posters within the store from our first gig, when we could scarcely even play our instruments (not much has changed?) to having us for a show on the 28th of this month.

What does Record Store Day mean for you?
An opportunity to pick up special releases and really enjoy the special place that a local record store can have in the place of so many peoples lives.

This will be the fifth annual record store day. Any fond memories from previous Record Store Days you would like to share?
RSD 2009 (I think) I managed to pick up a Sonic Youth/Beck split 7 inch at the very end of the day. I’d been working all day and had given up all hope getting my hands on it but there was on left at the end of the day. It was fate! Last year was also special for being a new beginning for  Plugd and for the city on a whole.

Have you had a chance to look at the special limited editions that are set to be released especially for RSD12? Is there any record you will be trying to claim come April 21st?
Caitlin Rose is doing a 7 inch of Arctic Monkeys covers which should be delightful. The Flaming Lips collaboration record should be nothing if not entertaining.

If you were to release a split 7″ with any contemporary artist/band who would it be with and what song would you cover of theirs and vice versa?
Not entirely contemporary I guess (for now) but I would love to do a split with My Bloody Valentine. We would cover ‘You Never Should’, and have Kevin Shields work his magic on ‘Come Down’, off our new single!

If you had to describe the perfect record store in 3 words what would they be?
Plugd Records. Yes.

If you were to own a record store one day, what would you call it?
This feels like a question that I may end up spending an awful lot of time agonising over. Having done so, I still have nothing smart or good to say.

Anything else to add?
Buy lots of records! Buy our tapes!!

– Record Store Day 2012 takes place on Saturday, 21st April
– ‘Come Down/No Way’ by When Good Pets Go Bad is released on ltd cassette Friday, 20th April
– When Good Pets Go Bad play Triskel Arts Centre on April 28th

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www.recordstoreday.com