Rock'n'roll is far from dead. Mark Adolph, manager of Born Bad, is convinced of this. In the few square meters of his store near the Bastille in Paris, rock culture is available in new and used formats, covering all styles from 1950s rock'n'roll to post-punk, including hardcore and rockabilly. It's hard to understand how some 10,000 vinyl records can fit into such a small space. This crimson-floored venue has fueled several generations' passion for vinyl and rock culture.

Born Bad opened its doors in 1999, initially on Rue Keller, then a few hundred meters away on Rue Saint-Sabin, where it is still located today. It all started with a friendship among three music enthusiasts: Iwan Lozac'h, Christian Blanchard and Adolph. "We didn't know what to do with our lives, so we decided to open a record store."

Despite the trio's lack of experience, it caught on. "We'd already made quite a few contacts in the scene. Iwan was a salesperson at another record store, and we were both part of the rock scene. People knew who we were, and word-of-mouth worked well," said the man in his 50s with the tattooed biceps.

The collection's selectiveness plays a significant role in its success. "Even though I have some major classics in the bins, I don't work with the major players in the music industry at all," explained Adolph. Only small independent labels have a place at Born Bad, along with a few rock culture gems: the latest issue of the alternative culture fanzine Cheribibi, a reference book on the American music label Estrus, and a rarity: the T-shirt worn by Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon, bearing the inscription, "Girls Invented Punk Rock, Not England." Since day one, he has followed the rule to only sell what he likes. "From experience, what I don't like, I can't sell."

No musical camps

If one thing has changed since it opened, it's that everyone has abandoned their musical camps. "When I was 25, there were people who listened to punk, hardcore, rap, soul. Each in their tribe with their own music. They never mixed. Now, that doesn't exist anymore; the younger generation is much more open; they don't confine themselves to just one style," Adolph said.

Just two people are running the business: Joseph Cartron, his young sales assistant, and himself. Between management, purchases, and writing three posts for social media, the duo stays busy, particularly as Adolph is also the drummer of the Parisian post-punk band Frustration. This means he has to divide his time between rehearsals, concerts and the day-to-day running of the store. A particular feature of his clientele is their unfailing loyalty. "I used to see 15-year-old kids hanging around the store a few years ago. Today, when I run into them at my place, some have formed a band, while others have set up a music label."

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