Buddyhead Records

Buddyhead
Founded 1998
Founder Travis Keller
Status Independent
Genre Rock
Country of origin USA
Location Hollywood, California
Official website http://www.buddyhead.com

Buddyhead is a music "webzine" and (from 2000 to 2010) independent record label formed by Travis Keller in the summer of 1998 in Hollywood, California. Buddyhead engaged in criticism of popular culture and the music industry. Their gossip column resulted in Buddyhead being sued over a dozen times by numerous celebrities and record labels, including Korn, Courtney Love, Fred Durst, Moby, Drive-Thru Records, and, most recently, Axl Rose.[1]

Buddyhead Records was an independent record label from Hollywood, California that sprouted from the website of the same name. The label was started in 2000 with the pressing of a seven inch single from The Icarus Line ("Kill Cupid With A Nail Fie") and ended almost exactly ten years later with a full length from Dios ("We Are Dios") in August 2010. The label released records by a number of bands, such as: The Cassettes, Shat, Dios (also known as (dios) Malos, Ink & Dagger, The Icarus Line, Burning Brides, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Jubilee, Your Enemies Friends, The Mean Reds, 400 Blows, TEXT (ex-Refused), At the Drive-In, Murder City Devils, Modwheelmood, Wires On Fire, Radio Vago, The Jada Kings and Gayrilla Biscuits.

Buddyhead Records also became known for their compilations. First in 2003 came the now out-of-print "Buddyhead Suicide Sampler", which featured key tracks from each of the label's releases, rare/live tracks from each band on the label's roster, and prank-calls to music-industry luminaries from a secret person who went by the name "Torture Device". Rumors have circulated which claim that Torture Device is everyone from Bill Hicks to Sam Kinison to Chevy Chase, but Buddyhead has never officially commented on the matter.

In 2004, Buddyhead released the major label funded Gimme Skelter compilation, which was paid for (and distributed by) Netwerk Records. The compilation featured cover art by famous artist (and brother to Black Flag's Greg Ginn) Raymond Pettibon, who's done cover art for bands like Black Flag, Sonic Youth, Foo Fighters & OFF!). The compilation also contained exclusive and/or rare songs from bands such as: Primal Scream, Mudhoney, Iggy Pop, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Wire, Weezer ("Pinkerton" B-side), Dead Meadow, Le Tigre and others. In addition to CDs, Buddyhead Records released a DVD compilation in 2004 entitled "Buddyhead Presents: Punk Is Dead" through Image Entertainment, which featured music videos from TV on the Radio, The Jesus Lizard, Singapore Sling, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Turbonegro, The Locust, British Sea Power, The Dillinger Escape Plan, The Fiery Furnaces & others.

Buddyhead have been part of a number of antics, including vandalizing The Strokes' tour bus,[2] and an incident where they broke into Fred Durst’s office at Interscope Records, stole three of his red baseball caps, took photos in front of his Limp Bizkit gold records, and then auctioned the hats off on Ebay (the hats sold for $1700 each),[3][4] donating the money to a rape victim charity (a stab at Fred for the allegations of rape and violence happening in the mosh pit during their set at Woodstock 99').[5]

Co-founder / co-owner Aaron North ended his association with Buddyhead in late 2008.

Following North's departure, Buddyhead "re-launched" their website and started publishing their Gossip section every Monday. They also signed Los Angeles band Dios, with whom they released an EP called "Cosmic Rays". Buddyhead released the third Dios full length player, "We Are Dios", on February 16, 2010—their 31st release as a label. Dios was extremely well received in the press, obtaining articles/reviews in LA Weekly, Mojo, Spin, Rolling Stone and Pitchfork.

On July 15, 2009 a cartoon of Travis Keller graced the cover of Los Angeles' biggest free newspaper, LA Weekly to celebrate the Buddyhead cover story inside.[6] The article was written by staff writer Erin Broadley.

Bands on Buddyhead Records

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.buddyhead.com/2008/06/28/new-records-from-oasis-and-the-verve-coming-dead-comedians-aa-bondy-and-more/ Axl Rose sues Buddyhead for Rap video
  2. ↑ http://youtube.com/watch?v=iHtcSFR78jc BUDDYHEAD spray paint The Strokes tour bus
  3. ↑ Kerrang interview Travis Keller of Buddyhead page1
  4. ↑ Kerrang interview Travis Keller of Buddyhead page2
  5. ↑ The Michigan Daily - Sexual assaults, aggression slam modern mosh pit scene
  6. ↑ LA Weekly's Buddyhead Cover Story: "Buddyhead Redux"

External links

Official sites

Interviews

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