Editing Epitaph Records (section)

==History==

===Early years (1980s)===
[[Brett Gurewitz]] formed Epitaph Records as a vehicle for releases by his band [[Bad Religion]].<ref name="Larkin">Larkin, Colin (1999) "Epitaph Records" in ''The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock'', Virgin Books, {{ISBN|0-7535-0257-7}}, p. 150</ref> The name had been taken from the [[King Crimson]] [[Cold War]] protest song "[[Epitaph (song)|Epitaph]]" from which the lyrics "Confusion will be my epitaph." had struck a chord with Brett and Greg when they were young.<ref>{{cite journal | title=Against the Grain: The Oral History of Epitaph Records | author=Buhrmester, Jason | journal=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |date=November 2010 | pages=62 | issn=0886-3032 }}</ref> Its first release for the label was Bad Religion's 1981 [[Bad Religion (EP)|self-titled]] EP, followed by their debut ''[[How Could Hell Be Any Worse?]]'', which was also the label's first full-length release. Also released during this period was ''[[Peace thru Vandalism]]'', an EP by [[the Vandals]], who were the first band besides Bad Religion to sign to Epitaph. Two more Bad Religion releases followed – ''[[Into the Unknown (Bad Religion album)|Into the Unknown]]'' and the EP ''[[Back to the Known]]'' – before their temporary split. After Gurewitz had cleaned up his drug issues, both Epitaph and Bad Religion were revived in 1987. In the following year, Epitaph released its first record as a proper label, which was [[L7 (band)|L7]]'s [[L7 (album)|self-titled album]], and it was distributed by [[Chameleon (label)|Chameleon]]. Also in 1988, Bad Religion released ''[[Suffer (album)|Suffer]]'', which was both released and distributed by Epitaph.

In 1989, Gurewitz signed [[NOFX]] to Epitaph. They released their debut for the label, ''[[S&M Airlines]]'', that same year, featuring the video for its title track and the cover of [[Fleetwood Mac]]'s "[[Go Your Own Way]]", which featured guest vocals by Gurewitz and [[Greg Graffin]], also a member of Bad Religion. This was followed by Bad Religion's next two albums – ''[[No Control (Bad Religion album)|No Control]]'' and ''[[Against the Grain (Bad Religion album)|Against the Grain]]'' – which sold 60,000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebrpage.net/theanswer/?article=no%5Fcontrol%5F%28album%29|title=No Control (album) – The Answer – The Bad Religion Page – Since 1995|access-date=June 7, 2015}}</ref> and 100,000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebrpage.net/theanswer/?article=against_the_grain_(album)|title=Against The Grain (album) – The Answer – The Bad Religion Page – Since 1995|access-date=June 7, 2015}}</ref> copies respectively.

===Breakthrough success (1990s)===
By 1993, more punk acts had signed to Epitaph, and the label relocated to new offices in [[Silver Lake, Los Angeles]].<ref name="Larkin" />

Although [[Bad Religion]] was the founding band of Epitaph, releasing their early records through the label, they switched over to [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]] in 1993, with ''[[Recipe for Hate]]'' being their first record outside of the label. Brett Gurewitz is thought to have left Bad Religion as a result of internal disputes, but actually left the band in 1994 so he could run Epitaph full-time.

===Change in style (2000s)===
In 2001, Brett Gurewitz returned to Bad Religion, and the band returned to Epitaph Records,<ref name="Piccoli">Piccoli, Sean (2002) "Punk's been good to bad religion", ''[[South Florida Sun-Sentinel]]'', March 1, 2002, p. 36</ref> releasing seven more albums, the latest being ''[[Age of Unreason (album)|Age of Unreason]]'' (2019).

In mid-2005 Epitaph was added to the official list of [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]] members<ref name="RIAA Member List">{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/aboutus.php?content_selector=aboutus_members|title=RIAA – default members – June 07, 2015|publisher=Record Industry Association of America|year=2015|access-date=June 7, 2015}}</ref> along with several other high-profile independent labels. The reason for the listing is not clear, but one source points to an agreement for internet [[Peer-to-peer|P2P]] distribution.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news|title=News|date=April 30, 2017|publisher=National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences}}</ref> Another source claims label management joined RIAA to get certified sales awards (i.e., official "Gold" or "Platinum" record status) for releases. This sparked some controversy as some feel they should no longer be labeled independent if they are a member of the RIAA.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mammothpress.com/index.php?area=readmore&pid=3954|title=Mammoth Press|access-date=June 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303183705/http://www.mammothpress.com/index.php?area=readmore&pid=3954|archive-date=March 3, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, the only source that has actually been used for these claims of membership is the official RIAA membership list, which has been disputed.<ref name=" RIAA Member List"/> As of this writing, not only is Epitaph listed as an official member but [[Lookout! Records]] is once again listed, after being falsely listed before. In addition, [[Fat Wreck Chords]] has released statements denying their own involvement in the RIAA, condemning the organization.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fatwreck.com/community/faq|title=F.A.Q.: Community: Fat Wreck Chords|access-date=June 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214073716/http://www.fatwreck.com/community/faq|archive-date=February 14, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Recent years (2010s)===
Epitaph signed [[Weezer]] in 2010, the label releasing ''[[Hurley (album)|Hurley]]'' later that year.<ref name="Luerssen">Luerssen, John D. (2010) "[http://www.spinnermusic.co.uk/2010/08/05/weezer-epitaph-hurley-new-album/ Weezer Sign to Epitaph, Announce 'Hurley' Album]{{Dead link|date=March 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}", Spinner, August 5, 2010. Retrieved May 8, 2011</ref> The label signed [[Social Distortion]] in the same year.<ref>Goodman, Dean (2010) "[https://web.archive.org/web/20160201115156/http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-50783420100811 Rock band Weezer honors 'Lost' star on new album]", [[Reuters]], August 11, 2010. Retrieved May 8, 2011</ref> Epitaph signed [[Australia]]n punk band [[Dangerous!]] in 2011 and released album ''Teenage Rampage''. Epitaph had also signed the Canadian punk rock band [[Propagandhi]]. The label has also been more active in signing bands from the [[emo revival]] including [[The Menzingers]], [[Joyce Manor]], [[Pianos Become the Teeth]], [[Defeater (band)|Defeater]], [[the World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die]], and [[Touché Amoré]].