Goner Records
Encyclopedia
Goner Records is an independent record label
and record store co-owned by Eric Friedl
of The Oblivians and Zac Ives and is based in Memphis, Tennessee
. It is known for releasing albums by punk
and garage rock
bands such as the King Khan & BBQ Show and the late Jay Reatard
. The label also hosts Goner Fest, an annual Memphis music festival.
ese garage punk
band Guitar Wolf
, becoming a fan. After Guitar Wolf's performance, Friedl approached the band, receiving some demo cassettes in exchange for agreeing to set up some further Guitar Wolf shows in Memphis. Based on the supplied demos, Friedl decided to release Guitar Wolf's first album, Wolf Rock!
, calling the band in Japan for permission. Friedl followed this first release with a number of releases by his own band, the Oblivians
. Since its inception, a number of bands have released albums through Goner, including LPs by the Bad Times, the Oblivians
, King Louie Bankston
, The King Khan & BBQ Show
, Digital Leather
, Box Elders
, Harlan T. Bobo, The Reigning Sound, and The Leather Uppers. Goner has also had a hand in releasing a multitude of 7" singles.
frontman, Greg Cartwright
. The store itself sells music in a variety of formats including LP
, CD
, 45
and 78
. The store also contains a 25 cent trip through the "Elvis Impersonator Shrine."
's kung fu dojo in the 1970s.
Goner Records hosted Goner Fest Six September 24–27, 2009 in Memphis, which featured bands such as Cheater Slicks
, Compulsive Gamblers
and Reatards.
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
and record store co-owned by Eric Friedl
Eric Friedl
Eric Friedl, also known by his stage name, Eric Oblivian, is the founder and owner of Goner Records, an independent music label and record store located in Memphis, Tennessee.He is also an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and entrepreneur...
of The Oblivians and Zac Ives and is based in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
. It is known for releasing albums by punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
and garage rock
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
bands such as the King Khan & BBQ Show and the late Jay Reatard
Jay Reatard
Jimmy Lee Lindsey Jr. , better known by the stage name Jay Reatard, was an American musician from Memphis, Tennessee. Lindsey was signed to Matador Records...
. The label also hosts Goner Fest, an annual Memphis music festival.
The Record Label
The Goner Records label was started in 1993 by Eric Friedl. While attending the second Garage Shock festival, Friedl saw a performance by JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese garage punk
Garage punk
Garage punk is a fusion of garage rock and punk rock. It is fast-paced lo-fi music characterized by a dirty, choppy guitar sound—usually played by bands who are on independent record labels or who are unsigned...
band Guitar Wolf
Guitar Wolf
Guitar Wolf is a Japanese garage punk power trio founded in Nagasaki, Nagasaki in 1987. The band is known for songs with piercing vocals and an extremely loud style of noise-influenced punk which emphasizes heavy distortion and feedback...
, becoming a fan. After Guitar Wolf's performance, Friedl approached the band, receiving some demo cassettes in exchange for agreeing to set up some further Guitar Wolf shows in Memphis. Based on the supplied demos, Friedl decided to release Guitar Wolf's first album, Wolf Rock!
Wolf Rock!
Wolf Rock! is the debut LP of the Japanese Rock band Guitar Wolf, released in the U.S. on vinyl LP in 1993, and later released in Japan on Compact Disc in July 1995...
, calling the band in Japan for permission. Friedl followed this first release with a number of releases by his own band, the Oblivians
Oblivians
The Oblivians were an American punk rock trio that existed from 1993 to 1998. In the 1990s, their blues-infused brand of bravado, crudely-recorded music made them one of the most popular and prominent bands within the underground garage rock scene....
. Since its inception, a number of bands have released albums through Goner, including LPs by the Bad Times, the Oblivians
Oblivians
The Oblivians were an American punk rock trio that existed from 1993 to 1998. In the 1990s, their blues-infused brand of bravado, crudely-recorded music made them one of the most popular and prominent bands within the underground garage rock scene....
, King Louie Bankston
King Louie Bankston
King Louie Bankston is a prolific garage punk musician from Harahan, Louisiana. He is best known for his work in The Royal Pendletons, The Persuaders, The Exploding Hearts, and The King Louie One Man Band....
, The King Khan & BBQ Show
The King Khan & BBQ Show
The King Khan & BBQ Show was a Canadian Garage rock duo from Montreal, Quebec who mixed doo-wop and punk. The band was composed of former Spaceshits bandmates Mark Sultan and Blacksnake, alias King Khan. Mark Sultan, under the pseudonym BBQ, contributed vocals, guitar, tambourine, bass drum, and...
, Digital Leather
Digital Leather
Digital Leather is the musical project of multi-instrumentalist Shawn Foree. It is recognized for having characteristics of synth punk, New Wave, pop, lo-fi, and psychedelic music....
, Box Elders
Box Elders
Box Elders, a self-described "Cave Pop" band, began initially in 2005 as a goof-off project of 16 year old Clayton and his fourteen year older brother Jeremiah McIntyre. The brothers' mother originally sang in the band, but soon quit. Eventually they started to play shows around Omaha, Nebraska...
