Amphetamine Reptile Records

{{Short description|American record label}}

{{Infobox record label

| name = Amphetamine Reptile Records

| image = Amphetamine reptile.jpg

| founded = {{start date|1986}}

| founder = Tom Hazelmyer

| distributor = Twin/Tone Records

| genre = Noise rock

| country = U.S.

| location = Minneapolis, Minnesota

| website = {{URL|shoxop.com/}}

}}

Amphetamine Reptile Records (or AmRep Industries) is a record label{{cite web| last=Riemenschneider|first=Chris| date=October 3, 2005|title=A new Atmosphere for local music label|url=http://www.startribune.com/389/story/57624.html|publisher=Star Tribune|access-date=2007-08-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926222448/http://www.startribune.com/389/story/57624.html|archive-date=26 September 2007|url-status=dead}} founded in 1986 by Tom Hazelmyer in Washington state. The label specializes in noise rock and also released Strap It On, the debut album by alternative metal band Helmet which sold more than 40,000 records. According to Hazelmyer, the success of the album was vital to keeping AmRep going throughout the 1990s, as it "helped support the other things that sold less."{{Citation | last = Clark | first = Rick | title = Give Them One Good Region: Local Labels Congregate In Cities Where Talent Gathers | newspaper = Billboard | pages = 114 | date = 25 February 1995 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=4gsEAAAAMBAJ&q=omnium&pg=PA1 | access-date = 19 April 2015 }} The label was the subject of the 2015 documentary The Color of Noise.{{cite web |title=Amphetamine Reptile Records Documentary The Color Of Noise |url=https://music.mxdwn.com/2015/10/13/news/amphetamine-reptile-records-documentary-the-color-of-noise-announced-for-november-2015-release/ |website=mxdwn.com |date=13 October 2015 |access-date=27 June 2020}}

History

Hazelmyer originally started the label to release records by his band, Halo of Flies. Eventually the label's roster expanded to include releases by Helmet, Melvins, Cows, Helios Creed, Chokebore, Servotron and others. Hazelmyer later moved the label to Minneapolis. Today the label is used by the Melvins, H•O•F and other legacy AmRep acts to release limited edition vinyl. These releases are generally noted for their Linocut artwork,{{cite web |title=Amphetamine Reptile's Tom Hazelmyer: The Cream Interview |url=https://www.nashvillescene.com/music/article/13054083/amphetamine-reptiles-tom-hazelmyer-the-cream-interview |website=nashvillescene |date=29 May 2014 |access-date=17 February 2021}} hand carved by Hazelmyer, their limited availability and their highly sought after nature as collector's items.

Much of the AmRep back catalog is now out of print, although many of the releases are available in digital download format and streaming.[http://www.markprindle.com/hazelmyer-i.htm Tom Hazelmyer interview on MarkPrindle.com]. 2005.

On May 13, 2020 Tom Hazelmyer participated in an in-depth interview about the label on Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal.{{cite web |title=Protonic Reversal Ep169: Tom Hazelmyer (Amphetamine Reptile) |url=https://www.protonicreversal.com/ep169-tom-hazelmyer-amphetamine-reptile/ |website=protonicreversal.com |date=14 May 2020 |access-date=27 June 2020}}

Artists

Notable performances

  • Cosmic Psychos / Hammerhead / Surgery / Cows / Melvins / Helmet - the CMJ / Amphetamine Reptile Tour - Friday, October 30, 1992, at The Ritz

Discography

{{main|Amphetamine Reptile Records discography}}

See also

References