Hellcat Records
Encyclopedia
Hellcat Records is an independent
record label
based in Los Angeles, California
. The label, an off-shoot of Epitaph Records
, was started as a partnership between Brett Gurewitz
carp Bad Religion
, the owner of Epitaph, and Tim Armstrong
of Rancid
, the latter of whom is generally responsible for signing the bands.
The label specializes in ska
, punk
, oi!
, psychobilly
and hardcore
bands. Give 'Em the Boot
, a Hellcat label sampler which also includes tracks from other up-and-coming independent bands, has been issued every other year since 1997, with the exceptions of the third release which was released 3 years after the second and the last one, which was released one year after the one before it.
was released, featuring tour footage of numerous Hellcat bands.
On January 15, 2006, the label released Live Freaky! Die Freaky!
, a full-length movie produced by Tim Armstrong, and filmed using marionettes. The plot involves Charlie Manson's story being misinterpreted by a nomad in a post-apocalyptic Earth, and features the voice talents of the members of Rancid
, Green Day
, AFI
and The Transplants, among numerous others.
, over censorship issues. Leftöver Crack wanted their 2001 debut album to be titled Shoot the Kids at School, with the cover art depicting a gun-toting arm aiming at a playground. In the aftermath of the Columbine High School massacre
, Hellcat refused to allow this, so the band titled their album Mediocre Generica
in protest, as a veiled reference to what they viewed as the mediocrity of the bands on Hellcat's label. This incident ultimately led to Leftöver Crack departing from the label.
After leaving the label, Leftöver Crack has accused Hellcat Records of promoting sexism
and homophobia
within the punk community. Their accusations are based on allegedly homophobic lyrics by the now-departed U.S. Bombs, Hellcat's attempted signing of controversial reggae artist Buju Banton
, and Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards' allegedly sexist lyrics and use of naked women in label art. Leftöver Crack have also addressed these issues explicitly in their song "Gay Rude Boys Unite". The song accuses the punk scene of being homophobic, and was written in response to perceived homophobic artists on Hellcat Records.
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
based in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. The label, an off-shoot of Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
, was started as a partnership between Brett Gurewitz
Brett Gurewitz
Brett W. Gurewitz , nicknamed Mr. Brett, is the guitarist and a songwriter of Bad Religion. He is also the owner of the music label Epitaph Records and sister-labels ANTI-, Burning Heart Records, Fat Possum Records, and Hellcat Records...
carp Bad Religion
Bad Religion
Bad Religion is a punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles in 1979. Their current line-up consists of Greg Graffin , Brett Gurewitz , Jay Bentley , Greg Hetson , Brian Baker and Brooks Wackerman . Gurewitz is also the founder of the label Epitaph Records, which has released almost all of the...
, the owner of Epitaph, and Tim Armstrong
Tim Armstrong
Timothy Lockwood Armstrong is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, best known for his work with punk rock bands Rancid, Operation Ivy, Downfall, and the Transplants. He is also the owner and operator of Hellcat Records.-Personal life:Armstrong was born November 25, 1965 and was...
of Rancid
Rancid (band)
Rancid is an American punk rock band formed in Berkeley, California in 1991. Founded by Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman, both of whom previously played in the ska punk band Operation Ivy, Rancid is credited—along with Green Day and The Offspring—for reviving mainstream interest in punk rock in the...
, the latter of whom is generally responsible for signing the bands.
The label specializes in ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
, punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, oi!
Oi!
Oi! is a working class subgenre of punk rock that originated in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. The music and its associated subculture had the goal of bringing together punks, skinheads and other working-class youths ....
, psychobilly
Psychobilly
Psychobilly is a fusion genre of rock music that mixes elements of punk rock, rockabilly, and other genres. It is one of several subgenres of rockabilly which also include thrashabilly, trashabilly, punkabilly, surfabilly and gothabilly...
and hardcore
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
bands. Give 'Em the Boot
Give 'Em the Boot
Give 'Em the Boot is a series of compilation albums released by Hellcat Records. The first release came out July 29, 1997, and there has been a new release every other year, except for the gap between the second and third releases, which had three years in between...
, a Hellcat label sampler which also includes tracks from other up-and-coming independent bands, has been issued every other year since 1997, with the exceptions of the third release which was released 3 years after the second and the last one, which was released one year after the one before it.
Movies
In 2005, a Give 'Em the Boot DVDGive 'Em the Boot DVD
Give 'Em the Boot is the fifth release in the Give 'Em the Boot series. It was released in 2005 .-Track listing:#Give Em the Boot Intro#"Ruby Soho" - Rancid#"Never Die" - Tiger Army#"Light at the End" - F-Minus...
was released, featuring tour footage of numerous Hellcat bands.
On January 15, 2006, the label released Live Freaky! Die Freaky!
