Taking place on Saturday April 21

Public Image Limited (PiL) frontman John Lydon kicked off the countdown to Record Store Day 2012 with a secret gig and launch event in London’s Shoreditch and a DJ set from Orbital a couple of days ago.

It is just four weeks to go to the annual celebrations taking place this year on Saturday April 21 and already a record 206 stores have signed up – 197 in the UK and nine in Ireland.

The initial list of over 350 exclusive Record Store Day releases was also unveiled at the event.

The Record Store Day concept of exclusive releases sold only for one day through indie record shops was brought to the UK four years ago. Last year around 180 stores took part and there were around 250 exclusive releases only available in participating stores, more than double the previous year’s and more than 200 artists and bands played in record stores around the country.

Many stores had queues hundreds deep when they opened on last year’s Record Store Day. Some were still operating a “one-in-one-out” policy late into the afternoon which has to be great news for the UK’s record buying public.

“Record Store Day has now become an established part of the music calendar and what makes it special is the character and individuality of record stores. There’s nothing to beat the enthusiasm and atmosphere of a great record shop. The reason great indie stores succeed is that they love music as much as their customers do. Record Store Day is like one huge festival taking place in every part of the UK. It’s primarily about the record stores and the events, not just the products available” Record Store Day UK coordinator Spencer Hickman

John Lydon said “The destruction of the music industry is because people can’t buy records easily.  A record is for life. A download is a lack of life. A poor substitute for a real wife!” Definitely a sentiment a few at the Hifi Pig Sty can relate to!

Make sure you support the day by going out and supporting the record store nearest to you!

More details here