Wishbone Records

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Wishbone Records
Logo of the label
Logo of the label
Active years 1982-1990
founder Ferdinand Köther
Seat Bochum
Label code 8997
Sub-label Backbone Records
Genre (s) Heavy metal , punk

Wishbone Records was an Independent - label based in Bochum . It was named after the British band Wishbone Ash .

history

Wishbone Records was founded in 1982 by Ferdinand Köther. The trained graduate engineer used his music and industry knowledge and his contacts to initially set up his own sales department and later his own label in the age of independent music. His experience as import manager of the largest German record wholesaler, Rimpo, and then as product manager of the Polygram Import Service (later IMS - International Music Service) formed the basis for the rise to a major German music distributor in the 1980s. Among other things, the products of the American group The Residents were part of the product catalog at times.

The focus of the sales program soon shifted to the rapidly expanding heavy metal boom and sometimes exclusive collaboration with heavy metal labels such as Neat Records or Ebony Records . Among other things, the first Metallica works were widely distributed by Wishbone Records. The increasing popularity led to more and more groups sending in their demo tapes without being asked. The successful distribution prompted Köther to found his own record label of the same name. The first release was a licensed edition of the self-titled debut album by the American heavy metal band Tsunami . Soon after, local and regional bands were signed, including Darxon from Bochum and Avenger from Herne , who renamed themselves Rage after an album, an EP and various line-up changes .

The publications and productions were not limited to heavy metal, trips into punk and "indie" fields were also undertaken. An EP by the punk band Der Riss (including members of Avenger) and releases by the electro bands No More , The Residents and One Hundred Names were released on Wishbone Records . The initial one-man company now employed three to four people.

The necessary success to realize the high production costs, including some self-organized concerts, failed to materialize despite good reviews in the fan and music press. Rage as the successor to Avenger later became world famous. Their front man Peter "Peavy" Wagner later described the signing of the contract with Wishbone Records due to the limited distribution as one of two mistakes in his band's career. The first LP "Prayers of Steel" from Avenger is considered by experts today as a milestone in early German heavy metal. Despite a modest sound quality and little commercial success, it laid the foundation for the career of Peter "Peavey" Wagner. Despite great potential, the Düsseldorf band Stormwind was never able to fulfill the hopes placed in them. The Backbone Records label, founded as a further mainstay for re-releases (including Wipers ), was successful, but short-lived and came too late. Financial problems and increasing competition, including original partners such as Rough Trade , sealed the end of Wishbone Records in 1990.

Publications

  • Avenger: Prayers of Steel (LP, 1984)
  • Avenger: Depraved to Black (12 " EP , 1985)
  • Darxon: Killed in Action (LP, 1984)
  • Darxon: Tokyo (12 "EP, 1985)
  • Darxon: Holding On (7 ", 1985)
  • Europe-X-Port: Future Sound Spettacolo (12 "EP, 1985)
  • Greifenhagen: Only for the Night (LP, 1986)
  • His Masters Voice: The Seeds of Sorrow (CD, 1989)
  • The Rift: They All Do ... Image (12 "EP, 1985)
  • Mainstreet: Black Dream (12 "EP, 1988)
  • Marcie's Still Waiting: A Mysterious Song (12 "EP, 1985, in collaboration with Mollycat Records)
  • Metal Sword : Harder Than Steel (12 "mini-LP, 1985)
  • Mephisto: Mephisto (LP, 1988)
  • No More : Laughter In The Wings (12 "mini-LP, 1984)
  • No More : Suicide Commando (12 "EP, 1985)
  • Stormwind : Taken by Storm (LP, 1984)
  • Stormwind: Warbringer (12 "EP, 1985)
  • The Residents : Diskomo (12 "EP, 1985)
  • The Slam: Wanna Smell You (LP, 1988)
  • The Slam: Killing Time (3 "CD single, 1988)
  • Tsunami: Tsunami (LP, 1984)
Backbone Records

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Darxon . In: Metal Hammer . Hard Rock & Heavy Metal Poster Magazine! September 1984, p. 13 .
  2. ↑ Götz Kühnemund: Darxon. Killed in action. In: rockhard.de. Retrieved on September 27, 2015 (from issue No. 7).
  3. ↑ Interview with Peter “Peavy” Wagner ( memento of November 24, 2011 in the Internet Archive ). Hellena Mihailidou, Metalzone.gr. Retrieved September 5, 2011.

Web links