GWR Records was a record label

Record label

In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...

 active in the UK

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 from 1986

1986 in music

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1986.-January-June:*January 23 – The first induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame takes place...

 through to 1991

1991 in music

See also:* 1991 in music Record labels established in 1991-Summary:The year 1991 is the year that grunge music made its popular breakthrough. Nirvana's Nevermind, led by the surprise hit single "Smells Like Teen Spirit", becomes the most popular U.S. album of the year...

.

By 1984, Gerry Bron's Bronze Records

Bronze Records

Bronze Records is an independent English record label set up in 1971 by record producer Gerry Bron, and based in Chalk Farm, London.Bron had been producing Uriah Heep for Vertigo Records, and he set up this new label for future Uriah Heep releases, along with Juicy Lucy, Richard Barnes and Colosseum...

 were in financial difficulty leading to a hiatus in recording activity for Motörhead. Eventually, Motörhead managers Douglas Smith and Dave Simmons bought the band out of their contract and Bron subsequently sold the Bronze Records rights onto Legacy Records owner Ray Richards.

Richards then contacted Smith with a proposal for a joint venture to release new product by Motörhead, leading to the formation of GWR Records (named after Smith's business address of 15 Great Western Road). In addition to Motörhead, the label mainly released product by acts associated with Smith, such as Girlschool

Girlschool

Girlschool are a British heavy metal band originating out of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene in 1978 and frequently associated with contemporaries Motörhead. They are the longest running all-female rock band, still active after more than 30 years...

, Fastway

Fastway (band)

Fastway is a British heavy metal band formed by guitarist, "Fast" Eddie Clarke, formerly of Motörhead, and bassist, Pete Way, formerly of UFO.-Career:...

, Hawkwind

Hawkwind

Hawkwind are an English rock band, one of the earliest space rock groups. Their lyrics favour urban and science fiction themes. They are also a noted precursor to punk rock and now are considered a link between the hippie and punk cultures....

, Tank

Tank (band)

Tank is a British heavy metal band, formed in 1980 by Algy Ward, a former member of The Damned. The band is known as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement...

, Atomgods

Atomgods

Atomgods were a UK heavy rock band from late 1980s.The band were formed by former Inner City Unit guitarist Judge Trev Thoms, the first recording lineup consisting of Hiro Sasaki and Kofi Baker...

 and Anti-Nowhere League

Anti-Nowhere League

Anti-Nowhere League is an English punk band, formed in 1980 by lead singer Animal , guitarist Magoo , Tony "Bones" Shaw on drums and Chris "Baggy" Elvy on bass.-Early days:...

, and bands from the Thrash metal

Thrash metal

Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...

 scene.

By 1992, Smith had been ousted as a managing director of the company and the label's catalogue was absorbed into Castle Communications

Castle Communications

Castle Communications was a British independent record label founded in 1983 by Terry Shand, Cliff Dane and Jon Beecher. The company was acquired by the American music distributor Alliance Entertainment in 1994 and in 2000 it was absorbed into Sanctuary Records Group...

, which later became part of Sanctuary Records Group.

Albums

• GWS1 – Hawkwind
  Hawkwind
  Hawkwind are an English rock band, one of the earliest space rock groups. Their lyrics favour urban and science fiction themes. They are also a noted precursor to punk rock and now are considered a link between the hippie and punk cultures....
  
   – Live Chronicles
  Live Chronicles
  Live Chronicles is a 1986 album by Hawkwind recorded of a live performance of their The Chronicle of the Black Sword concept album based on the Michael Moorcock character Elric of Melniboné.-Overview:...
  
  – 1986
• GWRGBS1 – Various Artists – Bristol Custom Bike Show – 1986
• GWLP1 – Motörhead – Orgasmatron
  Orgasmatron (album)
  Orgasmatron is the seventh album by the British band Motörhead, released in 1986. It is the only full Motörhead album to feature Pete Gill on the drums, although he also played on the four new tracks recorded for the 1984 No Remorse compilation album....
  
  – 1986
• GWLP2 – Girlschool
  Girlschool
  Girlschool are a British heavy metal band originating out of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene in 1978 and frequently associated with contemporaries Motörhead. They are the longest running all-female rock band, still active after more than 30 years...
  
   – Nightmare at Maple Cross
  Nightmare at Maple Cross
  Nightmare at Maple Cross is the sixth studio album by British heavy metal band, Girlschool, released on GWR Records in 1986. Under the direction of producer Vic Maile, this album marks the return of the band to the sound of their earlier works and to a four-piece formation. All tracks were composed...
  
