The damage after the fire in the basement of the legendary record shop in Oslo’s Old Town is extensive. Fortunately, the most valuable items were on the floor above.
Photo: Grethe Neseblod
Wednesday 10 April at 17:08
Everything on the first floor of Neseblod Records in Oslo is covered in soot, owner Grethe Neseblod (44) tells VG.
On Tuesday evening, a fire broke out in the historic premises that houses the shop she runs with her ex-husband Kenneth Neseblod (51).
The shop Neseblod was opened in 2013, in parts of the premises of the old record shop “Helvete”, and is referred to as legendary in the metal community.
Also read: Legendary record player hit by fire: – I’m sorry
It is difficult to say exactly how extensive the damage is, she says. The power is disconnected and the basement is darkened. There they had stock with, among other things, old T-shirts, fanzines, LPs, CDs, books, VHSs and cassettes.
– The fire itself was down in the basement, but it is soot and smoke that has damaged the entire store. There is a thin layer of soot on absolutely everything, says Grethe.
Photo: Grethe Neseblod
– It’s a collector’s shop, so we also had a lot of historical items such as Iggy Pop’s microphone, David Bowie clothes from the 70s, and cuddly toys from the 80s, old concert tickets and photographs and art, she says, and continues:
– What I hope is that if soot has not destroyed it, it can be saved. If it works, then we can continue the shop, but if not, we cannot operate with the same concept.
Photo: Grethe Neseblod
Photo: Grethe Neseblod
– The shop is, after all, a concept where we present a collection that people often come to look at. That is why it is not just a second-hand shop, but a window into Norwegian music history. There is a lot of fun and nostalgia that is now gone, she says.
How much has been lost in kroner and øre is difficult to say.
– It is very difficult to replace those things. That is the big problem with building up the collection again, says Neseblod.
At the same time, she is happy that it was precisely in the basement that the fire started, if it were to burn first.
– The most important thing we have is the first floor. Luckily it’s just covered in soot. We have spoken to the fire service and the source of the fire has been located. It wasn’t something we had done wrong with a fan or anything else, it was simply unfortunate, she says.
Naseblod brags about the work that the fire brigade did on Tuesday night.
– They were very good, and I am very impressed by them, and the whole neighborhood who were in service and care mode from the start, she says.