cover of episode Ep. 58 Tim Wessman (Art Department SF & NYC)

Ep. 58 Tim Wessman (Art Department SF & NYC)

2023/7/25
logo of podcast 2500 DelMonte Street: The Oral History of Tower Records

2500 DelMonte Street: The Oral History of Tower Records

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When Tim Wessman started working at Tower, it was never previously on his radar. Tim was immediately impressed by the level of devotion his co-workers had for music. He felt an immediate fit when he started working for Tower.  With no portfolio he interviewed for the Artist position at the Berkley Video store and he was hired by Sue Peterson on the strength of his interview. 

At the end of 1990, Tim took a weekend trip to NYC and loved it so much that two months later he transferred to the NYC Village store #125. Working with a slew of artists at the Tower Art Loft at 4th & Lafayette, Tim was pulled aside by the Art Director and told to slow down as he was making the other artists look bad. 

Tim tells us about eventually taking over the role of Art Director and the highs and lows of working art and displays at the number one store in the US. Dealing with foam core full of bullet holes, artists who showed up to work to nap, the infamous Green Day in store where the Village store was torn to shreds, in stores with Lenny Kravitz, The Ramones, The Go Go’s and Kate Bush’s rare in store signing and being let down by the Prince in store and a whole lot more. 

The day after a Eurythmics Madison Square Garden reunion show, Tim flew back to the West Coast and started working at the Tower store in the Castro District, which was a completely different experience than what he had become used to. Tim finished his career with Tower as the Singles buyer.