Lookout! Records have long since been a stepping stone
for California based punk rock acts, such as Rancid, The
Donnas, and most notably Green Day. First established in 1987
by Larry Livermore and David Hayes in 1989, Hayes left the
label leaving Livermore as the sole operator, who sold the label
to in 1997 to Chris Applegren, who began as an employee of
Lookout! In 1988.
From the beginning of their conception in 1987, Lookout!
Has released primarily punk rock albums in the vein of pop
punk including releases by such acts as Screeching Weasel,
The Mr. T Experience, The Queers, Sweet Baby, and Squirtgun
among others.
In recent years a number of former Lookout! Artist have
ended their relationships with the label, often rescinding their
rights to their master recordings and even re-issuing their
albums through other labels. Some bands have even cited
disputes over breech of contract and unpaid royalties. Among
the bands that have had issues with the label are The
Screeching Weasels, Vail, The Pansy Division, The Riverdales,
and The Queers. On August 1, 2005 Green Day became the
largest former member of the Lookout! Roaster to rescind their
masters from the label forcing Lookout! to lay off it’s staff and
halt new releases for the remainder of the year.
Lookout! Records turned 20 years old in 2008 and still offers a
large catlog of punk rock records offered through CD, Vinyl,
and digitally. The Lookout! Records roaster consist of three
acts currently, Mr. T Experience, The Oranges Band and The
Smugglers.
for California based punk rock acts, such as Rancid, The
Donnas, and most notably Green Day. First established in 1987
by Larry Livermore and David Hayes in 1989, Hayes left the
label leaving Livermore as the sole operator, who sold the label
to in 1997 to Chris Applegren, who began as an employee of
Lookout! In 1988.
From the beginning of their conception in 1987, Lookout!
Has released primarily punk rock albums in the vein of pop
punk including releases by such acts as Screeching Weasel,
The Mr. T Experience, The Queers, Sweet Baby, and Squirtgun
among others.
In recent years a number of former Lookout! Artist have
ended their relationships with the label, often rescinding their
rights to their master recordings and even re-issuing their
albums through other labels. Some bands have even cited
disputes over breech of contract and unpaid royalties. Among
the bands that have had issues with the label are The
Screeching Weasels, Vail, The Pansy Division, The Riverdales,
and The Queers. On August 1, 2005 Green Day became the
largest former member of the Lookout! Roaster to rescind their
masters from the label forcing Lookout! to lay off it’s staff and
halt new releases for the remainder of the year.
Lookout! Records turned 20 years old in 2008 and still offers a
large catlog of punk rock records offered through CD, Vinyl,
and digitally. The Lookout! Records roaster consist of three
acts currently, Mr. T Experience, The Oranges Band and The
Smugglers.
Eric Mueller might not be a common house hold name, but you can
bet your ass that he is more important than the Paris-es and the
Jolie-Pitts your mama prattles on and on about. Mueller and his
Pirates Press operations are leaders in the underground scene,
pressing records (here meaning making a vinyl record) for acts
from Madonna and My Chemical Romance to the Aggrolites and
the Lucky Stiffs, all the while keeping the gig punk-rock to its multi-
million dollar core. “We are a manufacturing company and there are
not many people out there with the ability to do what we do, not
even mentioning the care we put into it... People come to us from
all countries and all walks of life looking to press records. We
press records for Warner Brothers and we press records for
Johnny Punk band down the street (those are usually the ones we
end up listening to, hehe)... but we give everyone the same love!
Some different prices in some cases, perhaps, but the same love.
That is why we are so successful at keeping our customers happy
and coming back. That and the quality of our vinyl and our service
is virtually unparalleled...”
In 2004, Pirates Press fired up the machines after Mueller was
ripped off by the gent that got him started in the whole pressing
industry. He took the contacts that he and the un-named fellow
had made and used the support from his friends and family to
“hoist the flag” on Pirates Press. Keeping the business small and
completely DIY, the company is fueled by the hard work of ten full
timers and half a dozen part timers crammed into a single office, all
working as a single unit instead of individuals. It is this family
connection that entices the “smaller” bands into signing on with
the company. Well, that vibe, and the fact that Pirate Press has
done wonders for acts that most pressing companies would sell
their lesser minions for. When asked if the larger names ever scare
off some of the more independent bands Mueller was quick to shut
the idea down. “Nah, people love it... ‘Hey, if someone trusted
those assholes with 73k Madonna records, I bet they'll do
a good job on out 500 7's’... and you better damn well
believe it!”
bet your ass that he is more important than the Paris-es and the
Jolie-Pitts your mama prattles on and on about. Mueller and his
Pirates Press operations are leaders in the underground scene,
pressing records (here meaning making a vinyl record) for acts
from Madonna and My Chemical Romance to the Aggrolites and
the Lucky Stiffs, all the while keeping the gig punk-rock to its multi-
million dollar core. “We are a manufacturing company and there are
not many people out there with the ability to do what we do, not
even mentioning the care we put into it... People come to us from
all countries and all walks of life looking to press records. We
press records for Warner Brothers and we press records for
Johnny Punk band down the street (those are usually the ones we
end up listening to, hehe)... but we give everyone the same love!
Some different prices in some cases, perhaps, but the same love.
That is why we are so successful at keeping our customers happy
and coming back. That and the quality of our vinyl and our service
is virtually unparalleled...”
In 2004, Pirates Press fired up the machines after Mueller was
ripped off by the gent that got him started in the whole pressing
industry. He took the contacts that he and the un-named fellow
had made and used the support from his friends and family to
“hoist the flag” on Pirates Press. Keeping the business small and
completely DIY, the company is fueled by the hard work of ten full
timers and half a dozen part timers crammed into a single office, all
working as a single unit instead of individuals. It is this family
connection that entices the “smaller” bands into signing on with
the company. Well, that vibe, and the fact that Pirate Press has
done wonders for acts that most pressing companies would sell
their lesser minions for. When asked if the larger names ever scare
off some of the more independent bands Mueller was quick to shut
the idea down. “Nah, people love it... ‘Hey, if someone trusted
those assholes with 73k Madonna records, I bet they'll do
a good job on out 500 7's’... and you better damn well
believe it!”
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