| Buddyhead | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1997 |
| Founder | Travis Keller |
| Status | Independent |
| Genre | Rock |
| Country of origin | USA |
| Location | Hollywood, California |
| Official Website | http://www.buddyhead.com |
Buddyhead is a music "webzine" and (from 2000 to 2010) independent record label formed by Travis Keller in the summer of 1997 in Hollywood, California. Keller is notorious for outspoken criticism of popular culture and the music industry. Their infamous gossip column has resulted in Buddyhead being sued over a dozen times by numerous celebrities and record labels ranging from Korn, Courtney Love (who after three "cease and desists figured "if you can't beat em, join em", and cut them monthly several thousand dollar checks for a while), Fred Durst, Moby, Drive-Thru Records and most recently Axl Rose[1]. Not only is Buddyhead, like their slogan says, "for the children" but they are also proving that most celebrities don't have much in the way of sense of humor.
Buddyhead Records was an independent record label from Hollywood, California that sprouted from the popular irreverent website of the same name. The label was started in 2000 with the pressing of a seven inch single from The Icarus Line ("Kill Cupid With A Nail Fie") and ended almost exactly ten years later with a full length from Dios ("We Are Dios") in August 2010. Buddyhead, which was launched in 1998. The label was the pet project of Travis Keller although he did have help from friends Aaron North and Fred Emery (formerly of Crank! Records) and they released records by an extremely broad range of bands, such as: The Cassettes, Shat, Dios (also known as (dios) Malso, Ink & Dagger, The Icarus Line, Burning Brides, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Your Enemies Friends, The Mean Reds, 400 Blows, TEXT (ex-Refused), At the Drive-In, Murder City Devils, Modwheelmood, Wires On Fire and Radio Vago.
Keller under his Buddyhead Records alias became known for his amazing compilations after releasing a string of highly acclaimed collections. First in 2003 came the infamous, and now out-of-print, "Buddyhead Suicide Sampler" which featured key tracks from each of the label's releases, rare/live tracks from each band on the label's roster and most importantly the highly controversial prank-calls to music-industry luminaries from a secret person who went by the name "Torture Device" thus extending their "no holds barred" approach to Lester Bangs-style music journalism/activism that the Buddyhead website is so well known for. Rumors have said that Torture Device is everyone from Travis Keller to Bill Hicks to Sam Kinison to Chevy Chase, but Buddyhead has never officially commented on the matter. Keller says he will take that information to his grave just to keep a little mystic in rock n' roll!
Next up in 2004 was the major label funded Gimme Skelter compilation, which was paid for (and distributed by) Netwerk Records. It's now out of print now too. The compilation featured cover art by famous artist (and brother to Black Flag's Greg Ginn) Raymond Pettibon, who's done cover art for bands like Black Flag, Sonic Youth, Foo Fighters & OFF!). The comp also bragged of exclusive and/or rare songs from bands such as: Primal Scream, Mudhoney, Iggy Pop, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Wire, Weezer ("Pinkerton" B-side), Dead Meadow, Le Tigre and others. In addition to CDs, Buddyhead Records released a DVD compilation in 2004 entitled "Buddyhead Presents: Punk Is Dead" through Image Entertainment which featured music videos from TV on the Radio, The Jesus Lizard, Singapore Sling, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Turbonegro, The Locust, British Sea Power, The Dillinger Escape Plan, The Fiery Furnaces & others.
Buddyhead have been part of a number of infamous antics including vandalizing The Strokes' tour bus[2], and an incident where Travis Keller broke into Fred Durst’s office at Interscope Records, stole three of his red baseball caps, took photos in front of his Limp Bizkit gold records, and then auctioned the hats off on Ebay (the hats sold for $1700 each),[3][4] donating the money to a rape victim charity (a stab at Fred for the allegations of rape and violence happening in the mosh pit during their set at Woodstock 99')[5].
In August 2007, Buddyhead announced they'd signed Denver band, Moccasin. They released an EP and promised a full length, but the band moved to the woods and were never heard from again. The label even offered a reward to anyone who could locate the band.
In late 2008, Buddyhead "re-launched" their website and started doing their famous Gossip section on a weekly basis, every Monday. They also signed Los Angeles band Dios (also known as Dios (Malos), who released an EP called "Cosmic Rays" on Buddyhead. In 2010, Buddyhead put out their thirty-first release which was the third Dios full length player, "We Are Dios" on February 16, 2010. And Dios was extremely well received in the press, landing articles/reviews in LA Weekly, Mojo, Spin, Rolling Stone and even Pitchfork!
On July 15, 2009 a cartoon of Travis Keller graced the cover of Los Angeles' biggest free newspaper, LA Weekly to celebrate the Buddyhead cover story inside[6]. The article was written by staff writer Erin Broadley, announced that the label and website were back in full force and told jaw-dropping stories of the past.
In November 2010 Travis Keller announced via his Twitter account (@buddyhead) that he was closing the doors of Buddyhead Records and that most of the albums were returned to the bands, who have since re-released the records themselves with bonus tracks and extras. Keller also announced he would be starting a new label in 2011 called Miracle Records. So far Keller has said to have signed Los Angeles punk band Stab City (you can see them rip through two songs at www.jaminthevan.com in HD video), The Bixby Knolls (who are also from LA but sonically sound more "baggy" British like Kasabian or The Stone Roses whom he signed to Miracle Reecords after one of their shows in his own blood just to prove his dedication (according to The Viper Room's Twitter account) and will also be re-releasing Drug Cabin's debut EP. Keller has also announced that he is teaming back up with his old gang The Icarus Line and is not only co-managing them along with the band's singer Joe Cardamone but he has also agreed to release the band's fifth studio album (which in Keller's words "is the best material Joe's ever written"). Full circle indeed.
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