, Harlan T. Bobo, The Reigning Sound, and The Leather Uppers. Goner has also had a hand in releasing a multitude of 7" singles.
The Record Store
In 2004, Friedl and business partner Zac Ives (frontman of the band The Final Solutions) purchased a record store to accompany the Goner Records label. The Goner Records store is located at 2152 Young Avenue, in Memphis, Tenn., at the former location of Legba Records, an independent music store formerly operated by Reigning SoundReigning Sound
The Reigning Sound is an American garage punk band originally based out of Memphis, Tennessee, now located in Asheville, North Carolina. The band's current lineup includes former Oblivians and Compulsive Gamblers frontman Greg Cartwright on lead vocals and guitar, David Wayne Gay on bass, Lance...
frontman, Greg Cartwright
Greg Cartwright
Greg Cartwright, also known by his stage name Greg Oblivian, is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Memphis, Tennessee. He currently fronts Reigning Sound and lives in Asheville, North Carolina...
. The store itself sells music in a variety of formats including LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
, CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
, 45
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
and 78
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
. The store also contains a 25 cent trip through the "Elvis Impersonator Shrine."
Goner Fest
In 2004, Friedl founded Goner Fest, which has become a yearly event in Memphis for showcasing Goner-related bands. The first Goner Fest was held in January 2005 and consisted of three nights of live music performed mostly at the local Buccaneer Tavern. The second Goner Fest was held just nine months later. The third Goner fest took place in 2006 at the Hi-Tone, a venue famous for housing Elvis PresleyElvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
's kung fu dojo in the 1970s.
Goner Records hosted Goner Fest Six September 24–27, 2009 in Memphis, which featured bands such as Cheater Slicks
Cheater Slicks
Cheater Slicks is a three-man garage punk band formed in Boston in 1987. The members are Tom Shannon , Dave Shannon , and Dana Hatch . They toured with Jon Spencer Blues Explosion in 1995. The band relocated to Columbus, OH, in 1996 and is still active. They played their 20th anniversary show on...
, Compulsive Gamblers
Compulsive Gamblers
Compulsive Gamblers were a garage-rock group formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1990 by Greg Cartwright and Jack Yarber, both future members of the Oblivians.-First incarnation:...
and Reatards.
Goner Records Discography
- ObliviansObliviansThe Oblivians were an American punk rock trio that existed from 1993 to 1998. In the 1990s, their blues-infused brand of bravado, crudely-recorded music made them one of the most popular and prominent bands within the underground garage rock scene....
, Impala, Impala/Oblivians split CS (0Gone) - Guitar WolfGuitar WolfGuitar Wolf is a Japanese garage punk power trio founded in Nagasaki, Nagasaki in 1987. The band is known for songs with piercing vocals and an extremely loud style of noise-influenced punk which emphasizes heavy distortion and feedback...
, Wolf Rock!Wolf Rock!Wolf Rock! is the debut LP of the Japanese Rock band Guitar Wolf, released in the U.S. on vinyl LP in 1993, and later released in Japan on Compact Disc in July 1995...
LP (1Goner) - ObliviansObliviansThe Oblivians were an American punk rock trio that existed from 1993 to 1998. In the 1990s, their blues-infused brand of bravado, crudely-recorded music made them one of the most popular and prominent bands within the underground garage rock scene....
, Call The Shots 7" (2Gone) - King Louie The 69th & The Harahan Crack Combo, Little Girl 7" (3Gone)
- Royal Pendletons, Smokin' 7" (4Gone)
- Magnitude 3, Melvin 7" (5Gone)
- Johnny Vomit & The Dry HeavesJohnny Vomit & The Dry HeavesJohnny Vomit & The Dry Heaves was a high school garage band that formed in mid-1980s Corinth, Mississippi that featured future leaders of the Oblivians and Squirrel Nut Zippers, Jack Oblivian and Jim Mathus...
, Johnny Vomit & The Dry Heaves 7" (6Gone) - John Schooley And His One Man Band, Pretty Baby 7" (7Gone)
- Reatards, Get Real Stupid 7" (8Gone)
- GasolineGasoline (band)Gasoline are a southern rock band and side project for former Pantera member Vinnie Paul. They once included Dimebag Darrell. Paul described the group's general theme as "booze and women." The band has covered many artists including Pat Travers, Ted Nugent, Black Sabbath, W.A.S.P., Thin Lizzy,...
, Let's Go Harley 7" (9Gone) - Reatards, Teenage Hate LP/CD (10Gone)
- Bad Times, Bad Times LP (11Gone)
- ObliviansObliviansThe Oblivians were an American punk rock trio that existed from 1993 to 1998. In the 1990s, their blues-infused brand of bravado, crudely-recorded music made them one of the most popular and prominent bands within the underground garage rock scene....
