Mordam Records
Encyclopedia
Mordam Records was a Sacramento, California
record distribution company for independent record label
s. It was originally founded in San Francisco in 1983
as an independent punk
distribution company by Ruth Schwartz (one of the original co-editors of Maximum RocknRoll
). Mordam was the exclusive distributor for dozens of punk rock and independent record labels throughout the 1980s and 90s, gaining a reputation as one of the few "distros" that paid their labels on time. Some of these labels included Lookout! Records
, Frank Kozik
's Man's Ruin
, Kill Rock Stars
, Jade Tree
, and most notably Jello Biafra
's Alternative Tentacles Records and Long Gone John
's Sympathy for the Record Industry
, two labels whose most popular releases were by the Dead Kennedys
and The White Stripes
, respectively. Mordam also became the exclusive distributor of Maximum Rock 'N Roll magazine in 1984. The distributor also released records on its own in-house record label in the mid-to-late 80s, detailed below. In every instance, Mordam positioned itself as an independent music industry entity successfully operating outside the influence of major record labels or their artists.
Following the departure of Lookout! Records and Man's Ruin from its distribution network in 2000, Schwartz moved the company to its current Sacramento location. She subsequently sold Mordam outright to Lumberjack Distribution in 2005. It continued as a part of the Lumberjack Mordam Music Group. With record sales in decline, the company later went out of business.
Bands released by Mordam Records' label included Faith No More
, The Ex, Negativland
, the Rhythm Pigs
, Victim's Family
, and Mannequin Beach. Most of these releases have been out of print for years.
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
record distribution company for independent record label
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:...
s. It was originally founded in San Francisco in 1983
1983 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1983.-January-April:*January – ZTT Records is founded.*January 8 – The UK singles chart is tabulated from this week forward by The Gallup Organization...
as an independent 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...
distribution company by Ruth Schwartz (one of the original co-editors of Maximum RocknRoll
Maximum RocknRoll
Maximum rocknroll is a widely distributed, monthly not-for-profit fanzine based in San Francisco, USA. It features interviews, columns, and reviews from international contributors...
). Mordam was the exclusive distributor for dozens of punk rock and independent record labels throughout the 1980s and 90s, gaining a reputation as one of the few "distros" that paid their labels on time. Some of these labels included Lookout! Records
Lookout! Records
-History:Larry Livermore and David Hayes formed the label in 1987. From the start, Lookout released punk rock records, but over time expanded its scope to include various types of pop rock, reggae fusion, acoustic rock, pop punk, and indie rock...
, Frank Kozik
Frank Kozik
Frank Kozik is an American graphic artist who has worked with Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Melvins, The Offspring and Butthole Surfers. Kozik runs Man's Ruin Records, a media outlet and record label, and has published several books including Man's Ruin:...
's Man's Ruin
Man's Ruin Records
Man's Ruin Records was an independent record label, owned and founded by Bay Area artist Frank Kozik. After the 1994 release of Man's Ruin's first record, entitled Experimental Audio Research : Delta 6, Kozik worked with artists who he wanted to release; he also designed all of the sleeve art for...
, Kill Rock Stars
Kill Rock Stars
Kill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in 1991 by Slim Moon and based in both Olympia, Washington and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, making it difficult to pigeonhole as having any one artistic mission...
, Jade Tree
Jade Tree Records
Jade Tree International, Inc. was an independent record label formed by Darren Walters and Tim Owen in August 1991, out of Wilmington, Delaware....
, and most notably Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra is an American musician, spoken word artist and leading figure of the Green Party of the United States. Biafra first gained attention as the lead singer and songwriter for San Francisco punk rock band Dead Kennedys...
's Alternative Tentacles Records and Long Gone John
Long Gone John
Long Gone John is an American entrepreneur who is best known for his record label Sympathy for the Record Industry and his vinyl toy company Necessaries Toy Foundation. He lived in Long Beach, California for 30 years, but relocated to Olympia, Washington in 2007.-History:Long Gone John was born...
's Sympathy for the Record Industry
Sympathy for the Record Industry
Sympathy for the Record Industry is a mainly independent garage rock and punk label formed in 1988 by record industry anti-mogul Long Gone John...
, two labels whose most popular releases were by the Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys are an American punk rock band formed in San Francisco, California in 1978. The band became part of the American hardcore punk movement of the early 1980s. They gained a large underground fanbase in the international punk music scene....
and The White Stripes
The White Stripes
The White Stripes was an American rock band, formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. The group consisted of the songwriter Jack White and drummer Meg White . Jack and Meg White were previously married to each other, but are now divorced...
