Favorite Independent Record Labels #8 - Alternative Tentacles

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I love independent record labels. They give us fantastic music by bands we never would have heard otherwise. #8 in my Favorite Independent Record Labels series is Alternative Tentacles. Based in Emeryville, California, Alternative Tentacles was started in San Francisco, California by Dead Kennedy's guitarist East Bay Ray and Kennedy's vocalist Jello Biafra in 1979. Started primarily as a means to distribute Dead Kennedy's records, the label also released albums and singles by deserving punk bands such as Butthole Surfers, 7 Seconds, Alice Donut, and NoMeansNo. Still, according to Wikipedia, Dead Kennedy's albums accounted for half of the label's sales. Beginning in the year 2000, Alternative Tentacles and Jello Biafra became involved in a legal dispute with the rest of the band over royalties. The other band members were awarded $200,000, and Jello was awarded sole possession of Alternative Tentacles. The rest of the group also won the rights to all Dead Kennedy's albums, and promptly moved them to another label. I can't begin to tell you just how much great punk rock I've been able to hear over the years thanks to this label. I just hope Jello can keep it going. (Info verified by Wikipedia)