Portal:Epitaph Records
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Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record label. Gurewitz took the name from a King Crimson song of the same name. Throughout the 80s and 90s most of the bands on Epitaph were punk rock groups, while it is now primarily made up of emo and alternative bands. Several sub-labels also exist, such as ANTI-, Fat Possum Records, Burning Heart Records and Hellcat Records that have signed other types of bands. A few of the first bands signed include Bad Religion, L7, The Offspring, Rancid, and NOFX.
Epitaph Records has released lots of albums by popular punk acts, Bad Religion, NOFX, The Offspring, Rancid and Pennywise.
Bad Religion during the Process of Belief-era.
In 1987, Epitaph released its first record as a proper label. It was the band L7's self-titled album, and it was distributed by Chameleon. The first album that was both released and distributed by Epitaph was Suffer by Bad Religion.
In 1994 Epitaph received widespread fame, both within and outside the punk community, when NOFX, Rancid and The Offspring all released hit records. This was a big year for punk in the mainstream; Rancid appeared on "Saturday Night Live" the following year, playing "Ruby Soho" and "Roots Radicals". The Offspring would soon leave for Columbia Records in a contract dispute, but their Smash lived up to its namesake and would quickly become Epitaph's all time best selling album, with more than 11 million units sold worldwide to date.
Pennywise is an American punk rock band that was formed in 1988 and named after a Stephen King horror novel, It, in which Pennywise the Dancing Clown is a guise taken on by the monster.
Since Pennywise's 1991 self-titled debut, the band releases an album every two years on Epitaph Records, a label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. So far, they have released eight full-length studio albums, one live album, two EPs and one DVD. Their last album, The Fuse, was released in 2005. Pennywise is currently working on its next album, which is due for release around the summer of 2007.
Pennywise has had their current line-up, consisting of Jim Lindberg (vocals), Fletcher Dragge (guitars), Randy Bradbury (bass) and Byron McMackin (drums), since 1996. The band kept their original line-up until former bassist Jason Matthew Thirsk comitted suicide in 1996 and then Bradbury would join as his replacement.
Suffer is considered by many to be one of the best punk albums of the 1980s and it was moderately successful. The album was also named the best punk album of 1988 by many publications. A plethora of third-wave punk bands cite this album as a major inspiration. Suffer also remains one of the best selling albums on Epitaph Records, along with NOFX's Punk in Drublic, The Offspring's Smash and Rancid's ...And Out Come the Wolves.
- That the Epitaph's first official release was Bad Religion's self-titled 7" EP?
- That Epitaph became famous when bands like Bad Religion, NOFX, Pennywise, Rancid and The Offspring would become popular as well?
- Bad Religion moved on to a different style for their second album, Into the Unknown, which has never been released on CD?
- The Offspring's 1989 self-titled debut was previously never released on CD before re-issuing it in 1995?
- Tim Armstrong (of Rancid) helped form Epitaph's parent label Hellcat Records?
- March 16, 2007 Bad Religion announces that New Maps of Hell would be the title of their long-awaited new album, which is now due for release on July 10th.
- March 12, 2007 Matchbook Romance announces they have broken up.
- March 7, 2007 Death by Stereo announces a series of European tour dates, which kicks off this April and May.
- January 24, 2007 Pennywise is confirmed for this year's Warped Tour.
- January 17, 2007 A June 26th release date is set for Bad Religion's long-awaited new album and the band confirms that they would start recording it in February with Grammy-nominated producer Joe Barresi.
- January 15, 2007 The Unseen is confirmed for this year's Warped Tour.
- Keep the news up to date.
- Add more details to bands like Rancid, The Offspring and Pennywise.
