Epitaph Records Recent News

I AM GHOST ANNOUNCE EUROPEAN CO-HEADLINING TOUR

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:07:00 -0700

Epitaph’s edgy Goth Rockers bring their theatrics to Europe this Fall 2008.

One of the most visually and aurally dynamic live bands out there today are returning to Europe this Fall, for a headline tour together with glam metalheads Blessed By A Broken Heart .

With an "impressively cinematic sound" (Q, UK) I Am Ghost have left Britain spellbound during the Kerrang tour 2007, and are set to swoon Europe with another breathtaking live adventure.

Their amazing debut Lover’s Requiem, "awesome, in fact" (Kerrang KKKK, UK), was released on Epitaph late 2006, with I am Ghost currently in the studio recording their sophomore album, due for a release this Fall.

Check out the dates in the Tour section, with more dates to be confirmed soon!

Want to be in Sing It Loud's new video!?

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:06:00 -0700

WHAT: Sing It Loud Music Video Shoot

WHEN: Saturday, June 28th 2008
(ARRIVE AT 4:30pm)
Please respect the neighbors.

WHERE: 9100 64th Street North
Stillwater, MN 55082

WHO: You & all your friends

WHY: Why not?

This Saturday we are looking for humans between or around the ages of 16 – 22(or at least look like you are that age) to be in a music video for the band Sing It Loud. The only requirement is that you know how to party(and by party we mean: like to swim, eat food, play croquet, jump on trampoline, and hang out by bonfires). Oh, yeah there will be music as well.

If you are interested, please bring the following:

Swimwear & Clothing that is not of this era(anything 80's or 90's would rule: Colorful is better, neon, bright or whatever, 1 piece swimsuits, short shorts, white socks with colorful
stripes, etc… check out the internet for fun ideas), Pool Toys/Floating Devices(anything you would bring to a summertime party: the more unique, the better), Bring your own food & NONALCOHOLIC DRINKS (in case you get hungry or thirsty: and you will be. NO ALCOHOL), and a wicked sense of humor. And NOALCOHOL... did we mention that.

Also, bring rain gear in case it rains and something to keep yourself occupied between takes.

Anyone who is under 18 needs a parent or legal guardian to sign off for them in order to participate. This is VERY IMPORTANT. No release no party.

YOU CAN PRINT OUT THE RELEASE FORM HERE

Here is a fun checklist:
_ Bright 80s and 90's throw back clothes (not like halloween costumes, just like subtle cool.

_ Float Toys / Waterwings / Fun Noodles / Tubes / Super Soakers / Water Balloons / Etc
_ Your own food and Non ALCOHOLIC Drinks / Water / Coolers / Ice / Sunscreen /
Umbrellas
_ Smores or Hot dogs and a stick to roast it on
_ Football / Frisbees / Etc
_ Sparklers (its almost fourth of july but please no illegal fireworks) Glow Sticks or
bracelets.

_ Signed Release (like a fun field trip)

SEEEEYOUTHERE!!!!!!!!!!! BLEEEEDAT!

R.S.V.P.

with your:
Name / Age / Email and Phone - to: video@epitaph.com
Write 'I am ready to party' in the subject line.

Vote for SING IT LOUD in the Denny’s All Nighter Adopt A Band Contest

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:06:00 -0700

At a time when touring costs are high, Denny’s wants to help. That’s why through the “Adopt-a-Band” program, Denny’s sponsors bands to eat for free and host after parties at local Denny’s Restaurants while on the road. One special band each month is chosen by you, the adoring music fans. Click here to vote for Sing It Loud!

Sing It Loud EP, out now on itunes!

New Video: BR's New Maps Of Hell Deluxe Trailer

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:06:00 -0700

On July 8th, Bad Religion will be releasing New Maps Of Hell Deluxe. It includes a live DVD, music videos, a making of, and an acoustic EP. Head to YOUTUBE to watch the video trailer.

