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More Previously Indie Bands Sign To The Man

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by Adie Nunn
Not happy enough with Hope Of The States signing to Sony? Then how about Rancid, who have dumped long-time home Epitaph Records and inked a deal with Warner Brothers.

The major label is set to release the punk band's sixth album at the end of August. The CD is produced by Epitaph head Brett Gurewitz. It's their first album since 2000's self-titled release. The band headline the Vans Warped Tour in America, which starts next week.

Meanwhile, Hollywood Records has signed the Polyphonic Spree. As if keeping a 24-piece band on the road isn't expensive enough, the deal includes the label getting a cut of the group's touring proceeds. Cheers.

But Spree mainman Tim DeLaughter sees sense in the decision. He told Billboard magazine: "I didn't have any hesitation about giving up touring money because I knew if we were going to continue to let our live show flourish, we needed help."

The good thing about the contract will see master tapes eventually reverting back to the band.

The chairman of Hollywood's daddy company, Buena Vista Music, intends to spread the Spree gospel via Disney - that includes TV, their theatrical division, theme parks, and the ABC network. DeLaughter is already planning to make a children's album for the Walt Disney label.

Their second album will be released next year. In the meantime, 'The Beginning Stages Of...' will be reissued this month with a bonus 4-track CD.


More Previously Indie Bands Sign To The Man

What a surprise about Rancid signing to a major... After the band constantly went on about how they refused several lucrative deals in order to stay independent. Fat Mike alleges that the band were all for it and he persuaded them to stay on Epitaph, while rumour has it that the reason Operation Ivy split was that Tim wanted to leave Lookout and sign with a major. How very hypocritical. Not that I care, as long as the music stays consistently brilliant.

Poly Spree

I take the Hollywood deal is in the US, "Good Records" - on which "The Beginning Stages Of..." appears is licensed to 679 in the UK and therefore handled by Warner. I assumed they were staying with that arrangement for the time being?

Re: Poly Spree

What are you wittering on about you coporate boy?