With everything from leather jackets to Sex Pistols on vinyl, Lindsey Shaver’s punk rock paradise operates outside the bounds of the mainstream.
The punk rock genre cultivated its roots in the mid-1970s with music that boasted a rebellious anti-establishment message and a blisteringly urgent feeling of self-expression that compels anyone who’s listening to break the mold.
As an independent business owner carving a unique lane in Southern California’s punk rock scene, Lindsay Shaver and her store DeadRockers, is the absolute embodiment of punk rock.
Shaver has assembled a one-stop shop for everything punk – from essentials like leather jackets, band tees, and Doc Martens to niche houseware items and limited edition vinyl.
“We’re a friendly punk store”
DeadRockers, which originates from a song of the same name by British punk band Uproar, began as a pop-up in 2005 before evolving into an online shop through MySpace and then Shaver’s website. A first storefront location in Wilmington followed in 2010 before relocation to Fourth Street in Long Beach in 2012.
Now, after a decade on Fourth Street, DeadRockers has just celebrated one year at its Cal Heights location, located at 1090 E. Wardlow Rd., which officially opened on Oct. 1, 2022.
Compared to the previous location, the shop on Wardlow Road offers space for increased inventory and events like in-store signings, meet and greets and live performances, as well as superior parking options.
DeadRockers now sits less than a mile from the 405 Freeway, making it more convenient for travelers from Los Angeles and Orange Counties to come to peruse the store in person.
Shaver took little time to make her mark in the area as DeadRockers has already organized two shows this year with local bar Roxanne’s, and is working with various businesses in the area to offer pop-ups and special events on 2nd Saturdays to create a more walkable shopping experience.
Shaver said 2018 was a positive turning point for the store, when she began to discover its full potential.
This success can be attributed to finding a balance of carrying niche pieces as well as bigger, but harder-to-find brands such as Doc Martens and Fred Perry. Deadrockers also grew its presence on Instagram and Pinterest, creating a blossoming online store.
But to Shaver, the true appeal of DeadRockers goes beyond its signature items and rare finds.
“I would definitely say the brands we carry have helped significantly with the growth but also just being such a niche place,” Shaver said. “I also like to think that we’re very welcoming, we’re very friendly and that’s always been very important to me.”
Lindsay Shaver, owner of the punk rock lifestyle retail store DeadRockers, looks through some of the vinyl presses that were made in collaboration with the shop on Oct. 10, 2023. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune) 
An exterior view of Dead Rockers on Oct. 10, 2023. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune) 
Different types of “potions” on display near the front window of DeadRockers on Oct. 10, 2023. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)
Shaver said it was intimidating for her to go to punk stores as a kid, so she aims to provide an approachable and friendly atmosphere for people who are getting into the scene. Her status as a fan of the genre while having her own punk rock store has allowed her to not only initiate other people into the punk subculture, but live out her dreams.
“I would definitely say doing the record exclusives has been very personally rewarding for me because I’ve gotten to work with bands that I grew up loving and to be able to work with them now or even offer something from that band that’s exclusive to my store is really cool to me just as a collector and a fan,” Shaver said.
“Every day is Halloween”
Going hand-in-hand with the punk rock staples, DeadRockers offers various seasonal collections, and with Halloween around the corner, Shaver says items like tights and fishnets sell particularly well and attract customers that may not otherwise come to the store.
“I feel like people who wouldn’t normally step foot in our shop will [at] this time of year. Kind of just out of curiosity or just enjoying spooky season and looking for places that they can go and experience that a little bit, I mean pretty much every day is Halloween for us in here,” Shaver said.
DeadRockers also offers men’s and women’s clothing lines that they design and manufacture, and they are currently building their first wholesale catalog, intending to offer these items nationally and manufacture more products in the future.
Shaver is particularly proud of the completely cruelty-free women’s line and garments from the collection that were made using over 30% recycled material. A crucial element of the process is the polyester fiber Repreve which uses 100% recycled material and gives items like their denim vest much more than meets the eye.
“For example, we did like a classic denim vest which I feel is such a staple rock n’ roll item,” Shaver said. “We wanted to tailor it to our clientele so there’s a lot of inside pockets, things that I feel like have been skipped over by brands a little bit especially for women. You know you go to a show and maybe you don’t want to carry a purse, you got pockets in your jacket that can actually fit something more than a lipstick.”
Offering a piece like a denim vest that is not only long-lasting due to its versatility, but also its environmental sustainability gives a unique take on a classic punk rock look. Shaver hopes that providing classic items with an environmentally friendly purpose can counter any support in the punk community for fast fashion.
“I mean there’s elements of punk rock where people are like, ‘I don’t care, I want [to buy] cheap’ and all that sort of thing, but I feel like we’re trying to shift the focus to be like, ‘No, buying a quality garment that’s going to last you a really long time and help the environment is worth the price,’” Shaver said.
DeadRockers is located at 1090 E. Wardlow Rd. and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