, On The Go LP (12Gone) - Reatards, Live LP' (13Gone)
- The Goner Records Cookbook (14Gone) - not record but a cookbook
- The King Khan & BBQ ShowThe King Khan & BBQ ShowThe King Khan & BBQ Show was a Canadian Garage rock duo from Montreal, Quebec who mixed doo-wop and punk. The band was composed of former Spaceshits bandmates Mark Sultan and Blacksnake, alias King Khan. Mark Sultan, under the pseudonym BBQ, contributed vocals, guitar, tambourine, bass drum, and...
, The King Khan & BBQ Show LP (15Gone) - King Louie One Man Band, Chinese Crawfish LP/CD (16Gone)
- Dutch Masters, Dutch Masters 7" (17Gone)
- Johnny Vomit & The Dry HeavesJohnny Vomit & The Dry HeavesJohnny Vomit & The Dry Heaves was a high school garage band that formed in mid-1980s Corinth, Mississippi that featured future leaders of the Oblivians and Squirrel Nut Zippers, Jack Oblivian and Jim Mathus...
, Thanks For The Ride! 7" (18Gone) - Harlan T. Bobo, Too Much Love LP/CD (19Gone)
- Knaughty Knights, Death Has Come Over Me 7" (20Gone)
- Reigning SoundReigning SoundThe Reigning Sound is an American garage punk band originally based out of Memphis, Tennessee, now located in Asheville, North Carolina. The band's current lineup includes former Oblivians and Compulsive Gamblers frontman Greg Cartwright on lead vocals and guitar, David Wayne Gay on bass, Lance...
, Live At Goner Records 6.26.05 LP/CD (21Gone) - The Leather Uppers, Bright Lights LP/CD (22Gone)
- Jay ReatardJay ReatardJimmy Lee Lindsey Jr. , better known by the stage name Jay Reatard, was an American musician from Memphis, Tennessee. Lindsey was signed to Matador Records...
, Hammer I Miss You 7" (23Gone) - Cococoma, 6 1/4-125 7" (24Gone)
- Hipshakes, Not Oblivians 7" (25Gone)
- The Leather Uppers, Ok, Don't Say Hi LP (27Gone)
- Boston Chinks, Johnson Smith Company 7" (28Gone)
- The Oscars, Oscars 7" (29Gone)
- Digital LeatherDigital LeatherDigital Leather is the musical project of multi-instrumentalist Shawn Foree. It is recognized for having characteristics of synth punk, New Wave, pop, lo-fi, and psychedelic music....
, She Had A Cameltoe 7" (30Gone) - Jay ReatardJay ReatardJimmy Lee Lindsey Jr. , better known by the stage name Jay Reatard, was an American musician from Memphis, Tennessee. Lindsey was signed to Matador Records...
, I Know a Place 7", (31Gone) - Final Solutions, Songs by Solutions LP/CD, (32Gone)
- Harlan T. Bobo, I'm Your Man LP/CD, (33Gone)
- HEADHeadIn anatomy, the head of an animal is the rostral part that usually comprises the brain, eyes, ears, nose and mouth . Some very simple animals may not have a head, but many bilaterally symmetric forms do....
, Spend the Night Alone/Killed by Death 7", (34Gone) - Carbonas, s/t LP/CD, (35Gone)
- Cococoma, s/t LP/CD, (36Gone)
- Ross JohnsonRoss JohnsonRoss Johnson may refer to:*Ross Johnson , Cardiff Blues rugby union player*F. Ross Johnson , Canadian businessman*Ross Johnson , United States professional lacrosse player...
, Make It Stop! CD, (37Gone) - Crowbar, Slade vs the Monkeys Booklet, (38Gone)
- Digital LeatherDigital LeatherDigital Leather is the musical project of multi-instrumentalist Shawn Foree. It is recognized for having characteristics of synth punk, New Wave, pop, lo-fi, and psychedelic music....
, "Sorcerer" LP/CD (39Gone) - BarbarasBarbarasBarbaras were Barbarians who got mention in the Indian epic Mahabharata. They were mentioned along with the Yavanas, Sakas and Kambojas....
. "Summertime Road" 7" (40Gone) - Eddy Current Suppression RingEddy Current Suppression RingEddy Current Suppression Ring is a Melbourne-based Australian rock group which rose to prominence in 2008.-Biography:The band formed in 2003 when several band members started jamming at the Christmas party at a vinyl pressing plant where they worked. They encouraged now-lead singer Brendan...
, "Primary Colours" LP/CD (41Gone) - Ty SegallTy SegallTy Segall is an American musician and songwriter. He sings, plays guitar and drums. He has released four solo albums and is a member of the bands The Traditional Fools, Epsilons, Party Fowl, Sic Alps, and The Perverts.-Recording career:...
"Lemons" LP/CD
External references
- Christmas, Shane Jesse. "An Interview with Eric Oblivian" "www.furious.com". August 2000. Accessed June 8, 2007.
- "Goner Records" "www.livefrommemphis.com". Accessed June 9, 2007.
- "Goner Fest 3 Hits Memphis Thursday" "www.victimoftime.com". Accessed September 26, 2007.
- http://www.breakthruradio.com/index.php?b=artist.php?id=129 Harlan T. Bobo-BreakThru Radio Artist of the Week