Show Notes
In States of Independence hear first-hand the stories behind the world's greatest independent record labels. The series includes new interviews with luminaries signed along the way, including Gary Numan, Pete Murphy, Brix Smith and founder Martin Mills. All of them come together to tell the story of an organisation with the spirit of punk rock baked into its very DNA.
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More from States of Independence
Welcome back to States of Independence! This special episode goes deep into the story of Trunk Records, home of The Wicker Man soundtrack, Joe Harriott's Hum Dono, Michael Garrick's Moonscape, the music from Kes, Bod, The Clangers and so much more. Our guide on this grooviest of trips? The label's founder, Jonny Trunk. We discuss the avant-garde music under films of microbes on The Open University, Valerie Leon, high-end intellectuals, Jo Guest eating a banana, hidden worlds, music for washing up to, getting sampled on huge records made by “very cool weirdos”, Robin Hardy and the incredible story of The Wicker Man soundtrack. Who had 35,000 unsold records in their basement? (clue: it wasn't Jonny) and how do you never lose any money on anything? We discuss Harold McNair and “beautiful, miserable” British Jazz, how having lunch with Oliver Postgate was like “sitting with a god”, celebrating the corners of recorded music that everyone else has forgotten, the filthy fan letters to glamour models that are “ten times funnier than anything at Edinburgh Festival”, “Ian’s Pigs”, and the baffling genius of the late Basil Kirchin. Also, missing the classic Stark Reality Discovers Hoagy Carmichael's Music Shop album by a week, the brilliant British electronic soundtrack that was described by its creator as, “that old shit”, the real story of Trunk’s actual hit single, The Ladies Bras, the amazing Janet Beat (who listened to trees) and so much more! Who should I do next? Let me know in the comments - or find me @rob_fitzpatrick on IG or email me [email protected] Thank you for listening 🙌 Host / Executive producer: Rob Fitzpatrick Producer / Editor: Fabio Fitzpatrick
In this last episode of the series we’re at the end of the 90s, a time when Beggars Banquet were signing a lot of guitar bands, but finding it hard to get any of them away. Derby’s own The Beekeepers struggled - the band’s ex-singer Jamie breaks down exactly why. Another that soldiered on and broke internationally was Biffy Clyro, but only after they’d left the label, as Biffy’s singer Simon Neil explains. In 2008 the Beggars Banquet label was shuttered and some artists were moved to 4AD - one of them was The National - and singer Matt Berninger talks us through that whole process. As ever, Beggars boss Martin Mills speaks with striking openness and honesty about these huge decisions of the past and the future of the Beggars Group.
Beggars contains multitudes. Here, three very different acts from its storied roster share their own experiences of the label. Buffalo Tom’s Bill Janowitz recalls emerging from the same Amherst alt rock scene that birthed Dinosaur Jr and happily stumbling into the line up of one of his all-time favourite labels. Then, Trevor Tanner tells the story of The Bolshoi – another act who seemed poised to take it all. Finally, Aki Nawaz and Natacha Atlas bring us the story of Fundamental, Transglobal Underground and Nation Records.
Bonus time! A story so compelling, we thought it deserved its very own episode. Behold: the full account of the fire that gutted Rick Rubin’s studio, destroyed all of Love and Rockets’ gear, and had everyone involved swearing never to dabble with a ouija board ever again. Featuring a scene-stealing walk-on from Throbbing Gristle’s General P. Orridge, and the most hair-raising description of a voodoo doll you’re ever likely to encounter. Buckle up, kiddos, things are about to take a turn for the paranormal…
When Love and Rockets tentatively emerged from the ashes of Bauhaus, Daniel Ash and David J were mainly looking for a way to get out of the shadow of their first, totemic project, and to have a little fun in the process. Little did they know that Love and Rockets would offer them so much more: a route into a whole new phase of music history, as legends in their own right. Here, the two of them reflect on the heliotropic instinct to move towards something new and bright as the gloom of the 80s gave way to the Second Summer of Love…