In our ongoing SKAROUND The World series, this time we take a journey to the Bay area in the Golden state of California… Alameda, to be exact. This time, I want to give you a different angle of the same industry.
That said, I gotta share a little insight on a label that is making a difference in the punk rock scene. I’m talking about the label created by the man, the myth, the legend… Dave Dalton!
Dalton has been in the music business since 1981 and has been doing cool things from the beginning.
His awesome record label – Die Laughing Records – was established in 1988 and has been a hidden treasure for punk.
Dalton created his label to introduce people to killer punk rock music and he’s done that time and time again.
He’s given us Union 13, The Vibrators, Wank, Crimson Riot, The Venomous Pinks, The Killer Smiles with East Bay Ray, Michael Des Barres and The Mistakes, Fang, The Hellflowers, Screaming Bloody Marys, plus many more.
He’s also the front-man of Screaming Bloody Marys and has been doing the music scene for damn near 40 years… and is still going! Dalton is very proud of his endorsement with Zemaitis and BlackStar amps, who have helped him to keep rocking in his band and on his solo career as The Unfortunate Bastard.
The Die Laughing Records team includes Rob Trisler (formally the owner of Orange Peel Records) and Jillian Elizabeth (owner of Chicanery Chick Management/Chicanery Chick Records). You have what makes up a solid-ass team of musical bad asses who have the knowledge and dynamic to make up a fantastic label.
These three powerhouses also have a killer podcast, “The Die Laughing Records Radio Podcast.”
They spotlight the amazing and talented bands on their own label, plus bands from all over the globe. Ska, punk, rockabilly, hardcore… whatever tickles their fancy! It’s worth a listen, and trust me, you’ll find some really cool things on this label and podcast!
I can’t wait to see what this label has in store for the future and to see the awesomeness that comes out… especially when these bands can do live shows again!
