Sin Klub Entertainment
Encyclopedia
Sin Klub Entertainment was a Toledo, Ohio based record label owned by Thessalonian Dope Gods
vocalist Edward Shimborske III
and Michael Seday. The label was created in the 1980s for the purpose of promoting area bands, but evolved into a larger Midwest independent record label. Shimborske assumed the tongue-in-cheek name to describe a business that would violate moral rule and added a cartoon devil (named “Woody”) wearing boogie-shoes as the mascot (designed by his father). Throughout the 80s and 90s most of the bands on SKE were harder-edged rock acts, though the acclaimed “Exposed” compilation series featured a much broader spectrum of music.
and Flotsam & Jetsam.
The band next acquired two major Pittsburgh draws—Section 315 and Bunjie Jambo
– before signing False Face Society, Porn Flakes, Chicken Dog, and Five Horse Johnson, (all from Toledo), and issuing the Thessalonian Dope Gods’ debut CD. Many consider this the company’s most influential period, as the label and acts became a huge draw throughout the Midwest, packing clubs and selling much merchandise. Shimborske and Seday hustled the bands, worked with dozens of promoters, traded shows from city to city, and created highlighting gigs for the label (All Freaks Ball), typically grabbing the opening-slot on most national act bills in the immediate area. Even Kid Rock
attributes some of his early success outside of Detroit to Sin Klub, as he appeared on many of the label’s shows, playing alongside major draws like Porn Flakes, Chicken Dog, and Five Horse Johnson.
(Chicago) and a rap release from Rare Species – and added bands like Irwin, Evolotto, Valve, and Geminus Sect to the roster. At around this time, the duo caught the ear of Cleveland International mogul Steve Popovich
and his son, who formed Grappler Unlimited with the two entrepreneurs and issued nationally-distributed CDs by Bunie Jambo, Porn Flakes, and Thieveland.
– acquired distribution through Cargo and Lumberjack and focused its attention on stronger nationally-touring acts, all for naught. Seday eventually went to work in Taiwan, vacating some of his tasks at the label, and Shimborske focused more of his attention on the The Glass Eye (magazine)
and his own personal musical projects. Despite the changes, the label was able to work with Highbinder (Toledo), The Vagiants (Winnipeg), Lazy American Workers (Toledo), Bleed For Me (Buffalo), Dead Heroes (Detroit), and Chrome Helmet (Michigan) before going on hiatus.
, Consolidated (band)
, Dan Hicks (singer)
, Neal Fallon (Clutch), Ron Holzner (Trouble), Nash the Slash
, Mark Mikel, Gwar, Damien, Agony Column, Barry Henssler (Big Chief, The Necros), Pro-Pain
, Lucky Boys Confusion
, Bizzy-Bone (of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
), Speedball, Lollipop Lustkill, Yukmouth
(of Luniz
) and more. A hotbed for talent, the actual Sin Klub roster graduated many musicians into even bigger projects. Todd Evans (Beefcake the Mighty
), who recorded with Porn Flakes and Lazy American Workers on Sin Klub, later joined Gwar and Mobile Death Camp, while Eric Klinger, who recorded with Section 315 for the label, later joined the Spudmonsters and has now been a member of Pro-Pain for the past ten years. Five Hose Johnson went on to record several successful CDs for Small Stone Records
.
Thessalonian Dope Gods
The Thessalonian Dope Gods are an American hard rock group, formed in late 1984 by Warren, Ohio high-school friends Randy "RK" Wilson and Edward Shimborske III / ES3 .-Origin:...
vocalist Edward Shimborske III
Edward Shimborske III
Edward Shimborske III is an American record executive, music producer, singer/songwriter, graphic artist, journalist/author, radio personality, lyricist and voice-over artist...
and Michael Seday. The label was created in the 1980s for the purpose of promoting area bands, but evolved into a larger Midwest independent record label. Shimborske assumed the tongue-in-cheek name to describe a business that would violate moral rule and added a cartoon devil (named “Woody”) wearing boogie-shoes as the mascot (designed by his father). Throughout the 80s and 90s most of the bands on SKE were harder-edged rock acts, though the acclaimed “Exposed” compilation series featured a much broader spectrum of music.
Origin (First Wave)
Though Shimborske and Seday’s work in entertainment had already progressed via retail and press, they met at WXUT, where Seday was the music-director. After working together in the music department and fulfilling a series of internships in the music industry, the two formed Sin Klub Entertainment and issued the first local CD compilation in Toledo, as well as the debut from Environmental Hazzard (Cleveland). The releases established the label, as sales were good and press favorable. EH broke into the CMJ College-Radio chart and earned a few Belkin-promoted slots opening for PanteraPantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
and Flotsam & Jetsam.
