Ipecac Recordings Press Release
March 18th, 1999
Just what the world needs... another damn label! In this era of mind-numbing musical mediocrity, sagging sales, major label mega-mergers and indie label burn-out, why the hell would anyone do something crazy like start a label?! Like the medicine it's named after, IPECAC RECORDINGS, is here to purge you of the drek that's been rotting in your tummies. IPECAC RECORDINGS is the brainchild of Greg Werckman (former label manager for the legendary punk label, Alternative Tentacles, employee for Mercury Records for a record 15 minutes, currently operating Pick A Winner Management) and Mike Patton (former Faith No More frontman, currently of Mr. Bungle and Fantomas). Werckman and Patton have been scheming for years (in between video games) about starting their very own label, waiting for just the right moment to unleash their master plan. IPECAC RECORDINGS is not about to make music biz history and execute a revolution (although one is surely needed) or bore you by waxing poetic about their original musical philosophies. But if we have to adhere to a "mission statement," how-a-bout the notion of being an honest, artist friendly label run on a shoe string with no outrageous promotional or production costs. This label will be a home to Mike Patton's eclectic musical collaborations as well as a place where bands we admire will have the freedom to release music they might not be able to , or want to release on other labels. Thanks to the folks at Caroline Distribution for indulging our unorthodox approach to running a label, IPECAC RECORDINGS will be a vailable to music fans world-wide. The release schedule for 1999 thus far is... FANTOMAS: Producing a truly original soundtrack that could be described as cut 'n paste metal meets hardcore, twisted around a bizarre sonic blast of genres. A super group of sorts, Fantomas is made up of Buzz from the Melvins on guitar, Dave Lombardo, formerly of Slayer, on drums, Mike Patton of Mr. Bungle creating weird vocal treatments and Trevor Dunn of Mr. Bungle on bass. This self-titled release (out April 27, 1999) will surprise everyone - especially the fans of the member's respective bands. MELVINS: IPECAC RECORDINGS is proud to announce the forthcoming Melvins trilogy. We will be assisting this legendary band in their quest to commit career suicide by releasing three full-lengths within a mere five months. Without revealing too much, all 3 releases will be insanely different from each other. The first release, "The Maggot (out May 18, 1999)," is straight up metal, done the way only the Melvins know how. It will please old and new Melvins fans alike while the second release, "The Bootliker (out August 1999)," will be a shocker for some, and the third release in the trilogy, "The Crybaby (out November 1999)," will be a complete surprise because the Melvins have invited a host of special guests ot play with them. Look for the Melvins to tour the U.S. for two months this summer. MALDOROR: Maldoror is a new collaboration between the Japanese king of noise manipulation, Masami Akita (a.k.a MERZBOW) and vocalist Mike Patton (out September, 1999). Fans of Patton's solo work on John Zorn's Tzadik label, or those familiar with the insanely prolific MERZBOW know what you are in for. This is not a release for the mild or the meek.