The Offspring Reissues OUT TODAY!

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:06:00 -0700

"Smash" and "Ignition" Reissues finally available again! Remastered and Repackaged from the original master tapes. This is a must have for any Epitaph or punk rock fan!

New Weakerthans Video!

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:06:00 -0700

The Weakerthans just launched their video for "Tournament of Hearts" paying homage to everyone's favorite sport, curling! Go to youtube.com to check it out.

Reunion Tour, in stores now!

Want to see Motion City Soundtrack FREE? Live in Las Vegas?

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:06:00 -0700

Email contest@epitaph.com now with your name, phone number and address to be added to the guest list to be live in the studio audience of Motion City’s taping for Deep Rock Drive! The show is completely free and limited to only 200 kids, so email soon to get your spot, it will be first come first serve!

Show details:
Wednesday 6/11/08
Must be at the show no later than 6:15pm! Show starts at 7pm

Show address:

4290 Las Vegas Studio Ct.
Las Vegas, NV 89118

Located directly behind the Palms Hotel & Casino

To get on the list you must email contest@epitaph.com your name, phone number and address with the subject titled “Motion City Soundtrack at Deeprockdrive”. The live show is first come first serve. If you can’t make it on the list don’t worry, you can always watch the show live at 7pm on deeprockdrive.com!

Grab a free seat to MCS live on DeepRockDrive now!

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:06:00 -0700

Watch Motion City Soundtrack Perform Live Online @ DeepRockDrive Pepsi Concert Series.

Wednesday, June 11th at 7pm PST / 10pm EST log on to DeepRockDrive and watch MCS perform live. The concert will be streaming worldwide, and the coolest part is that you will able to interact with the guys while they play! You can ask them questions, vote on the set list, and even change camera angles. But just like any show you need a (free) ticket so head to www.deeprockdrive.com and claim your free seat!

Bad Religion Interview at Rollingstone.com

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:06:00 -0700

Bad Religion"s Brett Gurewitz: "I Think The Music Industry Is About to Enter A Golden Age"

Brett Gurewitz holds a new CD in his hands, an advance copy of an expanded edition of last year"s New Maps of Hell. He opens it up and proudly points to a live DVD, lyrics, panaramic photos, posters and other fine extras, all set for release in July. It"s an example of added value aimed at the new generations of music lovers for whom the "silver circles" of CDs have lost their luster as rock"s holy object. Gurewitz is the founding guitarist of Bad Religion, a band of veteran Los Angeles punks, but he"s also a record company man, the founder of influential indie Epitaph Records, which helped launch the careers of Rancid, the Offspring, Pennywise and many others. He says the label is still going strong in the era of collapsing record sales, and as he sits with Bad Religion singer Greg Graffin, he feels just fine.

You"re re-releasing New Maps of Hell?

Brett Gurewitz: I always wanted to try this. The reason was to try and give something extra. The band"s had lots and lots of records, so it becomes a little harder to make each one special. I think this is number 17 for us. We made the record, we"re proud of it, we said "Hey, let"s do all this stuff and reissue it."

Greg Graffin: It is easy to joke and be cynical about how people aren"t buying CDs anymore. My son is 16 years old, and in all honesty, he and his friends love having the actual piece of merchandise. And when something has this much content on it, it makes them salivate. Maybe it"s harder for record companies to release product without adding some bells and whistles, but it really is a nice product in the end.

There are other Bad Religion albums that fans might want to see get this kind of treatment.

Gurewitz: We did on this one because it was to create some value in a CD. Music is so widely available now " even though Greg says his son loves CDs, I"ve found that most kids I know don"t want a CD even if you give it to them for free. They love the music, but they just want to get it on their iPod. They don"t care much for silver circles. Really what it"s about is: here is the CD, but here"s some really nice artistic content you can have. It"s not just a cheap piece of plastic. There"s some posters, you got all the lyrics, you"ve got a DVD which is beautifully shot with seven cameras of the set we did when first releasing the album. It"s a new paradigm. I don"t know exactly what"s happening with the music industry, but it may be that the album format itself is dying, or maybe that the album format isn"t dying but the CD is dying with nothing to replace it yet.

