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| Epitaph Records | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founded | 1980 (1980) |
| Founder | Brett Gurewitz |
| Distributors | AMPED Distribution (US),[1]PIAS (UK),ADA (former) |
| Genre | Punk rock |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Location | Hollywood, California |
| Official website | epitaph |
Epitaph Records is an Americanindependent record label owned byBad Religion guitaristBrett Gurewitz. A large portion of the record label, known asHellcat Records, is owned byTim Armstrong, frontman of thepunk rock bandRancid. Several sister labels also exist, such asANTI-,Burning Heart Records,Hellcat Records, and Heart & Skull Records that have signed other types of bands.
Brett Gurewitz formed Epitaph Records as a vehicle for releases by his bandBad Religion.[2] The name had been taken from theKing CrimsonCold War protest song "Epitaph" from which the lyrics "Confusion will be my epitaph." had struck a chord with Brett and Greg when they were young.[3] Its first release for the label was Bad Religion's 1981self-titled EP, followed by their debutHow Could Hell Be Any Worse?, which was also the label's first full-length release. Also released during this period wasPeace thru Vandalism, an EP bythe Vandals, who were the first band besides Bad Religion to sign to Epitaph. Two more Bad Religion releases followed –Into the Unknown and the EPBack to the Known – before their temporary split. After Gurewitz had cleaned up his drug issues, both Epitaph and Bad Religion were revived in 1987. In the following year, Epitaph released its first record as a proper label, which wasL7'sself-titled album, and it was distributed byChameleon. Also in 1988, Bad Religion releasedSuffer, which was both released and distributed by Epitaph.[citation needed]
In 1989, Gurewitz signedNOFX to Epitaph. They released their debut for the label,S&M Airlines, that same year, featuring the video for its title track and the cover ofFleetwood Mac's "Go Your Own Way", which featured guest vocals by Gurewitz andGreg Graffin, also a member of Bad Religion. This was followed by Bad Religion's next two albums –No Control andAgainst the Grain – which sold 60,000[4] and 100,000[5] copies respectively.
By 1993, more punk acts had signed to Epitaph, and the label relocated to new offices inSilver Lake, Los Angeles.[2]
AlthoughBad Religion was the founding band of Epitaph, releasing their early records through the label, they switched over toAtlantic in 1993, withRecipe for Hate being their first record outside of the label. Brett Gurewitz is thought to have left Bad Religion as a result of internal disputes, but actually left the band in 1994 so he could run Epitaph full-time.[citation needed]
In 2001, Brett Gurewitz returned to Bad Religion, and the band returned to Epitaph Records,[6] releasing seven more albums, the latest beingAge of Unreason (2019).
In mid-2005 Epitaph was added to the official list ofRIAA members[7] along with several other high-profile independent labels. The reason for the listing is not clear, but one source points to an agreement for internetP2P distribution.[8] Another source claims label management joined RIAA to get certified sales awards (i.e., official "Gold" or "Platinum" record status) for releases. This sparked some controversy as some feel they should no longer be labeled independent if they are a member of the RIAA.[9] However, the only source that has actually been used for these claims of membership is the official RIAA membership list, which has been disputed.[7] As of this writing, not only is Epitaph listed as an official member butLookout! Records is once again listed, after being falsely listed before. In addition,Fat Wreck Chords has released statements denying their own involvement in the RIAA, condemning the organization.[10]
Epitaph signedWeezer in 2010, the label releasingHurley later that year.[11] The label signedSocial Distortion in the same year.[12] Epitaph signedAustralian punk bandDangerous! in 2011 and released albumTeenage Rampage. Epitaph had also signed the Canadian punk rock bandPropagandhi. The label has also been more active in signing bands from theemo revival includingThe Menzingers,Joyce Manor,Pianos Become the Teeth,Defeater,the World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die, andTouché Amoré.
Epitaph has issued two albums that have been certified as platinum or multi-platinum, for sales of over 1 million units, by theRecording Industry Association of America:Smash bythe Offspring, which has been certified six-times platinum, and...And Out Come the Wolves byRancid, which has been certified platinum.[13]
Seven albums released by the label, or its subsidiariesHellcat andANTI-, have been certified gold for sales of 500,000 copies:Ignition by the Offspring,Punk in Drublic byNOFX,Let's Go by Rancid,Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards byTom Waits,The Drug in Me Is You andPopular Monster byFalling in Reverse,The Warrior's Code byDropkick Murphys andSempiternal byBring Me the Horizon.[13]
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