Spiderleg Records
Encyclopedia
Spiderleg Records was an independent record label
founded by UK
anarcho-punk
band Flux Of Pink Indians
in 1981
.
The band set up the label after releasing their first EP on the Crass Records
label, which both taught them the skills necessary to run such a project and provided them with the seed cash. In turn, the band not only used the label to release their own material, but gave opportunities to like-minded punk
bands to put out records, including The Subhumans, who in a similar fashion set up the Bluurg label. Others that released records on Spiderleg included The System, Amebix
and Antisect
.
The first record to be put out was a re-recording of older material made when the band were known as The Epileptics (they changed the name to EPI-X following complaints from the British Epilepsy Association and eventually emerged as Flux Of Pink Indians having reverted to The Epileptics and then The Licks). This was an EP entitled "1970s Have Been Made In Hong Kong" which had originally been released by the small Bishop's Stortford
based label Stortbeat. However the band fell into dispute with Stortbeat when the label allegedly re-released the single without paying the band owed royalties
. The re-recording is also notable for featuring Penny Rimbaud
of Crass
on drums
as the original Epileptics drummer was not available.
The label had considerable indie chart success, with several hits on the UK Indie Chart
, including a number one album with Flux of Pink Indians' Strive To Survive Causing The Least Suffering Possible
, which also reached number 79 on the UK Album Chart.
Derek Birkett, bass
player of Flux Of Pink Indians, later set up the highly successful One Little Indian Records
, whose releases have included material by Björk
, The Shamen
, Skunk Anansie
, Queen Adreena and Chumbawamba
amongst others.
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:...
founded by UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
anarcho-punk
Anarcho-punk
Anarcho-punk is punk rock that promotes anarchism. The term anarcho-punk is sometimes applied exclusively to bands that were part of the original anarcho-punk movement in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s and early 1980s...
band Flux Of Pink Indians
Flux Of Pink Indians
Flux of Pink Indians were an English anarcho-punk/post punk band, that originated from Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, England.-Biography:...
in 1981
1981 in music
See also:* Timeline of musical eventsThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1981.-January–April:*January 10 – A revival of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta The Pirates of Penzance opens at Broadway's Uris Theatre, starring Linda Ronstadt and Rex Smith.*January 24 –...
.
The band set up the label after releasing their first EP on the Crass Records
Crass Records
Crass Records is an independent record label which was set up by the anarchist punk band Crass.-Overview and history:Prior to the formation of Crass, Penny Rimbaud and Gee Vaucher had published their creative works via their own Dial House based Exitstencil Press...
label, which both taught them the skills necessary to run such a project and provided them with the seed cash. In turn, the band not only used the label to release their own material, but gave opportunities to like-minded 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...
bands to put out records, including The Subhumans, who in a similar fashion set up the Bluurg label. Others that released records on Spiderleg included The System, Amebix
Amebix
Amebix are an English crust punk/heavy metal band. Formed as "The Band with No Name," Amebix's original run was from 1978 to 1987, during which time they released three EPs and two full-length LPs...
and Antisect
Antisect
Antisect are an English anarcho-punk band, formed in 1982 in Daventry, Northamptonshire, UK. Their debut album, In Darkness There is No Choice, was released in 1983...
.
The first record to be put out was a re-recording of older material made when the band were known as The Epileptics (they changed the name to EPI-X following complaints from the British Epilepsy Association and eventually emerged as Flux Of Pink Indians having reverted to The Epileptics and then The Licks). This was an EP entitled "1970s Have Been Made In Hong Kong" which had originally been released by the small Bishop's Stortford
Bishop's Stortford
Bishop's Stortford is a historic market town and civil parish in the district of East Hertfordshire in the county of Hertfordshire in England. It is situated just west of the M11 motorway, on the county boundary with Essex and is the closest large town to London Stansted Airport and part of the...
based label Stortbeat. However the band fell into dispute with Stortbeat when the label allegedly re-released the single without paying the band owed royalties
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
. The re-recording is also notable for featuring Penny Rimbaud
Penny Rimbaud
Jeremy John Ratter , better known under his pseudonym of Penny Rimbaud, is a drummer, writer, poet, former member of performance art groups EXIT and Ceres Confusion, and co-founder of the anarchist punk band Crass with Steve Ignorant in 1977.-Biography:Rimbaud Jeremy John Ratter (born 8 June 1943,...
of Crass
Crass
Crass are an English punk rock band that was formed in 1977, which promoted anarchism as a political ideology, way of living, and as a resistance movement. Crass popularised the seminal anarcho-punk movement of the punk subculture, and advocated direct action, animal rights, and environmentalism...
on drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
as the original Epileptics drummer was not available.
