Record by relatively unknown UK electronic music artist becomes most expensive ever sold, at $41,000

News

A record by a relatively unknown UK electronic music artist has become the most expensive ever sold on Discogs. 

Produced by Scaramanga Silk — a London-based artist with a modest following of 280 fans on Facebook — ‘Choose Your Weapon’ was self-released by Silk back in 2008, and only 20 vinyls were pressed.

It’s the first time the record has been listed, and the sale price — $41,000 (£29,800) — makes ‘Choose Your Weapon’ the most expensive vinyl ever sold via the Discogs Marketplace.

Speaking with Discogs following the sale, Silk said it is “very difficult to understand why the release went for that kind of money as I do not believe that any record is worthy of such a valuation.

“You imagine that the highly limited edition nature of it would have been a major factor. The individual who made the purchase must have had some kind of special connection to the work too. There was a buzz around the record in 2008.”

Silk added that although it meant a lot that ‘Choose Your Weapon’ is “so important to somebody”, he was dissapointed “to see a promotional item reach such prices in the resale market when the artist sees no remuneration at all.”

The record, which is not available to stream online, has previously sold on eBay for $654.

In 2019, Discogs revealed the 100 most expensive items purchased in the United States via its online marketplace since its launch in 2005. Ranging from $2,247 to $15,000, the countdown features big names including Led Zeppelin, Nirvana and The Velvet Underground.

In September last year, a 12″ version of the late Avicii’s breakthrough track ‘Levels’ sold for $1,764.00 via Discogs.