Enigma Records
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Enigma Records was a popular rock and alternative record label in the 1980s. It was initially a division of Greenworld Distribution, an independent music importer/distributor, from which it split off in 1985 to become its own company.
Enigma was founded and run by brothers William and Wesley Hein. Jim Martone joined the company in 1984 and ultimately became a partner with the Heins. Enigma focused on punk rock, alternative, and heavy metal music though it also released techno, jazz and classical music through subsidiary labels. The label was initially located in Torrance, California, then El Segundo, California and finally Culver City, California.
Enigma Records was initially distributed through independent record importers/distributors such as JEM Records and Important, and beginning in 1986, arranged distribution through Capitol/EMI, a major record label. Capitol/EMI acquired Enigma from the Heins in 1989 and soon merged its operations into Capitol, moving some of the artists to the various EMI labels.
Enigma Records had at one time or another the following bands on its roster: Poison (through a joint venture with Capitol), 45 Grave, Agent Orange, DEVO, Peter Hammill, Al Stewart, Berlin, Channel 3, The Dead Milkmen, Death Angel, Great White, Green on Red, Mötley Crüe, Ratt, Red Hot Chili Peppers (through a joint venture with EMI America), Slayer (through a joint venture with Metal Blade Records), The Smithereens, Stryper, Guardian, TSOL, The Untouchables, Ike Willis, and many other rock and alternative acts. Enigma also released film soundtracks including The Terminator and River's Edge. Enigma also released some Mute Records titles in the United States.
At the time of the Capitol distribution agreement in 1986, Enigma formed a subsidiary label, Restless Records, to remain with the indepenent distributors to nurture acts not ready for major label distribution. A subdivision, Restless Retro, inherited Enigma's arrangement with Mute Records.
Enigma's Canadian division was closed in the early 1990s. Several staff members went on to form FRE Records.
