Hopeless Records
Encyclopedia
Hopeless Records is an independent record label
located in Van Nuys, Los Angeles
, California
. The label was started in 1993 by Louis Posen and financed by a group of private investors. Hopeless's artists are generally considered punk rock
, pop punk
, post-hardcore
, or alternative rock
, but some also include elements of various genres of metal
. Some of their most well-known artists include or included Avenged Sevenfold
, Thrice
, Yellowcard, Anarbor
, All Time Low
, There For Tomorrow
, Silverstein
, We Are The In Crowd
, The Wonder Years
, The Human Abstract
and Enter Shikari
.
The label's "charitable arm," Sub City Records
, participates in a number of benefit tours such as the Take Action Tour
. Each year Hopeless/Sub City releases a benefit compilation
Take Action! which is a multidisc compilation of punk
and other independent bands. The CD release usually coincides with the annual Take Action Tour
.
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:...
located in Van Nuys, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The label was started in 1993 by Louis Posen and financed by a group of private investors. Hopeless's artists are generally considered punk rock
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...
, pop punk
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
, post-hardcore
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
, or alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
, but some also include elements of various genres of metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
. Some of their most well-known artists include or included Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold is an American heavy metal band from Huntington Beach, California. Formed in 1999, the group consists of vocalist M. Shadows, lead guitarist Synyster Gates, rhythm guitarist Zacky Vengeance, bassist Johnny Christ....
, Thrice
Thrice
Thrice is an American rock band from Irvine, California, formed in 1998. The group was founded by guitarist/vocalist Dustin Kensrue and guitarist Teppei Teranishi while they were in high school....
, Yellowcard, Anarbor
Anarbor
Anarbor is an American alternative rock band from Phoenix, Arizona that was formed in 2003. The band is composed of lead vocalist and bassist Slade Echeverria, guitarists Adam Juwig and Mike Kitlas, and drummer Greg Garrity. Initially known as "Troop 101", the band later changed their name to...
, All Time Low
All Time Low
All Time Low is an American pop punk band from Baltimore, Maryland, formed in 2003.The band consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Alexander Gaskarth, lead guitarist and backing vocalist Jack Barakat, bassist and backing vocalist Zachary Merrick, and drummer Rian Dawson...
, There For Tomorrow
There For Tomorrow
There for Tomorrow is a band formed in Orlando, Florida in 2003. The group is influenced by bands such as Jimmy Eat World, Blink-182, Third Eye Blind, and The Hives.-Early years :...
, Silverstein
Silverstein
Silverstein is a Canadian post-hardcore band from Burlington, Ontario, formed in 2000. Their band name is a reference to the famous children's author Shel Silverstein, whom the band had admired and read the stories of as children. They have released a total of five studio albums, three EP's, a...
, We Are The In Crowd
We Are the In Crowd
We Are the In Crowd is an American pop punk band from Poughkeepsie, New York, formed in 2009. The band consists of Taylor Jardine , Jordan Eckes , Mike Ferri , Rob Chianelli , and Cameron Hurley...
, The Wonder Years
The Wonder Years (band)
The Wonder Years is an American pop punk band from Lansdale, Pennsylvania that began in June 2005. Since then, they have released three full length albums, two EPs, and several splits/compilation contributions...
, The Human Abstract
The Human Abstract
The Human Abstract is an American progressive metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 2004, the group was originally signed to the independent label Hopeless Records, the band then released the two albums Nocturne and Midheaven before signing to E1 Music and releasing Digital Veil...
and Enter Shikari
Enter Shikari
Enter Shikari are a British band, that combine post-hardcore with elements of various electronic genres, formed in 2003 in St Albans, Hertfordshire. The band is named after a boat belonging to Roughton "Rou" Reynolds' uncle, and a character in a play which he wrote before forming the band, both of...
.
The label's "charitable arm," Sub City Records
Sub City Records
Sub City Records is a record label which was created by Hopeless Records to raise funding and awareness for non-profit organizations. Sub City has been active for eleven years now, and has now over 30 releases....
