Vagrant Records
| Vagrant Records | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Founder | Rich Egan, Jon Cohen |
| Distributor(s) | Fontana Distribution |
| Genre | Rock, indie rock |
| Country of origin | US |
| Location | Santa Monica, California |
| Official website | http://www.vagrant.com |
Vagrant Records is an indie rock label based in Los Angeles, California and is home to such artists as The Hold Steady, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Active Child, PJ Harvey, Reptar, School of Seven Bells, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Thrice, James Vincent McMorrow, Placebo, Band of Skulls, and many more.
Rich Egan and President Jon Cohen founded Vagrant Records in 1996. The label’s original roots were in punk rock, pop punk, and emo and included artists such as Dashboard Confessional, Saves The Day, The Get Up Kids, and Alkaline Trio.
History
The first band signed by Vagrant Records was Boxer and their album, The Hurt Process, was released on May 5, 1998.
The Get Up Kids
In 1999, Vagrant Records signed Kansas City, Missouri, band, The Get Up Kids, and the band's Vagrant debut, Something to Write Home About, was released in September 1999. Egan and Cohen borrowed US$50,000 from Cohen's parents to fund the recording of the Get Up Kids album, derived from the mortgaging of the family house.[1] The album was wildly successful, and single-handedly made Vagrant Records one of the top independent labels in the country.[2][3]
Rapid growth
They signed Los Angeles punk rock trio Automatic 7 and released the bands 2nd album "Begger's Life" on July 25, 2000.They followed this by signing and releasing albums from heavyweights in the emo scene like Alkaline Trio, Saves the Day, and Dashboard Confessional. Dashboard Confessional's video for "Screaming Infidelities", directed by Egan's sister Maureen and her partner Matthew Barry, earned Vagrant the MTV2 award at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards.[4]
Paul Westerberg
The label then went on to release solo material from The Replacements frontman, Paul Westerberg, signifying an initial departure from its roots of nineties punk and emo.[5]
Genre diversification
They soon signed Eels and released their album Blinking Lights and Other Revelations. In 2005 the label acquired New York City indie label Startime International, with whom they co-released albums from The French Kicks and The Futureheads. During that time Vagrant signed The Hold Steady and The Lemonheads.
Poquito Records
In 2006 Vagrant formed a children's label imprint, Poquito Records and released Vagrant artist The New Amsterdams' side-project The Terrible Twos' debut album "If You Ever See an Owl".
Density Records
In 2007 Vagrant formed another imprint label, Density Records, which will release heavier material than has traditionally been released on the label.
On August 5, 2009, Rammstein, the Berlin-based industrial metal sextet, well known for its controversial and fiery live performances, signed a US marketing and distribution deal with Vagrant Records.[6]
Current bands
Former bands
![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small}
See also
References
- ^ Alternative Press Issue 204 "Say Goodnight, Mean Goodbye: The Oral History of The Get Up Kids"
- ^ Paul, Aubin, About Vagrant Records, Punk News, retrieved 2008-03-02
{{citation}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Grubbs, Eric (2008), Post: A Look at the Influence of Post-Hardcore-1985-2007, iUniverse, pp. 224–266, ISBN 0-595-51835-4
- ^ Heller, Greg (2000-09-10), Bands Seek Emotional Rescue, San Francisco Chronicle, retrieved 2008-03-02
{{citation}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Billboard.com (2012). "Exclusive: Paul Westerberg Returns On Vagrant". Billboard.com. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
- ^ http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=124741