The label had considerable indie chart success, with several hits on the UK Indie Chart
UK Indie Chart
The UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
, including a number one album with Flux of Pink Indians' Strive To Survive Causing The Least Suffering Possible
Strive to Survive Causing the Least Suffering Possible
Strive To Survive Causing Least Suffering Possible is an album by the anarchist punk band Flux Of Pink Indians. The later CD reissue also includes the band's Neu Smell EP as five additional tracks, though in an incorrect track order and listing....
, which also reached number 79 on the UK Album Chart.
Derek Birkett, bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
player of Flux Of Pink Indians, later set up the highly successful One Little Indian Records
One Little Indian Records
One Little Indian Records is a London-based independent record label that rose from the ashes of punk record company Spiderleg Records. It was set up in 1985 by members of various anarchist punk bands, and managed by ex-Flux of Pink Indians Derek Birkett. The first success came with A.R. Kane and...
, whose releases have included material by Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
, The Shamen
The Shamen
The Shamen were an experimental electronic music band, from 1985–1999, initially formed in Aberdeen, Scotland, as a psychedelic-influenced indie rock act. The founding members are Colin Angus , Derek McKenzie and Keith McKenzie...
, Skunk Anansie
Skunk Anansie
Skunk Anansie is an English rock band whose members include Skin , Cass , Ace and Mark Richardson .Skunk Anansie formed in March 1994, disbanded in 2001 and reformed in 2009...
, Queen Adreena and Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba is a British musical group who have, over a career spanning nearly three decades, played punk rock, pop-influenced music, world music, and folk music...
amongst others.
Releases
chart positions shown from the UK Indie Chart- SDL 1 - The Epileptics: "1970s Have Been Made In Hong Kong" EP (#21)
- SDL 2 - The Epileptics: "Last Bus To Debden" live 7" (#17)
- SDL 3 - The Subhumans: "Demolition War" EP (#13)
- SDL 4 - The System: "Warfare" EP (#18)
- SDL 5 - The Subhumans: "Reasons For Existence" EP (#11)
- SDL 6 - Amebix: "Who's The Enemy" EP (#33)
- SDL 7 - The Subhumans: "Religious Wars" EP (#7)
- SDL 8 - Flux Of Pink Indians: Strive To Survive Causing The Least Suffering PossibleStrive to Survive Causing the Least Suffering PossibleStrive To Survive Causing Least Suffering Possible is an album by the anarchist punk band Flux Of Pink Indians. The later CD reissue also includes the band's Neu Smell EP as five additional tracks, though in an incorrect track order and listing....
LP (#1) - SDL 9 - The Subhumans: The Day The Country Died LP (#3)
- SDL 10 - Amebix: "Winter" 7" (#18)
- SDL 11 - The System: "The System Is Murder" 7" (#16)
- SDL 12 - Kronstadt UprisingKronstadt Uprising (band)This article is about the band Kronstadt Uprising. For information about the historical event see Kronstadt UprisingKrondstadt Uprising were an anarcho-punk band from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, UK during the 1980s.-History:...
: "The Unknown Revolution" EP - SDL 13 - Flux Of Pink Indians: The Fucking Cunts Treat Us Like PricksThe Fucking Cunts Treat Us Like PricksThe Fucking Cunts Treat Us Like Pricks is an album by UK anarcho-punk band Flux Of Pink Indians. It was released as a double album on the band's own Spiderleg Records in 1984 as the follow-up to their debut, Strive to Survive Causing the Least Suffering Possible.The album was banned by retailers HMV...
double LP (#2) - SDL 14 - Amebix: "No Sanctuary" 12 inch EP (#9)
- SDL 15 - Antisect: In Darkness There Is No Choice LP (#3)
- SDL 16 - Flux Of Pink Indians: "Taking A Liberty" EP (#5)
See also
- List of record labels
- List of independent UK record labels
- One Little Indian RecordsOne Little Indian RecordsOne Little Indian Records is a London-based independent record label that rose from the ashes of punk record company Spiderleg Records. It was set up in 1985 by members of various anarchist punk bands, and managed by ex-Flux of Pink Indians Derek Birkett. The first success came with A.R. Kane and...
Further reading
- Glasper, Ian (2006) "The Day the Country Died: A History of Anarcho Punk 1980 to 1984", Cherry Red Books, ISBN 978-1901447705