Green Day and record labels

[924Nimrod]

Okay, Green Day has been on Reprise Records now for a long ass time. BJ started up Adeline Records, and the only GD releases on there are vinyl only. I think GD could leave Reprise, and make Adeline their home, and they (and the label) would survive just because of them. Anyone else agree? Also, look at Social Distortion. In 1990 they went from an indie label to a major, Epic Records. They achieved sucess, but in 1997 they left the majors and went back to a indie, Time Bomb Recordings. They are still surviving, they didn't go back "under the radar." Another thing, Social Distortion got the same thing GD when signing to a major label, their punk "credability" went away somewhat (in some people's eyes.) But they gained that back when going back the the indies. I think GD would get a ton of "cred" if they left Reprise and stayed with Adeline (not that they care about the "cred")

[netty]

surviving is one thing... actually having the amount of support that green day needs to keep the fan base happyu.. indie wont work. indies just dont have the abilityto put records out in the amount that huge fan bases demand.

[Fuzz]

I think it'd be interesting if they left for Adeline. But then you know people would just be accusing Billie Joe of trying to make even more money by using his own label.

And i'm not sure if Adeline would be able to handle the amount of stuff Warner does (as far as promotions) for Green Day. It's like they're already using the infrastructure enabled by a major label.

[mbk]

Like netty and Andres have said, it just wouldn't work. Green Day is too big. They left Lookout because they were getting too popular, even with 39/Smooth and Kerplunk, which didn't have nearly the kind of sales their later albums did, and it was getting out of hand.

Look at the FHT, which is only a side project, and how much attention it has received. A small label would find even that project difficult to handle.

[Joey]

Warner are as much an ad agency for Green Day as they are a record label. Adeline wouldn't have a tenth of Warners budget for MTV exposure and the like.

[mbk]

^I think the members of Green Day would be perfectly happy to do away with the marketing aspect of their music. That's what they did with the Foxboro Hot Tubs. (At least so far.)

They've never seemed particularly thrilled to appear on TRL, or to be part of the whole publicity machine that surrounds the mainstream music business. It's just part of the deal.

[Countrygirl]

^I think the members of Green Day would be perfectly happy to do away with the marketing aspect of their music. That's what they did with the Foxboro Hot Tubs. (At least so far.)

They've never seemed particularly thrilled to appear on TRL, or to be part of the whole publicity machine that surrounds the mainstream music business. It's just part of the deal.

agreed. They wondered if it was the right choice to sign up to a big record company and get in the mainstream in the first place.

[Joey]

^I think the members of Green Day would be perfectly happy to do away with the marketing aspect of their music. That's what they did with the Foxboro Hot Tubs. (At least so far.)

They've never seemed particularly thrilled to appear on TRL, or to be part of the whole publicity machine that surrounds the mainstream music business. It's just part of the deal.

They said they wanted to be the biggest band in the world. Even they know that any publicity is good publicity.

[Hermione]

^I think the members of Green Day would be perfectly happy to do away with the marketing aspect of their music. That's what they did with the Foxboro Hot Tubs. (At least so far.)

They've never seemed particularly thrilled to appear on TRL, or to be part of the whole publicity machine that surrounds the mainstream music business. It's just part of the deal.

I agree.

I can see that a major label is necessary for them to operate on such a large scale, it's just a shame that it can sometimes limit them. For example, take Bullet In A Bible. It's nice an' all, but it's hardly a good representation of a Green Day show. They cut out any pre-Dookie songs and Knowledge, which is one of the main attractions of the show. I'm sure that decision was down to Warners, and that kind of thing does no good for the band.

[Scotty Did]

I can't believe no one hit on this yet.

MONEY

everything costs money.

Studio Time inparticular. Warnier is the bank-roll that funded The Network-American Idiot- and The Hot Tubs.

I don't think that they really expected the tubs to take of like they did. and everthing like the change of the dates and stuff is a byproduct of the record company stumbleing over itself to corect it.

but the fact is that adeline does not have enough money to finance all the shit Green Day does. every city for every show last tour I'm sure they had to spend a shit load money to make it happen

permits, rental fees, transportation. people don't realize how much a simple couch bus costs to rent for just like one day.

Green Day are in a stage where they are playing stadiums and arenas and they have a fan base that is to big for smaller venues and that is the differance.

also I believe tey are over the cred thing and are just trying to have fun and make music, they are not tryingto be punk, they are just haveing fun. and tom me that is the punkest thing there is.

I mean if they change to an indie lable just to get cred then they sell out. they are perpously makeing a carear move to reach a differant type of fan base and that would make them a bunch of tools and total sell outs.

the reason that the vinyls are on there is probably cause the guys wanted to release them on yinyl and billie did it through the his lable cause Repries woudn't finance it.

