Restless Records
 |
| Restless Records | |
|---|---|
| Parent company | Warner Music Group (2006—present) |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Founder | Enigma Records |
| Distributor(s) | Alternative, Warner |
| Genre | Heavy metal, rock, alternative rock, punk rock, indie rock |
| Country of origin | U.S. |
| Location | El Segundo, California |
Restless Records is a record label that was started in El Segundo, California in 1986 by Enigma Records and primarily released alternative, metal, and punk records. Restless also licensed and released records from Bar/None Records, Metal Blade Records and Mute Records. Restless also had a fully owned subsidiary, Pink Dust Records.
In 1991 Restless and a number of Enigma Records titles were acquired by Bill Hein and Joe Regis and re-launched in Hollywood, California. In 1992, Restless acquired the Twin/Tone Records label and classic titles by such artists as The Replacements, Soul Asylum, The Jayhawks and Ween. This added to Restless' already substantial catalogue of titles by They Might Be Giants, The Cramps, The Dead Milkmen, Devo, The Flaming Lips, Stiff Little Fingers, T.S.O.L. among others.
In 1993 Restless co-founded Alternative Distribution Alliance (ADA) with Warner Brothers Music Group (WMG) to handle its distribution and certain titles released by Warner Bros., Elektra Records, Atlantic Records, their affiliates and Sub Pop Records. Sub Pop subsequently became a partner in the venture. Within 10 years, ADA went on to become the largest distributor of independent music in America.
In 1997 Restless was acquired by Arnon Milchan's New Regency Productions, one of the entertainment industry's largest independent film production companies. Restless remained a subsidiary of New Regency until 2001, during which time, Restless released many of New Regency's soundtracks including L.A. Confidential, Fight Club and Malcolm In The Middle (the title song to which earned They Might Be Giants a Grammy in 2001).
After New Regency sold its interest back to Hein and Regis in 2001 Restless entered into a distribution deal with Ryko Distribution which led to a sale to Ryko Corp. Ryko was later acquired by Warner Music Group in 2006. Since then, some of the albums originally released under Restless went out of print, referred to by They Might Be Giants in their newsletter as "the almost instant collapse of Restless Records after the events of 9/11."
Artists
- 45 Grave
- Adrenalin O.D.
- Agent Orange
- AMiniature
- Aversion
- The Bags
- Band of Susans
- Tim Buckley
- Butchering The Beatles
- Lori Carson
- Cinderblock
- Cirith Ungol
- Danzig
- Dead Milkmen
- Death Angel
- Doughboys
- Dream Syndicate
- Econoline Crush
- Electric Love Muffin
- Elvis Hitler
- Roky Erikson
- The Fibonaccis
- FLAK
- The Flaming Lips
- Forgotten Rebels
- Get Smart!
- Russ Tolman
- Giant Sand
- Crispin Glover
- The Golden Palominos
- Green on Red
- Hellion
- Indestroy
- IronChrist
- Jailhouse
- Jessica Betts
- The Johnsons
- Little Caesar
- Mazzy Star
- Michael Sweet
- The Moog Cookbook
- MX Machine
- The Neighborhoods
- Nova Mob
- Old Skull
- The Outlets
- The Pandoras
- Perfect (American band)
- Punchbuggy
- Radar Bros.
- The Shivers
- Social Distortion
- Spain
- Suncatcher
- Terrance Simien and the Mallet Playboys
- Straw Dogs (formerly The F.U.'s)
- They Might Be Giants
- T.S.O.L.
- Top Jimmy & The Rhythm Pigs
- The Vandals
- Wall of Voodoo
- Warren G
- Ween
- Wipers/Greg Sage
- YMO
- You Am I
- The Zeros (a 1990s glam band, not the 1970s L.A. punk band)
The Jet Black Berries