Graffin: Nobody has done the research. Nobody has asked kids: What would you rather have? It"s easy to speculate, but if you don"t make the records, and you don"t market the records, guess what? They don"t sell. Whereas if they"re available for free as a download, kids will take them.

You seem strangely not worried about this.

Gurewitz: I"m not worried in the slightest. I think the music industry is about to enter into a golden age. It"s wonderful. I don"t think record companies need to sell CDs. Major labels need something cheap that they can sell bulk of, or they"re going to go under. Small companies like myself, that kind of evolved to be the cockroaches in the music industry, to survive on meager sustenance? We"re going to be fine. We"re the ones who will be left when the whole thing craters. Music consumption is up. It"s CD sales that are down. Record stores are going out of business. I"m not concerned because I"m a huge music fan, and I see the explosion of genres and artists and records and tracks and new concepts and mashups is so fascinating and wonderful and kaleidoscopic. In my truck, I can listen to Yeasayer, the Fuck Buttons, Santogold, Ozzy Osbourne and the Cool Kids, and the teenage kids in my truck think it"s all cool. What"s happening is going to be a renaissance.

Graffin: We both agree on that. Brett loves technology, but when you find him on an airplane, he"s reading a book. There"s an aesthetic quality to books that he prefers. I"m not saying my kids have the aesthetic connection with the CD itself, but maybe the artwork, the words that are printed, have a intangible quality to them that kids prefer.

Gurewitz: Virgin Records did an interesting study where they brought in a bunch of kids for a focus group. They had them listen to music: What song do you like better? Which song is catchier? Thanks you very much for giving us three hours, and as a reward, you can have any of our new CDs, and they didn"t want any of them.

Graffin: They probably weren"t cool. There probably weren"t any bands that matter to those kids.

Don"t the hardcore fans of Bad Religion want to own the album as an artifact?

Gurewitz: The hardcore fans do. Kids don"t want CDs, man. They want MP3s. I know " I own a record business. I don"t think it bodes ill for bands. Those kids will still come to shows. They"ll still buy some kind of an artifact. I know kids with whole record collections, and they don"t own any records; they just have drives full of music. These are 16 year old kids. My kid doesn"t have a single CD, not one.

Steve Appleford

Head to Rollingstone.com to see the article.

Insight with the Vans Warped Tour

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:06:00 -0700

Guitar Center Sessions is proud to announce an evening of dialogue and insight with the Vans Warped Tour!

Brett Gurewitz of Bad Religion along with many of his friends will be heading to the Guitar Center on June 12th at 6pm for a Q&A about the Vans Warped Tour! Click below for more info!

Since its inception in 1995, the Vans Warped Tour has been a catalyst for new music, exemplifying a DIY culture that has shaped a generation. Join us as we sit down with some of the tour's most prolific icons and up-and-comers for an evening of conversation on a variety of topics pertinent to today's aspiring artists.

Featuring special guests:
Kevin Lyman - Founder of the Vans Warped Tour, Mayhem Festival and Taste of Chaos
Brett Gurewitz of Bad Religion & Founder of Epitaph Records
Tom Delonge of Angels & Airwaves & Founder of Modlife
Joe Escalante of The Vandals & Founder of Kung Fu Records
Phillip Sneed of Story of the Year
And Max Bemis of Say Anything

Moderated by:
Jason Pettigrew - Editor-in-Chief of Alternative Press Magazine

June 12th, 6pm
Guitar Center Hollywood
7425 Sunset Blvd
Hollywood, CA

Guitar Center Sessions is free to the public, capacity is extremely limited.

Visit guitarcenter.com/sessions for more information.