Roger Lunt

Shop Manager

Roger first got interested in music in the late 1950’s after hearing the American rock pioneers such as Elvis, Rick Nelson, Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran and Buddy Holly to name but a few. After leaving school he went to Ewell Technical College (now Nescot) to study Building Construction but his studies soon took second place to the social side of student life. It was there, as a drummer, he formed his first band, ‘The Capitols’, named after the American record label of the time. They were one of the first bands to play Beatle covers! The Capitols were a very busy and successful band on the college and club circuit. This all came to an abrupt end when their guitarist left to join Tony Jackson from the chart topping Searchers who had left them to start his own band.

After his first year at college, with a less than successful academic achievement, Roger decided to try a career in music retail and joined, probably one of the most well known retailers at the time, Bell Music. It was there in the 60’s that he came into contact with many of the well known bands and personalities of the time, including the Stones, the Yardbirds, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, The Kinks, Jimmy Hendrix and Marc Bolan and as far as he can remember, sold Eric Clapton his first electric guitar. During that period Roger played in many different rock, blues and soul bands, and by now he was playing guitar. Also at this time he had built his own electric guitar and was already carrying out repairs and set-ups on customers’ guitars. In 1967 he left Bell Music and earned a living by playing in bands and doing various part time jobs. In 1969, due to family commitments, he had to “get a sensible job” so the music scene took a back seat for a few years.

In 1981 Roger helped establish Bootleg Music and it was there that he expanded his guitar repair and set-up business which he had continued on a small scale since the Bell Music days. When Bootleg Music closed 28 years later, Robin and Richard Henderson, who had been Bootleg Music customers for many years, suggested opening a small music shop at their new Academy premises. After all, Epsom had to have a music shop like Bootleg and the Realistic Rock shop was born!