18/05/2026
BIG APPLE HISTORY.
Apple records located in Surrey Street, Croydon, a busy fruit and veg market was the brainchild of 2 friends from Croydon, Gary Hughes and Steve Robertson. Needing further investment, a week before the shop was due to open in November 1992, Steve invited John Kennedy to become the third partner. Initially, the shop stocked Progressive House and Techno on the ground floor and Jungle on the first floor. Soon after opening, Apple had to change its name to ‘Big Apple Records’ because the Beatles record label, Apple, threatened to sue. The shop did okay initially, however, competition in Croydon was fierce in those days with 8 or 9 other record shops also operating in the close vicinity. It became obvious that the business could not sustain the 3 partners. First Gary was bought out of the business and was followed by Steve, leaving John as the sole proprietor from the summer of 1996. Soon after, John invited his friend Arthur Smith (Artwork) to take the top floor of the building and make it into his studio. John also took the decision to replace the Jungle (now Drum and Bass) section on the first floor with listening booths. Garage music exploded and the shop became really busy. John employed a young Dj Hatcha to work alongside him in the shop and Hatcha brought in many new customers and djs who were playing on popular local pirate stations. (Lazy journos please note, Hatcha was never the head buyer, John did all the buying) Meanwhile Arthur's productions were becoming highly sought after and culminated in him producing the number one single by Daniel Beddingfield - Gonna get through this. With many of Arthur's tracks initially only available in the shop and its successful internet mail order department the word began to spread that Apple was an excellent shop. Many of the staff came from a Techno or Jungle musical background so Apple always pushed the deeper side of Garage, in particular productions by Sounds of the Future, Zed Bias, Wookie, Oris Jay, and El-B who was invited to perform live under his Ghost moniker at the Christmas parties of both 2000 and 2001. This in turn inspired many of Apple's younger customers into making this type of music. Benga and Skream both started shopping at Apple at a very early age, Benga was about 11 when he first went in and Skream's older brother Hijak had worked in the shop on and off for many years so Skream had also been about since an early age. Both were using basic music programmes to make tracks, inspired and spurred on by Hatcha they soon became good enough to release on the shop's new label, Big Apple Music. The label had been started in 2002 by John, Arthur and Hatcha in order to promote both the shop and new local talent. The term Dubstep also originates from this time (in an article about Horsepower in XLR8 magazine.) Big Apple was the first label to release tracks by Benga, Skream and the Digital Mystikz. Unable to pigeon hole this new music, these releases initially met a luke warm response until nights like FWD and DMZ started running, offering an outlet to hear this new music, 'Dubstep'. From 2002, vinyl sales in the shop nose-dived, reasons for this included the explosion of the internet and the online sharing of music files and the crackdown by the authorities on local pirate radio stations. The shop didn't have to shut in 2004 but owner John had had enough. He'd spent 12 (great) years inside the same 4 walls and wanted to do other things, in particular to travel. The shop closed its doors for the last time on 20th November 2004, exactly 12 years to the day that it had opened.
If you're called Apple yeah, why have you got a banana for a logo?
This is the biggest question in the history of Croydon so pay attention because I'm going to explain once and for all. The original owners of Apple records, Gary and Steve decided to call the shop Apple because it was situated in a fruit market. They commissioned artist Chris Birmingham to come up with some logo designs. Chris submitted a whole A3 sheet of logo designs, an apple in half, an apple with headphones, an apple with a record sticking out of it and so on and at the bottom of the page, in the corner was the banana logo almost as if Chris had got bored and for a laugh drew a banana. As soon as Steve saw the designs he said, 'that one!' referring to the banana, Gary agreed and that was it, the banana was chosen. However, this was to come back and bite us in the arse as we used to get asked the above question on a daily basis, week after week, year after year. So please don't ask again... EVER. 🙂
SHOUT OUTS... (A work in progress, as I remember them)
Original Crew- Gary H, Knobby, Cookie, Bestie, Jason Sutherland.
The Workers - Berdy, Bailey, Hijak, Kool K*t Whelan, Dru Nasty, Hatchling, Jim, Shireen, Lloydy, Dave Lazy, Ton-e-gee, Lil Joe, Skream.
The Distributors- Ross, Stilly, Graham, Denis, Lee Grainge, Danny H, Andy, Kris, Rick, Terry and all @ Record Corner, Dean, Jonny Flip Flop, Fred, Davy new van, Terry and Taff, Paul Smoking Beats, Shell, Terry Cut n Play, Neil and Soulja.
Crew - Arthur, Danny H, JohnDad, Tom, Clive, Maxwell, Dolly, Priya, Danny Glasses, Benga, JJ Louis.
Friends (work in progress) Rachael D, Chris Birmingham (thanks for the logo), Athos, Alex Knight, Flossy, Steve & Sheree, Andy Nee Naw, Macksood, Groove Gran, Joby, Johnny Shagsgood, Mario, Paul Courtney, Trent, Toby, Doctor Rob, Rob from London, Sheriden (sorry), Vince and Al, Chris Gafney, Long Haired Jason, Fireman Dan, Sam Fomp, Raymundo, Nickyboy, Klively, Rob Mutiny, Jnr J, Jeremy B, Julian Jonah, Dominic, Mad Doctor (sorry), Lady Becks, Ace Shylon, Debs, Dave, Yolanda, Dr Funk, HD1, Gerrad, Micky Simms, Janeann, Chewy, Annabelle, Emma Feline, Dj Raggs, Nathan Headtop, Milan, Miss-t-fi, Jonny B, Moony, Rob Mesure, Dave Mothersole, Gideon, Pip, Deby Carter, Big Roy Owens, Deck Doctor, Garfield, Jeff Noize, Allan B, Sticky, Lady Stush, So Solid Kids, Big Kid, Deekline, Steppa, N-Type, Chef, Cyrus, Nicky B, Alpha, Flash B, Indo, Shaka, Paleface, NRG, ST, Mad B, Risky, Goodfella, MA1, Kibwe, Marco del Horno, Richard Yoot, Cem, Fresh, Steady, Bossman, K Flex, Mala, Coki, Loefah, El-B, Jay da Flex, Benny Ill, Matt Horsepower, Dinesh, Kode 9, Distance, Plastician, Joe Nice, Tas, Wesley, DFuse, Lee Get Darker, Hutchy B, Brasstooth, Porky, Neil, Danny Handsome, Emma, Charlotte, Colin Dale, Trevor Rockcliffe, Daz Saund, Paul Coleman, PP, Andy Loveless, Dave Bagnell, Rob, Rob, Glenn, Richie, JC, Annie, Simone, Madhatter, Little Ian, Matt 6 months, Big Jay, Danny Foster, MC Viper, Heartless Crew, Mystic Mat, David Weir (6 time Olympic champion), Pookie, Smoother, Tim, Lewis and the rest of the Holden clan ... more to follow
RIP Easy Rider, Uncle Bob, Liz Edwards, Les Adams, Gary Plumber, Darren Walsh :(
