Skin Graft Records
| SKiN GRAFT Records | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1991 |
| Founder | Mark Fischer & Rob Syers |
| Distributor(s) | Southern |
| Genre |
No wave/now wave noise rock experimental rock comic books |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Location |
Founded: Chicago, Illinois Currently: St. Louis, Missouri |
| Official website | SKiN GRAFT |
Skin Graft Records (officially capitalized as SKiN GRAFT Records) is an independent record label specializing in no wave and noise rock music, originally based in Chicago, Illinois. The label is largely responsible for spawning the so-called "now wave" genre, an updated version of the late-1970s/early-1980s no wave movement.
History
In 1986, SKiN GRAFT was begun by Mark Fischer and Rob Syers as a small-scale publisher of bizarre comic books and fanzines. Some of its comics included The Kidz and Cynicalmanson.
The label's first record was released at the end of 1991. Founder Mark Fischer said of the label in 2000, "Skin Graft is a comic book company that puts out records.[1]" The label's mascot is a simply drawn cat/Devil hybrid, usually shown issuing the "heavy metal horns" hand sign.
SKiN GRAFT has since released music by bands, most of whom display an irreverent attitude towards music, and/or appear on stage wearing costumes or face paint. Bands who have recorded for the label include Dazzling Killmen, Brise-Glace (featuring Jim O'Rourke), Cheer-Accident, The Strangulated Beatoffs, Zeek Sheck, The Chinese Stars, The Flying Luttenbachers, Lake Of Dracula, Gorge Trio, CoLOSSamite, Shorty, U.S. Maple, ZZZZZ, Made In Mexico, Melt-Banana, Quintron, My So-Called Lice, Flossie And The Unicorns, Yona-Kit, Nood Ham, You Fantastic!, Ruins, Space Streakings, Zeni Geva, AIDS Wolf, Mount Shasta, Arab On Radar, Yowie, Athletic Automaton, and PRE.
In keeping with the label's origins, many SKiN GRAFT musical releases (particularly 7" records and LPs) have included mini comic books as inserts. The label has also used non-traditional packaging with some of their releases. The early vinyl copies of U.S. Maple's first album, which were packaged in metal sheets, and CoLOSSamite's 1998 untitled EP came packaged with 5-inch frisbees of varying colors.
From 1994 to 1998, and in 2002, SKiN GRAFT curated the OOPS(!) Fests, featuring many of its bands, along with sideshows and various styles of impromptu performance art.[2]
In the late 1990s, the label purported (as a thinly veiled hoax) that a European record label named SiN RAFT was illegally issuing bootleg copies of S.G. releases.
SKiN GRAFT in the media
On MTV's The Real World: Miami in 1996, cast member Sarah Becker frequently wore a red Mount Shasta band t-shirt.