Live Freaky! Die Freaky!
Live Freaky Die Freaky is a stop motion-animated, musical independent film directed by John Roecker. It is a black comedy based on the Charles Manson murders...
, a full-length movie produced by Tim Armstrong, and filmed using marionettes. The plot involves Charlie Manson's story being misinterpreted by a nomad in a post-apocalyptic Earth, and features the voice talents of the members of Rancid
Rancid (band)
Rancid is an American punk rock band formed in Berkeley, California in 1991. Founded by Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman, both of whom previously played in the ska punk band Operation Ivy, Rancid is credited—along with Green Day and The Offspring—for reviving mainstream interest in punk rock in the...
, Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
, AFI
AFI (band)
AFI is an American alternative rock band from Ukiah, California that formed in 1991. They have consisted of the same lineup since 1998: lead vocalist Davey Havok, drummer and backup vocalist Adam Carson, with bassist Hunter Burgan and guitarist Jade Puget, who both play keyboard and contribute...
and The Transplants, among numerous others.
Active roster
- Charged GBHCharged GBHCharged GBH are an English Street punk band, formed in 1978 by vocalist Colin Abrahall, guitarist Colin "Jock" Blyth, bassist Sean McCarthy and Drummer Andy " Wilf" Williams. GBH were early pioneers of English street punk, often nicknamed "UK82", along with Discharge, Broken Bones, The Exploited...
- CivetCivet (band)Civet is a punk rock band from Long Beach, California.-History:The self-described “femme fatale punk rock” band made a breakthrough after signing with Hellcat Records and releasing their first album under this label with the title Hell Hath No Fury....
- The CreepshowThe CreepshowThe Creepshow is a band from Burlington, Ontario, Canada. The band formed in 2005 when the four original members got together with the purpose of starting a psychobilly band. The Creepshow writes the majority of their songs about horror films....
- Danny DiabloDanny DiabloDanny Diablo a.k.a. Lord Ezec is an underground recording artist focusing mainly in the worlds of hardcore punk and hip hop. He has fronted the hardcore bands Crown of Thornz and Skarhead and is known for his heavily tattooed image and his Queens-bred thug lifestyle.-Early life:Dan Singer was born...
- Devil's BrigadeDevil's Brigade (band)Devils Brigade is an American rock band formed as a side project by Rancid bassist Matt Freeman in 2000. In Devils Brigade Freeman performs a mix of punk rock and psychobilly styles, singing lead vocals and playing a double bass in contrast to the backing vocals and electric bass guitar he performs...
- HorrorPopsHorrorPopsHorrorPops are a Danish punk band that formed in 1996. The band's sound is rooted in psychobilly, pop punk, rockabilly, and new wave.-History:...
- Left AloneLeft AloneLeft Alone is a punk rock band from Wilmington, California. They were formed in May 1996 by lead vocalist and guitarist Elvis Cortez. Cortez formed his own label, Smelvis Records, to release Left Alone's records, and has since expanded the label to include numerous other underground bands. Cortez...
- The LuchagorsThe LuchagorsThe Luchagors is a punk rock band based in Atlanta, Georgia. It is fronted by Amy Dumas, better known as Lita to professional wrestling fans of World Wrestling Entertainment...
- NekromantixNekromantixThe Nekromantix are a Danish-American psychobilly band formed in 1989 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Their music is generally structured around monster and horror themes. A central icon of the band's image is founder and frontman Kim Nekroman's "coffinbass", a custom-built double bass with a body in the...
- Orange Orange (band)Orange is an American pop punk/punk band from Los Angeles, California.The band were first signed to Hellcat/Epitaph Records by Tim Armstrong of Rancid when they were only 16 years old and since then have toured the world with many bands such as Misfits, The Adicts, UK Subs, Rancid, and Zebrahead...
- RancidRancid (band)Rancid is an American punk rock band formed in Berkeley, California in 1991. Founded by Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman, both of whom previously played in the ska punk band Operation Ivy, Rancid is credited—along with Green Day and The Offspring—for reviving mainstream interest in punk rock in the...
- The SlackersThe SlackersThe Slackers are a New York City band, formed in Brooklyn in 1991. The band's sound is a mix of ska, rocksteady, reggae, dub, soul, garage rock, and jazz...
- Society's Parasites
- Static ThoughtStatic ThoughtStatic Thought is a Progressive Punk band that was formed in 2000 in Richmond, California, by Travis Davant, Eric Urbach, and Charlie Vincent.Static Thought includes Urbach on guitar and vocals, Johaan Hill on bass and vocals, Aaron Younce on guitar and vocals, and Drew Cueva on drums...
- The StrangersThe Strangers (band)The Strangers was a Melbourne based Australian band that existed from 1961 to 1975. The band started out playing instrumental songs in a style similar to The Shadows with influences from Cliff Richard. The original lineup included Peter Robinson , Graeme Thompson , Laurie Arthur and Fred Weiland...