, respectively. Mordam also became the exclusive distributor of Maximum Rock 'N Roll magazine in 1984. The distributor also released records on its own in-house record label in the mid-to-late 80s, detailed below. In every instance, Mordam positioned itself as an independent music industry entity successfully operating outside the influence of major record labels or their artists.
Following the departure of Lookout! Records and Man's Ruin from its distribution network in 2000, Schwartz moved the company to its current Sacramento location. She subsequently sold Mordam outright to Lumberjack Distribution in 2005. It continued as a part of the Lumberjack Mordam Music Group. With record sales in decline, the company later went out of business.
Bands released by Mordam Records' label included Faith No More
Faith No More
Faith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed originally as Faith No Man in 1981 by bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist Wade Worthington, vocalist Michael Morris and drummer Mike Bordin. A year later when Worthington was replaced by keyboardist Roddy Bottum, and Mike...
, The Ex, Negativland
Negativland
Negativland is an experimental music and sound collage band which originated in the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 1970s. They took their name from a Neu! song, while their record label is named after another Neu! song...
, the Rhythm Pigs
Rhythm Pigs
This article is about the Texan punk rock band, for the Californian Rock band see Top Jimmy & The Rhythm PigsThe Rhythm Pigs were a punk band, originally from El Paso, Texas, later relocated to San Francisco. Their first two albums were among the first to be released by the influential independent...
, Victim's Family
Victim's Family
Victims Family is a punk band formed in 1984 in Santa Rosa, California by bassist Larry Boothroyd and guitarist and vocalist Ralph Spight. Drummer Devon VrMeer completed the trio. Their sound blended punk, heavy metal and jazz, making them difficult to categorize into a single genre...
, and Mannequin Beach. Most of these releases have been out of print for years.
Early releases
- Faith No MoreFaith No MoreFaith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed originally as Faith No Man in 1981 by bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist Wade Worthington, vocalist Michael Morris and drummer Mike Bordin. A year later when Worthington was replaced by keyboardist Roddy Bottum, and Mike...
We Care a LotWe Care a LotWe Care a Lot is the debut studio album by American rock band Faith No More, originally released in 1985 and distributed through San Francisco-based label Mordam Records. On the original vinyl release, the band is credited as "Faith...
, 1985 (cat #1) - Rhythm PigsRhythm PigsThis article is about the Texan punk rock band, for the Californian Rock band see Top Jimmy & The Rhythm PigsThe Rhythm Pigs were a punk band, originally from El Paso, Texas, later relocated to San Francisco. Their first two albums were among the first to be released by the influential independent...
self-titled, 1986 (cat #2) - Victim's FamilyVictim's FamilyVictims Family is a punk band formed in 1984 in Santa Rosa, California by bassist Larry Boothroyd and guitarist and vocalist Ralph Spight. Drummer Devon VrMeer completed the trio. Their sound blended punk, heavy metal and jazz, making them difficult to categorize into a single genre...
Voltage and Violets, 1986 (cat #3) - Rhythm PigsRhythm PigsThis article is about the Texan punk rock band, for the Californian Rock band see Top Jimmy & The Rhythm PigsThe Rhythm Pigs were a punk band, originally from El Paso, Texas, later relocated to San Francisco. Their first two albums were among the first to be released by the influential independent...
Choke on this, 1987 (cat #4) - The Ex Too Many CowboysToo Many CowboysToo Many Cowboys is the second double-album and first live album to be released by Dutch anarchist punk band The Ex. Released in 1987, Too Many Cowboys was the first of the Ex's records to be issued simultaneously in more than one country, having been released on the band's own Ex Records in the...
, 1987 (cat #5)
- Victim's FamilyVictim's FamilyVictims Family is a punk band formed in 1984 in Santa Rosa, California by bassist Larry Boothroyd and guitarist and vocalist Ralph Spight. Drummer Devon VrMeer completed the trio. Their sound blended punk, heavy metal and jazz, making them difficult to categorize into a single genre...
Things I Hate to Admit, 1988 - Mannequin Beach Don't Laugh,You're Next, 1988 (cat MDR6)
- Victim's FamilyVictim's FamilyVictims Family is a punk band formed in 1984 in Santa Rosa, California by bassist Larry Boothroyd and guitarist and vocalist Ralph Spight. Drummer Devon VrMeer completed the trio. Their sound blended punk, heavy metal and jazz, making them difficult to categorize into a single genre...
Son of a Church Card/Quivering Lip 7", 1988 - Victim's FamilyVictim's FamilyVictims Family is a punk band formed in 1984 in Santa Rosa, California by bassist Larry Boothroyd and guitarist and vocalist Ralph Spight. Drummer Devon VrMeer completed the trio. Their sound blended punk, heavy metal and jazz, making them difficult to categorize into a single genre...
White Bread Blues, 1990