, participates in a number of benefit tours such as the Take Action Tour
Take Action Tour
The Take Action Tour is an annual spring tour that not only hosts several bands, but also tries to get people alerted about the issues with teen suicide, and ultimately tries to prevent it. The tour was created by both Sub City and Hopeless Records...
. Each year Hopeless/Sub City releases a benefit compilation
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
Take Action! which is a multidisc compilation of 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...
and other independent bands. The CD release usually coincides with the annual Take Action Tour
Take Action Tour
The Take Action Tour is an annual spring tour that not only hosts several bands, but also tries to get people alerted about the issues with teen suicide, and ultimately tries to prevent it. The tour was created by both Sub City and Hopeless Records...
.
Current artists
- AnarborAnarborAnarbor is an American alternative rock band from Phoenix, Arizona that was formed in 2003. The band is composed of lead vocalist and bassist Slade Echeverria, guitarists Adam Juwig and Mike Kitlas, and drummer Greg Garrity. Initially known as "Troop 101", the band later changed their name to...
- Damion Suomi and the Minor ProphetsDamion SuomiDamion Suomi is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He currently resides in Cocoa Beach, Florida.-Music career:Suomi began singing in church as a child and later took up the guitar after his parents' divorce as a means to feel more connected to his father, who also played guitar...
- The Dangerous SummerThe Dangerous Summer (band)The Dangerous Summer is an Indie / Rock band from Ellicott City, Maryland. The band formed in the summer of 2006 to write their first EP, There Is No Such Thing as Science, which drew the attention of Hopeless Records and other labels in 2007. They signed with Hopeless Records within 8 months of...
- Divided By Friday
- Enter ShikariEnter ShikariEnter Shikari are a British band, that combine post-hardcore with elements of various electronic genres, formed in 2003 in St Albans, Hertfordshire. The band is named after a boat belonging to Roughton "Rou" Reynolds' uncle, and a character in a play which he wrote before forming the band, both of...
(America only) - For The Foxes
- GuttermouthGuttermouthGuttermouth is an American punk rock band formed in 1988 in Huntington Beach, California and currently recording for Hopeless Records. They have released nine full-length studio albums and two live albums and have toured extensively, including performances on the Vans Warped Tour...
- Mustard PlugMustard PlugMustard Plug is a ska punk band from Grand Rapids, Michigan.Formed in 1991, the band's original members were Dave Kirchgessner, Mike McKendrick, Colin Clive, and Anthony Vilchez. Currently the band consists of Dave , Brandon Jenison , Jim Hofer , Nate Cohn , Colin Clive , and Rick Johnson...
- SamiamSamiam-Biography:Samiam was formed in late 1988 after the breakup of the Gilman club mainstay Isocracy. Their first show was in January 1989 with Christ on Parade. They released records through New Red Archives and Hopeless Records in the US and Burning Heart Records in Europe. In the mid-'90s, the band...
- SilversteinSilverstein (band)Silverstein is a Canadian post-hardcore band from Burlington, Ontario, formed in 2000. Their band name is a reference to the famous children's author Shel Silverstein, whom the band had admired and read the stories of as children. They have released a total of five studio albums, three EP's, a...
- There For TomorrowThere For TomorrowThere for Tomorrow is a band formed in Orlando, Florida in 2003. The group is influenced by bands such as Jimmy Eat World, Blink-182, Third Eye Blind, and The Hives.-Early years :...
- We Are the In CrowdWe Are the In CrowdWe Are the In Crowd is an American pop punk band from Poughkeepsie, New York, formed in 2009. The band consists of Taylor Jardine , Jordan Eckes , Mike Ferri , Rob Chianelli , and Cameron Hurley...
- The Wonder YearsThe Wonder Years (band)The Wonder Years is an American pop punk band from Lansdale, Pennsylvania that began in June 2005. Since then, they have released three full length albums, two EPs, and several splits/compilation contributions...
- Yellowcard
Former artists
- 88 Fingers Louie88 Fingers Louie88 Fingers Louie is a band from Chicago, Illinois which was formed in 1993.They play a style of hardcore punk, melodic hardcore, and punk rock. In 1993 they released their debut 7", Go Away. After disbanding in 1999, members Joe Principe and Dan Wleklinski went on to form the punk rock band Rise...