The band next acquired two major Pittsburgh draws—Section 315 and Bunjie Jambo
Bunjie Jambo
Bunjie Jambo is an American third-wave punk-ska revival band, established in the early 1990s in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Playing sloppy 2-Tone-influenced ska crossed with down-n-dirty hard-rock and tongue-in-cheek punk, they became a major draw in the tri-state area.-History:After releasing an...
– before signing False Face Society, Porn Flakes, Chicken Dog, and Five Horse Johnson, (all from Toledo), and issuing the Thessalonian Dope Gods’ debut CD. Many consider this the company’s most influential period, as the label and acts became a huge draw throughout the Midwest, packing clubs and selling much merchandise. Shimborske and Seday hustled the bands, worked with dozens of promoters, traded shows from city to city, and created highlighting gigs for the label (All Freaks Ball), typically grabbing the opening-slot on most national act bills in the immediate area. Even Kid Rock
Kid Rock
Robert James "Bob" Ritchie , known by his stage name Kid Rock, is an American singer-songwriter, musician and rapper with five Grammy Awards nominations...
attributes some of his early success outside of Detroit to Sin Klub, as he appeared on many of the label’s shows, playing alongside major draws like Porn Flakes, Chicken Dog, and Five Horse Johnson.
Second-Wave
As the label blossomed, Shimborske and Seday were able to secure better distribution, release sophomore CDs, run other labels and projects thorough the system, continue their compilation series and sign more up-and-coming acts. The label broadened its scope—issuing a seven-inch from Christian punk band CrashdogCrashdog
Crashdog was one of the first Christian punk bands and was active primarily in the early 1990s. Most of their albums were released by Grrr recordS, which has also been home to Headnoise, Resurrection Band, and Glenn Kaiser, among others....
(Chicago) and a rap release from Rare Species – and added bands like Irwin, Evolotto, Valve, and Geminus Sect to the roster. At around this time, the duo caught the ear of Cleveland International mogul Steve Popovich
Steve Popovich
Steve Popovich , was an American record company executive.Popovich was born in Nemacolin, Pennsylvania, and in 1962 started in the warehouse at Columbia Records Cleveland...
and his son, who formed Grappler Unlimited with the two entrepreneurs and issued nationally-distributed CDs by Bunie Jambo, Porn Flakes, and Thieveland.
Final Wave
With most of the original roster gone, growing dissatisfaction with the industry, and the Internet slowly killing the labels’ prospects, the label – led by Evolotto and The PB ArmyThe PB Army
The PB Army is an American rock band from Toledo, Ohio, active since 2001.-History:The PB Army was formed by Keith Bergman and Micah Shimborske, former members of comedy/metal band Chicken Dog. After some shows with Matt "Schmid" Snyder on bass, the band enlisted Nick Shallcross for the job;...
– acquired distribution through Cargo and Lumberjack and focused its attention on stronger nationally-touring acts, all for naught. Seday eventually went to work in Taiwan, vacating some of his tasks at the label, and Shimborske focused more of his attention on the The Glass Eye (magazine)
The Glass Eye (magazine)
The Glass Eye was an eccentric Toledo, Ohio-based monthly reader/zine published by Edward Shimborske III that focused on Ohio area music and featured exclusive interviews with both regional and national acts. The debut issue hit stands in 1994 and ran until 2006...
and his own personal musical projects. Despite the changes, the label was able to work with Highbinder (Toledo), The Vagiants (Winnipeg), Lazy American Workers (Toledo), Bleed For Me (Buffalo), Dead Heroes (Detroit), and Chrome Helmet (Michigan) before going on hiatus.
Tentacles
Despite its lack of international prosperity, Sin Klub possessed a penchant for working with many major artists at a grassroots level—prior to stardom—and many artists lost in circulation. Through comps, cameos, and production, the label worked with Kid RockKid Rock
Robert James "Bob" Ritchie , known by his stage name Kid Rock, is an American singer-songwriter, musician and rapper with five Grammy Awards nominations...
, Consolidated (band)
Consolidated (band)
Consolidated was an American radical activist recording and performing group, formed in 1988 and best known in the early 1990s as an alternative dance/industrial music band. They were distinguished by left-leaning political activism and politically radical lyrics, as well as their innovative sonic...
, Dan Hicks (singer)
Dan Hicks (singer)
Dan Hicks , is an American singer-songwriter working at the intersection of cowboy folk, jazz, country, swing, bluegrass, pop, and gypsy music...