  – 1986
• GWLP3 – Jon Mikl Thor – Recruits – Wild In the Streets – 1986
• GWLP4 – Motörhead – Overkill
  Overkill (album)
  Overkill is the second album released by Motörhead, in 1979, and their first for Bronze Records. It peaked at number 24 on the UK charts.It had a big impact in the British punk culture of that time, paving the way for UK82. Kerrang! magazine listed the album at No...
  
  – re-issue 1986
• GWLP5 – Motörhead – Bomber
  Bomber (album)
  Bomber is the third studio album by the British heavy metal band Motörhead. It was recorded in 1979, the same year as Overkill. The album reached number 12 on the UK charts and brought some of Motörhead's most popular songs, like "Bomber", "Dead Men Tell No Tales" and "Stone Dead...
  
  – re-issue 1986
• GWLP6 – Motörhead – Ace of Spades
  Ace of Spades (album)
  Ace of Spades is the fourth album by the British band Motörhead. Released on 8 November 1980, it peaked at #4 on the UK album charts and reached Gold status by March 1981...
  
  – re-issue 1986
• GWLP7 – Motörhead – No Sleep 'til Hammersmith
  No Sleep 'til Hammersmith
  No Sleep ’til Hammersmith is the first live album by Motörhead. Released on 27 June 1981, it peaked at #1 on the UK album charts. It was followed by the release of the single "Motorhead" on 11 July, which peaked in the UK singles chart at #6.-History:With the exception of "Iron Horse / Born To...
  
  – re-issue 1986
• GWLP8 – Wendy O. Williams
  Wendy O. Williams
  Wendy Orlean Williams , better known as Wendy O. Williams, was the lead singer for the American punk band the Plasmatics, as well as a solo artist...
  
   – Maggots: The Record
  Maggots: The Record
  Maggots: The Record is the fourth and final studio album released by punk / metal band The Plasmatics in 1987. The album was released as a special "9th Anniversary Album". Despite being called a "Plasmatics" album, it is often regarded as another Wendy O...
  
  – 1987
• GWLP9 – Cro-Mags
  Cro-Mags
  Cro-Mags are a hardcore punk turned crossover thrash band from New York City. The band, which had a strong cult following, released many records, their first two considered the most influential...
  
   – The Age of Quarrel
  The Age Of Quarrel
  The Age of Quarrel is the first album from the New York hardcore band Cro-Mags. It was released on Profile Records in 1986 and subsequently re-released by Another Planet in 1994, along with their second album, 1989's Best Wishes, on the same disc...
  
  – 1987
• GWLP? – Paul DiAnno's Battlezone – Fighting Back
  Fighting Back (Battlezone album)
  Fighting Back is the first album released by the British heavy metal band Battlezone, with ex-Iron Maiden singer Paul Di'Anno.-Side One:#"Welcome to the Battlezone" - 3:25#"Running Blind" - 4:44#"Welfare Warriors" - 4:40#"Too Much to Heart" - 4:45...
  
  – 1987
• GWLP10 – Sword
  Sword (band)
  Sword is a Canadian heavy metal band that was active in the 1980s and just announced a reunion for 2011.-History:In the early 80's, south of Montréal in Saint Bruno, Quebec, Rick and Dan Hughes formed a heavy metal band called Sword. They were joined by guitarist Mike Plant and bassist Mike...
  
   – Metalized
  Metalized
  Metalized is the debut album by the Canadian heavy metal band Sword. It was released in 1986 by the Canadian indie label Aquarius Records. The album samples many sub-genres of the heavy metal genre, such as thrash metal on "Outta Control".-Track listing:...
  
  – 1987
• GWLP11 –
• GWLP12 – Anti-Nowhere League
  Anti-Nowhere League
  Anti-Nowhere League is an English punk band, formed in 1980 by lead singer Animal , guitarist Magoo , Tony "Bones" Shaw on drums and Chris "Baggy" Elvy on bass.-Early days:...
  
   – Perfect Crime – 1987
• GWLP13 – Tritonz – The Edge Of Hell – 1987
• GWLP14 – Motörhead – Rock 'n' Roll
  Rock 'n' Roll (Motörhead album)
  Rock 'N' Roll is the eighth album by the British band Motörhead and the first appearance of their four-piece line up of Lemmy, Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor, Würzel and Philip Campbell, which lasted from 1987 until 1992...
  
  – 1987
• GWLP15 –
• GWLP16 –
• GWLP17 – Mekong Delta
  Mekong Delta (band)
  Mekong Delta is a German progressive/thrash metal band, formed in 1985.-History:The band was founded by a group of German metal musicians with the goal to 'musically outshine' all then-current, independent releases. The line-up and the history of the group was to be "the best kept secret in the...
  
