If you thought the ban on playing Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” was just a bit from the 1992 movie “Wayne’s World” think again.
In the movie Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers) attempts to play “Stairway to Heaven” in a guitar shop but is “denied” when the clerk alerts him to a sign that reads; “NO Stairway to Heaven“.
Apparently, there was actually such a (unofficial) policy at Guitar Center that the joke was formed from.
But now “Stairway…” is back on the setlist.
As guitar Center is attempting to rebrand out of bankruptcy, their new CEO, Gabe Dalporto says, “Selecting a musical instrument is a deeply, deeply personal experience. It’s something you have to touch and hear and smell for yourself. A guitar that seems appealing on a website might not speak to a player trying it out in real life.”
So to capture some of that essence and bring people back to the brick and mortar locations, Guitar Center is trying to make its stores a place to hang out for novices and pros alike.
It’s launching open mic nights for local musicians and just held a national ‘Drum Off’ competition where 2,600 drummers performed across its stores. It also dropped its unofficial in-store ban on playing Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven,” a favorite of newbies, to foster a more welcoming environment.
Guitar Center wants its staff to match customers’ enthusiasm for music, whatever their skill level.
“I want to be able to profitably put more labor in the stores,” says Dalporto. “Over time, we are going to be able to deliver a much better customer experience and that will drive additional revenue.”
“Stairway…” no longer denied.