(disbanded) - All Time LowAll Time LowAll Time Low is an American pop punk band from Baltimore, Maryland, formed in 2003.The band consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Alexander Gaskarth, lead guitarist and backing vocalist Jack Barakat, bassist and backing vocalist Zachary Merrick, and drummer Rian Dawson...
(active with Interscope RecordsInterscope RecordsInterscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
) - Against All AuthorityAgainst All AuthorityAgainst All Authority is an American punk band, formed in Florida in 1992. Playing in the ska punk style, their business practice follows a stringent DIY ethic.-History:...
- Amber PacificAmber PacificAmber Pacific is an American band that formed in 2002 in Federal Way, Washington. The band has released three full length albums thus far, The Possibility and the Promise in 2005, Truth in Sincerity in 2007, and Virtues in 2010....
(active with Victory RecordsVictory RecordsVictory Records is a Chicago-based record label founded by Tony Brummel. It is a privately held corporation. It also operates a music publishing company called "Another Victory, Inc." and is the distributor of several smaller independent record labels....
) - Andy Shauf (Active, on P is for Panda)
- Atom And His Package (disbanded)
- Avenged SevenfoldAvenged SevenfoldAvenged Sevenfold is an American heavy metal band from Huntington Beach, California. Formed in 1999, the group consists of vocalist M. Shadows, lead guitarist Synyster Gates, rhythm guitarist Zacky Vengeance, bassist Johnny Christ....
(active with Warner Bros. RecordsWarner Bros. RecordsWarner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
) - BrazilBrazil (band)Brazil was an Indiana rock band. Although the band eschews labels and are often categorized with the punk and post-hardcore music scenes, that is mostly due to association. The music itself is more akin to progressive rock with indie rock roots. The line-up as of 2006 release is Jonathon Newby,...
(disbanded) - Break The Silence
- Common RiderCommon RiderCommon Rider were a ska punk band, formed in 1999 by Jesse Michaels , Mass Giorgini and Dan Lumley . The band's name is taken from a 1970s Japanese TV show, Kamen Rider...
(disbanded) - DiggerDigger (band)-History:Digger formed in the Lehigh Valley in the mid-1990s and signed to Hopeless Records in 1996. Upon the event of Digger's live recording being played on WMUH the word of the band spread quickly, which led to the band's sign to Hopeless Records. The band released their first LP, Powerbait, and...
(disbanded) - Dillinger FourDillinger FourDillinger Four is an American punk rock band formed in 1994 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They have released four full-length studio albums. The current band members are Patrick Costello on bass guitar and vocals, Erik Funk and Bill Morrisette on guitars and vocals, and Lane Pederson on drums.- Studio...
(active with Fat Wreck ChordsFat Wreck ChordsFat Wreck Chords is a San Francisco, California based independent record label, focused on punk rock. It was started by Fat Mike and his ex-wife, Erin, in 1990....
) - Ever We FallEver We FallEver We Fall was an American alternative rock / emo band from Portland, Oregon.-History:Ever We Fall was formed in Portland in the early 2000s, and signed to Rise Records in 2003 to release their first EP, Endura. While touring the U.S...
(disbanded) - HeckleHeckle (band)Heckle was a melodic hardcore/punk rock band from New Jersey, United States.Brandishing a unique blend of West Coast melody with East Coast fury, Heckle were somewhat reminiscent of the early New York and DC hardcore bands, yet the band brought a fresh new perspective to this old school format...
(disbanded) - KaddisflyKaddisflyKaddisfly is an American band based in Portland, Oregon whose style has been dubbed experimental and alternative.-History:The band formed in 2001, taking their name from a small moth-like insect, the Caddisfly. Their lyrics are mostly based around natural settings and powers made of human spirit...
(active with Hopeless subsidiary Sub City RecordsSub City RecordsSub City Records is a record label which was created by Hopeless Records to raise funding and awareness for non-profit organizations. Sub City has been active for eleven years now, and has now over 30 releases....