- Street DogsStreet DogsStreet Dogs are a punk rock band originally from Boston, Massachusetts. The band's current line-up includes Mike McColgan, former lead singer of Dropkick Murphys, Johnny Rioux, Marcus Hollar, Tobe Bean III and Paul Rucker.-History:...
- Tiger ArmyTiger ArmyTiger Army is an American psychobilly band that was formed in 1995 in Berkeley, California. Its constant member and lead song writer is Nick 13. The band have released a total of four studio albums.-History:...
- Tim ArmstrongTim ArmstrongTimothy Lockwood Armstrong is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, best known for his work with punk rock bands Rancid, Operation Ivy, Downfall, and the Transplants. He is also the owner and operator of Hellcat Records.-Personal life:Armstrong was born November 25, 1965 and was...
- Transplants
- The Unseen
- Westbound TrainWestbound TrainWestbound Train is a ska band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 2001. Their name originates from the Dennis Brown hit song by the same name....
Former bands
- The AggrolitesThe AggrolitesThe Aggrolites are a reggae and ska band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2002.- Overview :The Aggrolites are an amalgamation of two previous Los Angeles reggae and ska bands, the Vessels and the Rhythm Doctors. They formed in 2002 as a live backing band for reggae icon Derrick Morgan, and...
- Blue Fire City
- Choking VictimChoking VictimChoking Victim was a United States punk rock band formed in New York City, which were together from 1992 to 1999. Playing a mix of hardcore punk and ska with anarchist lyrics...
- Dave Hillyard and the Rocksteady SevenDave HillyardDave Hillyard is a tenor saxophonist originating from San Diego, California. He has performed with many groups such as The Slackers, The Rocksteady Seven, The Donkey Show, Hepcat, Stubborn All-Stars, and has guested with the likes of Rancid, Victor Rice, Skinnerbox NYC and Alexandra Lawerentz...
- The DistillersThe DistillersThe Distillers were an American punk rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1998. They released their first two albums on Hellcat Records/Epitaph Records before moving to Sire, part of the Warner Music Group. The Distillers were originally formed by Australian-born Brody Armstrong , a woman with a...
- Dropkick MurphysDropkick MurphysDropkick Murphys are an Irish-American punk rock band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1996. The band was initially signed to independent punk record label Hellcat Records, releasing five albums for the label, and making a name for themselves locally through constant playing and yearly St....
- F-MinusF-MinusF-Minus was a hardcore punk band formed in 1995 in Huntington Beach, California. Started by Jen Johnson and Brad Logan. F-Minus was known for their dueling male and female vocals in songs that were sometimes as short as 12 seconds . One of their noted primary influences is Nausea, where the vocal...
- The GadjitsThe GadjitsThe Gadjits were a ska and rock and roll band from Kansas City, Missouri. Their sound was influenced by The Clash, The Who, AC/DC, Elvis Costello, The Stooges, and The Rolling Stones.-Early years:...
- The Heart AttacksThe Heart AttacksThe Heart Attacks are a glam punk band from Atlanta, Georgia, and are currently signed to Tim Armstrong's Hellcat Records. In April/May 2007 the band toured throughout the southern United States as part of a Hellcat Records package tour...
- HepcatHepcatHepcat is a ska and reggae band formed in southern California in 1989.Their soulful harmonies and mellow rhythms were unlike those of contemporaries and more akin to musicians from the heyday of 1960s Jamaican ska, also referred to as the first wave....
- The IndependentsThe Independents (band)-Biography:The Independents are an American swamp-ska/grind-core/horror-punk/doo-wop/fusion-jazz/ Emerson, Lake & Palmer cover band formed in Florence,SC in 1992 by Evil Presley and Willy B from the ashes of their 80's synth band "Snipe-hunter"...
- Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros
- King DjangoKing DjangoJeff Baker, better known as King Django, is a New Brunswick, NJ-based ska musician. He was the leader of Skinnerbox and Stubborn All-Stars....
- Lars Frederiksen and the BastardsLars Frederiksen and the BastardsLars Frederiksen and the Bastards were an American street punk band formed to release the songs that Lars had written. Their songs include subject matter consisting of drinking, fighting, drugs, sex, prostitutes, gangs, and street life...
- Leftöver CrackLeftöver CrackLeftöver Crack is an American punk rock band formed in 1998, following the breakup of the ska punk band Choking Victim. Primarily playing an amalgam of ska and hardcore punk, they classify themselves as "crack-rocksteady". The band is currently signed to Fat Wreck Chords for CD releases, and...
