Roque Andres, Jr., a journeyman ironworker from Saskatoon, has a passion for collecting mementos from live rock concerts. When he is not busy at work or playing bass in a local metal band, Nox Umbra, Andres is adding to his extensive collection of concert souvenirs. His house serves as a shrine to live music, adorned with concert set lists, itineraries, guitar picks, drum sticks, signed gig posters, and photos signed by performers.
Andres estimates his collection includes 400-500 gig posters, around 200 set lists, 300-400 guitar picks, and about 100 drum sticks, with approximately 1,000 items signed by artists. Notably, he has enough tour shirts to wear a different one daily for a year and a half. The collection showcases memorabilia from both global music icons and local artists.
His fascination with live music began with an Alice Cooper concert in the mid-1980s, sparking his interest in collecting set lists and acquiring guitar picks and drum sticks. Over the years, Andres has amassed unique items, including an abstract painting by Bif Naked and signed vinyl albums from Black Sabbath. His collection also features picks from renowned musicians like James Hetfield, Kerry King, and Bryan Adams, whom he deeply admires.
To obtain these treasures, Andres employs various tactics, such as catching guitar picks mid-air or requesting autographs before concerts. His dedication has led him to attend over 1,200 rock concerts, including numerous shows by his favorite artists. As his collection continues to grow, Andres is contemplating moving to a larger home to accommodate his expanding array of concert memorabilia.