) - King Ramen (disbanded)
- Falling SicknessFalling SicknessFalling Sickness was a Riverside, California based ska punk band, consisting of Fritz Aragon , Zach Howe , Gabe Gil , and Angel . After six years of being an unsigned band and playing mostly local shows, Falling Sickness were signed to Hopeless Records in 1995. Their debut record Right On Time was...
(disbanded) - FifteenFifteen (band)Fifteen was a punk rock band formed by Jeff Ott. Ott was the group's main songwriter and only consistent member. According to Ott, the band had a total of fifteen members by the time it finally disbanded in 2000: Jack Curran, Mikey Mischief, Mark Moreno, Jean Repetto, Lucky Dog, Chris Flanagan,...
- Funeral OrationFuneral Oration (band)Funeral Oration was a melodic hardcore punk band from Amsterdam, the Netherlands. They were active from 1983 until the end of the 1990s, putting out highly influential records on Dutch, German, British and American labels...
(disbanded) - The Human AbstractThe Human AbstractThe Human Abstract is an American progressive metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 2004, the group was originally signed to the independent label Hopeless Records, the band then released the two albums Nocturne and Midheaven before signing to E1 Music and releasing Digital Veil...
(active with E1 Music) - Jeff OttJeff OttJeff Ott is an activist, musician, author, and longtime member of the Berkeley punk community, having fronted such bands as Crimpshrine, and Fifteen.-Partial history:...
- The Nobodys
- NuralNuralNural is a band from La Crescenta, California formed in 2000 by Kyle Castellani, Ryan Davis, Kyle Black, Charley Hoy, and Aaron Breding. Douglas Allen, formerly of the bands Shallow and Normal Like You joined the band in 2006 after lead guitarist, Ryan Davis, left the band after a management...
(disbanded) - The QueersThe QueersThe Queers are a punk band formed in 1981 by Portsmouth, New Hampshire native Joe King . The band originally broke up in 1984, but reformed with Joe Queer and a new line-up in 1986. In 1990, the band signed with Shakin' Street Records and released their first album Grow Up...
(active with Asian Man RecordsAsian Man RecordsAsian Man Records is a small, DIY record label run by Mike Park in Monte Sereno, California. Park started a record label and began releasing music in 1989 under the name Dill Records, with the Asian Man label established May 1996.-Artists:...
) - RoydenRoydenRoyden is an American alternative rock band from Wharton, New Jersey.-After breakup:After the breakup of their former band, My Cousin Ray, Nick, Treebo, and Kerry parted ways to pursue individual interests. But the three men are back together once more...
(disbanded) - SamiamSamiam-Biography:Samiam was formed in late 1988 after the breakup of the Gilman club mainstay Isocracy. Their first show was in January 1989 with Christ on Parade. They released records through New Red Archives and Hopeless Records in the US and Burning Heart Records in Europe. In the mid-'90s, the band...
- Schlong (disbanded)
- Selby TigersSelby TigersSelby Tigers is a signed Hopeless Records band. Formed in 1998, the name Selby Tigers came from a street in St. Paul and a radio broadcast about a Sri Lankan army called the Tamil Tigers.- History :The band name that the St...
(disbanded) - The Story So Far
- White Kaps
Compilations/Samplers
- Hopelessly Devoted to You Vol. 1
- Hopelessly Devoted to You Too Vol. 2
- Hopelessly Devoted to You Vol. 3
- Hopelessly Devoted to You Vol. 4
- Hopelessly Devoted to You Vol. 5
- Hopelessly Devoted to You Vol. 6
- Hopelessly Devoted to You Vol. 7
- Take Action! Vol. 1
- Take Action! Vol. 2
- Take Action! Vol. 3
- Take Action! Vol. 4
- Take Action! Vol. 5
- Take Action! Vol. 6
- Take Action! Vol. 7
- Take Action! Vol. 8
- Take Action! Vol. 9
- Take Action! Vol. 10
- Another Hopeless Summer
- Love Is Hopeless
- I'm So Hopeless You're So Hopeless
- Kerrang! Sampler (2011)