Mike, the owner of Pepperland Music, is considered by many to be one of the most knowledgable Beatle collectors in the US. He collects and sells Beatle goods in his Southern California store (along with CD's, videos and other rock memorbilia) and will answer all of your Beatle questions here. Send your questions to us and we'll print the best ones every month. All you have to do is:

Ask Mike!

Dear Mike,

I am very new to the Beatles and want to begin collecting - but there is so much stuff out there that I don't know where to start. What would you suggest? And what will go up in value?

"My" way of collecting is to purchase what looks good to you and what you would like to keep. Buying on dollar speculation for increase values is ok but very risky. In a nutshell, collect to collect...not just for investment purposes. You can also always give me a call or email. If you let me know what sort of things you are looking for, I can keep an eye out for them for you. And if you're trying to buy a gift for a special Beatle fan in your life, definately call me before you buy! I'll help you find something in your price range that will sure to please your Beatle fan.

Dear Mike,

I want a butcher cover! I've been to lots of "Beatle Festivals" and everyone seems to have butcher covers for sale, but at varying prices. I was ready to buy one when someone whispered to me that the one I was drooling over was fake! What's going on? How can I be sure that the one I buy is authentic?

Yes, there are a few "fake butcher albums" out there. They really weren't meant to fool the public...just to fill in a gap for the collector who wants a pristine copy and can't afford thousands for one. Yes, there are still many originals out there for sale. Estimates were over 300,000 manufactured. Still, we do find some in people's collections, unbeknownst to them. If you want to purchase a butcher, buy from a dealer who has been around and can be trusted. Check the price guides for prices. Then decide what you want in a Butcher. A first state (no paste over trunk cover) a second state (pasted over trunk cover) or a third state (a peeled cover).

Dear Mike,

Are there any "Holy Grails" out there that a collector should be looking for? I visit a lot of garage sales and flea markets and would hate missing the chance to own a piece of Beatle memorabilia because I didn't know what to look for.

Yes, there are plenty of gems still to be discovered in Beatles collecting. Rare 45's and LPs, and the rare toys, toy guitars, and record players. Most paper material such as books and magazines are plentiful, but when it comes to paper material that is worth a hefty value, look for scrapbooks that may contain tickets to concerts or even fun things like The Beatles Paint by Numbers kit.

Dear Mike,

What are the best Beatle books? There seem to be so many.... I can't afford to get them all, but would like a nice little library of the best ones. And what about videos? Anything new?

I find the most interesting books on The Beatles are by the people that worked with them. Look for books by Derek Taylor to be interesting reading. I didn't care too much for George Martin's first book, "All you need is ears"...too much self-patting-on-the-back by Mr. G.M. made for some dull reading. The new book on Paul, "Many Years From Now", is very interesting and has created a little controversy. Did Paul really contribute to each song as much as he contends? Yoko thinks not! Lots of new insights, a "must read" for Beatle fans. Of course, the "bible" for Beatle fans must be Lewisohn's "Complete Beatle Chronicles", a day by day diary of what the Beatles did each day. This is an excellent source for information on their recording sessions, what they played at each concert, etc. If you are more into the recording sessions, there is a smaller book he wrote titled "The Beatles Recording Sessions" that has lots of nice pictures and very detailed information on the sessions. As for video news, DVD is the word! Look for "A Hard Days Night", "Help!", and "Magical Mystery Tour" on the new format. No news yet on Anthology, "Let It Be", or "Yellow Sub" yet - soon??

Email Mike Your Questions!
Beatle Fans To This Page Since 2/3/98.