   – Mekong Delta – 1987
• GWLP18 –
• GWLP19 –
• GWLP20 – Last Descendants – One Nation Under God – 1988
• GWLP21 – Girlschool – Take a Bite
  Take a Bite
  Take a Bite is the seventh studio album by British heavy metal band, Girlschool, released by GWR Records in 1988. It is the first album to feature Tracey Lamb on bass, replacing Gil Weston-Jones.-Overview:...
  
  – 1988
• GWLP22 – Fastway
  Fastway (band)
  Fastway is a British heavy metal band formed by guitarist, "Fast" Eddie Clarke, formerly of Motörhead, and bassist, Pete Way, formerly of UFO.-Career:...
  
   – On Target – 1988
• GWLP23 – Tank
  Tank (band)
  Tank is a British heavy metal band, formed in 1980 by Algy Ward, a former member of The Damned. The band is known as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement...
  
   – Tank – 1988
• GWLP24 – King Kurt
  King Kurt
  King Kurt was a 1980s psychobilly rock band from the UK. They formed in 1981 and split up in 1988, although they have reformed sporadically and played a reunion concert in 2010...
  
   – The Last Will & Testicle – 1988
• GWLP25 – Mekong Delta – The Music of Erich Zann – 1988
• GWLP26 – Hawkwind – The Xenon Codex
  The Xenon Codex
  -External links:*...
  
  – 1988
• GWLP27 – Lloyd Langton Group – Time Space and LLG – 1988
• GWLP28 – Batfish
  The Batfish Boys
  The Batfish Boys were a gothic rock/garage rock/rockabilly band from York and Leeds, England, active between 1984 and 1990, releasing three albums....
  
   – Batfish Brew – 1988
• GWLP29 – Texas Instruments – Texas Instruments – 1988
• GWLP30 – Atomgods
  Atomgods
  Atomgods were a UK heavy rock band from late 1980s.The band were formed by former Inner City Unit guitarist Judge Trev Thoms, the first recording lineup consisting of Hiro Sasaki and Kofi Baker...
  
   – WOW! – 1988
• GWLP31 – Motörhead – No Sleep at All
  No Sleep at All
  Nö Sleep at All is the second official live album by the British band Motörhead, following 1981's No Sleep 'til Hammersmith. It was recorded on 2 July 1988 at a Giants of Rock Festival performance in Hämeenlinna, Finland.-History:...
  
  – 1988
• GWLP32 –
• GWLP33 – Deathwish – Demon Preacher – 1988
• GWLP34 –
• GWLP35 –
• GWLP36 – Miss Daisy – Pizza Connection – 1989
• GWLP37 – Elvis Hitler
  Elvis Hitler
  Elvis Hitler is a psychobilly/hellbilly band from Detroit, Michigan. The band was named after the moniker of their lead singer, Jim Leedy.-History:...
  
   – Disgraceland – 1989
• GWLP38 – The Pandoras
  The Pandoras
  The Pandoras were an all-female rock and roll band from Los Angeles, California from 1983–1991, who found a following in the Hollywood "Paisley Underground" scene and later adapted a more contemporary Sunset Boulevard, hard rock look and sound. The band ended when, on August 10, 1991 band leader...
  
   - Rock Hard – 1989
• GWLP39 –
• GWLP40 – MX Machine
  MX Machine
  MX Machine is an American thrash metal band from Los Angeles, California. Initially active from 1985 to 1989, the band reformed in 2007 with a renewed line-up.-Biography:...
  
   – Manic Panic – 1989
• GWLP41 – Mass
  Mass (English band)
  Mass were an English post-punk band. The band consisted of Gary Asquith, Mick Allen, Mark Cox, and Danny Briottet. Asquith, Allen and Cox had been members of Rema Rema. Mass released the "You And I" 7" in 1980 on the 4AD Records label...
  
   – Take You Home – 1989
• GWLP42 – Num Skull – Ritually Abused – 1989
• GWLP43 – Social Distortion
  Social Distortion
  Social Distortion is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Fullerton, California. The band currently consists of Mike Ness , Jonny Wickersham , Brent Harding and David Hidalgo, Jr...
  
   – Prison Bound
  Prison Bound
  Prison Bound is the second studio album by Social Distortion, was released in 1988. This is the first album with bass guitarist John Maurer and drummer Christopher Reece...
  