, Neal Fallon (Clutch), Ron Holzner (Trouble), Nash the Slash
Nash the Slash
Nash the Slash is a Canadian musician. Though a multi-instrumentalist, he is known primarily for playing electric violin and mandolin, as well as harmonica, keyboards, glockenspiel, and other instruments .Nash worked as a solo artist beginning in 1975, then founded the progressive rock band FM in...
, Mark Mikel, Gwar, Damien, Agony Column, Barry Henssler (Big Chief, The Necros), Pro-Pain
Pro-Pain
Pro-Pain is a New York-based hardcore band formed in 1991 by vocalist and bass guitarist Gary Meskil and drummer Dan Richardson, both former members of Crumbsuckers. Debut album Foul Taste of Freedom was released in 1992, displaying hardcore punk and rap metal influences, after which the band...
, Lucky Boys Confusion
Lucky Boys Confusion
Lucky Boys Confusion is a rock band from the Chicago suburbs in DuPage County. Their music is a mix of rock, punk, ska, and hip hop. The band consists of bassist Jason Schultejann, drummer Ryan Fergus, vocalist Kaustubh Pandav, guitarist/vocalist Adam Krier, and guitarist Joe Sell...
, Bizzy-Bone (of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is an American Hip-Hop/R'n'B band from Cleveland, Ohio formed in 1991. It originally consisted of rappers Layzie Bone, Flesh-n-Bone, Bizzy Bone, Krayzie Bone, and Wish Bone. Rapper Eazy-E of the group N.W.A signed Bone Thugs-N-Harmony to Ruthless Records in 1994, when Bone...
), Speedball, Lollipop Lustkill, Yukmouth
Yukmouth
Jerold Dwight Ellis, III, better known by his stage name Yukmouth, is a Grammy-nominated American rapper from East Oakland, Oakland, California. He is the founder of The Regime, Smoke-A-Lot Records and Godzilla Entertainment.-Career:He is a member of the platinum-selling rap duo Luniz along with...
(of Luniz
Luniz
The Luniz were an American platinum-selling rap duo from Oakland, California, formed by the rappers Yukmouth and Numskull. They released an internationally successful hit in 1995 entitled "I Got 5 on It", two versions of which appeared on their album Operation Stackola...
) and more. A hotbed for talent, the actual Sin Klub roster graduated many musicians into even bigger projects. Todd Evans (Beefcake the Mighty
Beefcake the Mighty
Beefcake the Mighty is the bassist in the rock band Gwar. He appears as a stout humanoid girded in Roman-style armor. He is usually portrayed wielding either an oversized Gladius sword or a large battle-axe .-Background:According to Gwar mythos, Beefcake originates from the planet Cholesterol...
), who recorded with Porn Flakes and Lazy American Workers on Sin Klub, later joined Gwar and Mobile Death Camp, while Eric Klinger, who recorded with Section 315 for the label, later joined the Spudmonsters and has now been a member of Pro-Pain for the past ten years. Five Hose Johnson went on to record several successful CDs for Small Stone Records
Small Stone Records
Small Stone Records is an American record label based in Detroit, MI. It was founded in 1995 by Scott Hamilton and is a self-dubbed "heavy rock" label...
.
Present
At current, after 50+ releases, Sin Klub sits dormant, with Shimborske now using the moniker ‘Good Eye Shimmy’ to issue personal releases. Seday has returned to America and the two are considering re-opening the label and offering the catalog via the Internet.Former Artists
- Bleed For Me
- Bunjie JamboBunjie JamboBunjie Jambo is an American third-wave punk-ska revival band, established in the early 1990s in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Playing sloppy 2-Tone-influenced ska crossed with down-n-dirty hard-rock and tongue-in-cheek punk, they became a major draw in the tri-state area.-History:After releasing an...
- Chicken Dog
- Chrome Helmet
- Crashdog
- Dead Heroes
- Environmental Hazzard
- Evolotto
- False Face Society
- Five Horse Johnson
- Geminus Sect
- Highbinder
- Human Prey
- Irwin
- Kitchen Knife Conspiracy
- Lazy American Workers
- Moby Jane
- Porn Flakes
- Rare Species
- Section 315
- Studbull's Disco Biscuits
- The PB ArmyThe PB ArmyThe PB Army is an American rock band from Toledo, Ohio, active since 2001.-History:The PB Army was formed by Keith Bergman and Micah Shimborske, former members of comedy/metal band Chicken Dog. After some shows with Matt "Schmid" Snyder on bass, the band enlisted Nick Shallcross for the job;...
- The Thessalonian Dope GodsThessalonian Dope GodsThe Thessalonian Dope Gods are an American hard rock group, formed in late 1984 by Warren, Ohio high-school friends Randy "RK" Wilson and Edward Shimborske III / ES3 .-Origin:...
- The Vagiants
- Victory Flag
- Valve