| Alternative Tentacles |
Article Index for Alternative |
Website Links For Alternative |
Information AboutAlternative Tentacles |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT ALTERNATIVE TENTACLES | |
| record labels established in 1979 | |
| american record labels | |
| independent record labels | |
| punk record labels | |
| alternative music record labels | |
| spoken word record labels | |
| emeryville, california | |
Alternative Tentacles is an Independent Record Label based in San Francisco, California and was established in 1979 . It was originally used as the label name by the Dead Kennedys for the self-produced single " California Über Alles ," and after realizing the potential for an independent label, they released records for other bands as well. Dead Kennedys guitarist East Bay Ray and vocalist Jello Biafra formed the original Alternative Tentacles partnership, but the label is now run by Biafra, who became the sole owner in the mid-1980s. “Dead Kennedys v. Jello Biafra” EARLY INFLUENCE Alternative Tentacles went on to launch some of the most original bands of the alternative/punk scene including releasing records (which were later released by other labels) by bands including The Dicks , 7 Seconds , and the Butthole Surfers . The early compilation titled Let Them Eat Jellybeans served to introduce American punk to the rest of the world. Through innovative bands such as the Dead Kennedys, NoMeansNo , D.O.A. and Alice Donut the label became a prominent figure in the American art/music underground. In addition to musical acts, Alternative Tentacles also publishes Spoken Word albums, many by Jello Biafra himself. Another common theme of Alternative Tentacles records over the years has been the long-standing artwork of Winston Smith , which has graced hundreds of their records, catalogs, posters, and shirts. LEGAL TROUBLE In 1987, Los Angeles prosecutors charged Biafra with "distributing harmful matter to minors" for artwork contained in the , also known as ''Penis Landscape'' by Swiss painter H.R. Giger . The case ended in a ''hung'' jury; charges were not re-filed. A detailed account of the trial is presented by Biafra on his second spoken word album, High Priest Of Harmful Matter − Tales From The Trial . In early 2000 , the label and Biafra were named in a lawsuit brought by his former Dead Kennedys bandmates. The suit claimed that Biafra had failed to pay the band royalties on Dead Kennedys albums. The end result of the case saw the rights to the albums turned over to the other band members, who licensed them to Manifesto Records in the United States (and to other labels in the rest of the world). In October 2002 , the label moved to Emeryville, California. ARTISTS Current artists
Former artists
FOOTNOTES EXTERNAL LINKS SEE ALSO |
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