C/Z Records
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C/Z Records is a Seattle-based record label that was established in early 1985 by Chris Hanzsek and Tina Casale with the release of the now-legendary, Deep Six LP, which collected the earliest recordings of the real pro-genitors of what later came to be known as grunge.
The label's first release (September 1, 1985) was titled Deep Six (CZ001). This was a compilation LP that featured early grunge bands Soundgarden, The Melvins, Green River, Skin Yard, Malfunkshun, and The U-Men. Nationally, the record was something of a disappointment, and after about 18 months, Chris & Tina realized that running a record label was NOT a career they wanted to pursue.
Daniel House, bass player for Skin Yard, was in the midst of putting together the bands first record, and took over the operation of C/Z records. For several years C/Z was little more than a hobby, but quickly became an outlet for many unnoticed Seattle bands that House felt were making great music. In 1989 House began working as director of sales for a new Seattle, Indy record label, by the name of Sub Pop. Eventually he left as C/Z became successful in its own right. He subsequently released early albums and singles by notable bands like The Presidents of the United States of America, The Melvins, Built to Spill, 7 Year Bitch, The Gits, Silkworm and Hammerbox.
In 1993, C/Z entered into a production and distribution deal with Sony-owned RED distribution. The deal quickly went sour, but RED refused to let C/Z out of the deal, managing to bleed the label dry in less than a year. 1994 saw the death of Kurt Cobain and almost saw the death of C/Z as well. House was forced to downsize and re-organize, and it would be over a year before any new releases would see the light of day.
1996 presented a new chapter for C/Z. BMG owned Zoo Entertainment (Tool, Matthew Sweet) came to the label, and offered House the chance for a new situation. They would enter into a deal whereby a modest operating and recording budget would be doled out, and Zoo would be there to assist in the development of their new artists. After about a year, things were back in full stride but Zoo would be purchased by Volcano entertainment, and all third party ventures were dropped.
Daniel House, feeling like the time had come to look ahead to new beginnings, made the choice to return C/Z back to a labor of love, and would release occasional records on an infrequent basis. In 2002, everything came full circle. C/Z released an odds-n-sods collection of unreleased and unavailable Skin Yard material, entitled Start at the Top.