  – 1989
• GWLP44 – Wasted Youth
  Wasted Youth (American Band)
  Wasted Youth was a hardcore punk band in early 1980s from Los Angeles, California. The band followed in the footsteps of Black Flag and the Circle Jerks, and were a prominent and popular act amongst the Los Angeles punk underground of the early 1980s.-Overview:The band consisted of Chett Lehrer,...
  
   – Black Daze
  Black Daze
  Black Daze is the 1988 and final album by the Los Angeles punk band Wasted Youth, that saw the band turn to a thrash metal style.- Track listing :# "Any Gun Can Play"# "Ordinary Woman"# "Bucket Head"# "Black Daze"# "Good Day for a Hanging"...
  
  – 1989
• GWLP45 – Sword – Sweet Dreams
  Sweet Dreams (Sword album)
  Sweet Dreams is the second album by the Canadian heavy metal band Sword, released in 1988 by Aquarius Records.-Track listing:# "Sweet Dreams" – 5:08# "Trouble Is" – 3:33# "Land of the Brave" – 5:28# "Back Off" – 3:53# "Prepare to Die" – 2:58...
  
  – 1989
• GWLP46 –
• GWLP47 – Sacriliege BC – Too Cool to Pray – 1989
• GWLP48 – Sgm – Aggression – 1989
• GWLP49 –
• GWLP50 – Personal Effects – Mana Fiesta – 1989
• GWLP51 –
• GWLP52 –
• GWLP53 – Ronnie Montrose
  Ronnie Montrose
  Ronnie Montrose, is an Amercian rock guitarist who has headed his own bands as well as performing with a variety of musicians, including Sammy Hagar, Herbie Hancock, Van Morrison, The Beau Brummels, Boz Scaggs, Beaver & Krause, Gary Wright, Tony Williams, The Neville Brothers, Dan Hartman, Edgar...
  
   – The Speed of Sound
  The Speed of Sound (album)
  The Speed of Sound is a 1988 all instrumental album by Ronnie Montrose and in 1997 said that it was his favorite instrumental disc he had done so far...
  
  – 1989
• GWLP101 – Motörhead – The Birthday Party
  The Birthday Party (video)
  The Birthday Party is a 1985 video by Motörhead. It features the band's 10th anniversary show at the Hammersmith Odeon, London. During the performance of "Motörhead" all of the past members and Thin Lizzy bassist Phil Lynott joined the band onstage...
  
  - 1990
• GWLP102 – Helix
  Helix (band)
  Helix are a Canadian hard rock/heavy metal band. They formed in 1974, and are best known for their 1984 single "Rock You". The original lineup was formed by drummer Bruce Arnold, and consisted of lead vocalist Brian Vollmer, guitarists Ron Watson and Rick "Minstrel" Trembley, keyboardist Don...
  
   – Back for Another Taste
  Back for Another Taste
  Back For Another Taste was the 7th Helix studio album and 8th album altogether. It was also their last album of their original Capitol Records contract...
  
  – 1990
• GWLP103 – Hawkwind – Space Bandits
  Space Bandits
  Space Bandits is the sixteenth studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind, released in 1990. It spent one week on the UK albums chart at #70....
  
  – 1990
• GWLP104 – Hawkwind – Palace Springs
  Palace Springs (album)
  Palace Springs is a 1991 live/studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind.Although released in 1991, this album was recorded in 1989 prior to the previous album Space Bandits...
  
  – 1991
• GWLP??? – Atomgod – History Re-Written – 1991

Singles

• GWR1 – Girlschool – "I'm the Leader of the Gang" / "Never Too Late" – 1986
• GWR2 – Motörhead – "Deaf Forever" / "On the Road" (live) / 12" only: "Steal Your Face" (live) – 1986
• GWR3 – Jon Mikl Thor – "Wild in the Streets" – 1986
• GWR4 – Würzel – "Bess" / "Midnight in London" / "People Say I'm Crazy" / "E.S.P." – 1987
• GWR5 –
• GWR6 – Motörhead – "Eat the Rich" / "Cradle to the Grave" / 12" only: "Just 'Cos You Got the Power" – 1986
• GWR7 – Batfish Boys – "Bomb Song" – 1987
• GWR8 – Fastway – "A Fine Line" – 1988
• GWR9 – The Kurts – "Bye Bye Baby" / "Prussian Stomp" – 1988
• GWR10 –
• GWR11 –
• GWR12 – Tokyo – "Listen to Your Heartbeat" / "Satisfaction Guaranteed" / "Sixteen" – 1988
• GWR13 –
• GWR14 –
• GWR15 – Motörhead – "Ace of Spades" (live) / "Dogs" (live) / "Traitor" (live) (Withdrawn) – 1988