- Los Difuntos
- Mercy KillersMercy KillersMercy Killers is a goth/punk band from Los Angeles. It was formed in 2005 by future members of electro pop/punk band . These were guitarists Craig Fairbank and Shane Gallagher, who continued with the project after the reformation of Blink 182 in 2009...
- MouthwashMouthwash (band)Mouthwash were a ska-punk band, originally formed in West Norwood, London, England, in 1995.-History:Mouthwash were an indie/ska/electro/punk band from South London, UK. They originally formed as a three-piece band consisting of Ben McCarthy , Rob Tortelli and Chris Hugall...
- The Nerve AgentsThe Nerve AgentsThe Nerve Agents were an American hardcore punk band formed by Andy Outbreak and Eric Ozenne .Their angry brand of music juxtaposed yelled, sometimes ranting vocals with distorted and often chorus laden chords, complex bass lines and fast-paced percussion...
- Operation IvyOperation Ivy (band)Operation Ivy was an American ska punk band that formed in Berkeley, California, and was often credited with spurring the 1990s punk revival in California. It is well-known as one of the first bands to "mix" hardcore punk with elements of ska, known as ska-core...
(re-release only) - The PietastersThe PietastersThe Pietasters are a seven-piece ska/soul band hailing from Washington, D.C., with additional members from Maryland and Virginia.- History :In 1990, a group of friends were attending college at Virginia Tech in the mountains of Virginia...
- Roger Miret and the DisastersRoger Miret and the DisastersRoger Miret and the Disasters are a street punk group formed by Agnostic Front frontman Roger Miret. The band was formed in 1999. They released their first self-titled debut album in 2002 on Hellcat Records and "Give 'Em The Boot" was released as a single to promote the album. A second album, 1984,...
- Time AgainTime AgainTime Again is a band from Hollywood, California which is represented in the bands songs and album art. The band was formed in the summer of 2004 by Daniel Dart, Elijah Reyes. Before they even had a full band or a single song written, they began printing stickers and flyers for Time Again to heavily...
- Union 13Union 13Union 13 is a hardcore punk band from Boyle Heights, California, USA who have, to date, released four full length albums – three on Epitaph Records and one on Disaster Records....
- U.S. BombsU.S. BombsU.S. Bombs are an American punk rock band, formed in 1993 in Orange County, CA. U.S. Bombs consist of vocalist Duane Peters, guitarists Kerry Martinez and Jonny "Two Bags" Wickersham, bass guitarist Wade Walston and drummer Chip Hanna. Vocalist Duane Peters is a legendary professional...
- U.S. Roughnecks
Controversy
Hellcat Records has been involved in a feud with one of its former bands, Leftöver CrackLeftöver Crack
Leftöver Crack is an American punk rock band formed in 1998, following the breakup of the ska punk band Choking Victim. Primarily playing an amalgam of ska and hardcore punk, they classify themselves as "crack-rocksteady". The band is currently signed to Fat Wreck Chords for CD releases, and...
, over censorship issues. Leftöver Crack wanted their 2001 debut album to be titled Shoot the Kids at School, with the cover art depicting a gun-toting arm aiming at a playground. In the aftermath of the Columbine High School massacre
Columbine High School massacre
The Columbine High School massacre occurred on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School in Columbine, an unincorporated area of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States, near Denver and Littleton. Two senior students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, embarked on a massacre, killing 12...
, Hellcat refused to allow this, so the band titled their album Mediocre Generica
Mediocre Generica
Mediocre Generica is the debut album by the American punk band Leftöver Crack. It was released on September 11, 2001 and includes much sociopolitical commentary, including anti-police sentiment, anti-racism and anti-homophobia. The album was originally intended to be titled Shoot the Kids at...
in protest, as a veiled reference to what they viewed as the mediocrity of the bands on Hellcat's label. This incident ultimately led to Leftöver Crack departing from the label.
After leaving the label, Leftöver Crack has accused Hellcat Records of promoting sexism
Sexism
Sexism, also known as gender discrimination or sex discrimination, is the application of the belief or attitude that there are characteristics implicit to one's gender that indirectly affect one's abilities in unrelated areas...
and homophobia
Homophobia
Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people and behavior, although these are usually covered under other terms such as biphobia and transphobia. Definitions refer to irrational fear, with the...
within the punk community. Their accusations are based on allegedly homophobic lyrics by the now-departed U.S. Bombs, Hellcat's attempted signing of controversial reggae artist Buju Banton
Buju Banton
Buju Banton is a Jamaican dancehall, ragga, and reggae musician.Banton has recorded pop and dance songs, as well as songs dealing with sociopolitical topics....
, and Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards' allegedly sexist lyrics and use of naked women in label art. Leftöver Crack have also addressed these issues explicitly in their song "Gay Rude Boys Unite". The song accuses the punk scene of being homophobic, and was written in response to perceived homophobic artists on Hellcat Records.