Also adeline is under the Warner umbrella just like Repries which just makes it a Lable and not an indie label.a really good example of a real indie lable would be Fat Wreck Chords but...

Adeline is under Warner's Indepenrent lable group and I believe it's actually owned by East West Records which is the lable under the Indepentent Lable Group

[FJ]

Adeline would collapse. To be able to support GD fully, they'd have to massively expand, and they (as a company) just wouldn't have the collateral to support such a rapid expansion. And that would turn Adeline into a 'major', so would incense the HXCORE PUNX and Green Day would have to go through the sell-outs thing again. Or something like that.

[Scotty Did]

I agree.

I can see that a major label is necessary for them to operate on such a large scale, it's just a shame that it can sometimes limit them. For example, take Bullet In A Bible. It's nice an' all, but it's hardly a good representation of a Green Day show. They cut out any pre-Dookie songs and Knowledge, which is one of the main attractions of the show. I'm sure that decision was down to Warners, and that kind of thing does no good for the band.

The thing about BIAB is that it was not a suppose to be a "live DVD" in the likes of AC/DC Live At Donnington. but A Concert Movie., Like lynyrd skynyrd's Free Bird, or AC/DC's Let There Be Rock.

The Differance between the 2 is simply the interviews. The interview/cutsceen parts are what make it a Concert Movie. as opposed to Live at donning ton wich was just a full concert chater and all, with any interviews as a bonus feature.

And.. because it was a "MOVIE" the accompaneing CD was actually The Sound Track. which is why it only features the songs featured in the movie.

[Mommy's Little Nightmare]

Green Day on Adeline would be cool, but I think they're better off on Reprise. I mean, they've been there for years, and they seem to be pretty happy there, otherwise- they'd have left.

Besides that, the whole 'cred' thing- I don't think that's what they're all about. I mean, obviously the whole outcast thing with Gilman when they first signed sucked, but I don't think it matters anymore. After all, there was the impromtu Green Day show there a few years back, as well as the Pinhead shows.

It really seems the guys just have the point of view that if you like them- great. If not- oh well.

[924Nimrod]

surviving is one thing... actually having the amount of support that green day needs to keep the fan base happyu.. indie wont work. indies just dont have the abilityto put records out in the amount that huge fan bases demand.

Ah, but look at Epitaph Records. They are the largest indie record label in the world. They released The Offspring's "Smash" which sold 16 million albums world wide, the largest selling independant album ever.

I think it could be pulled off.

[Laura33]

But why move? They seem happy with Reprise, they have total artistic control. They have been with Reprise for 15 years. If it ain't broke don't fix it....

[Mommy's Little Nightmare]

Ah, but look at Epitaph Records. They are the largest indie record label in the world. They released The Offspring's "Smash" which sold 16 million albums world wide, the largest selling independant album ever.

I think it could be pulled off.

Maybe, but why would they want it to be?

[Mommy's Little Nightmare]

Besides that- like others have said, if Green Day moves to Adeline, they have to deal with all the merchandising and promotion and the likes.

Why would they want to do that when the MUSIC is what they love? Let everyone else on Reprise deal with their promo and shit, and let them deal with making their music. That's what they're good at.

[Hermione]

I know it wouldn't work for Green Day to not be on a major label, but it does seem like the label has a little too much control sometimes. Surely they wouldn't have agreed to those lame ringtones if it wasn't for Warners. When I see them doing things they clearly aren't enjoying (eg presenting video countdowns), I wonder why they don't use their considerable power to say no more often.

[Mommy's Little Nightmare]

I know it wouldn't work for Green Day to not be on a major label, but it does seem like the label has a little too much control sometimes. Surely they wouldn't have agreed to those lame ringtones if it wasn't for Warners. When I see them doing things they clearly aren't enjoying (eg presenting video countdowns), I wonder why they don't use their considerable power to say no more often.

Well, I don't know about the ring tones...

But things like video countdowns are kind of a necessary evil, like most of their tv appearances. It's the promo stuff that the band actually can do. It gets attention towards whatever they're doing, eyes on them, maybe some new people, and alot of times- the fans enjoy it. There always seems to be demand for Green Day to make appearances, statements, and whatever else they do.

[FilmAdaptation]

I believe Green Day is still in contract are they not?

[Hermione]

Well, I don't know about the ring tones...

But things like video countdowns are kind of a necessary evil, like most of their tv appearances. It's the promo stuff that the band actually can do. It gets attention towards whatever they're doing, eyes on them, maybe some new people, and alot of times- the fans enjoy it. There always seems to be demand for Green Day to make appearances, statements, and whatever else they do.

Yeah I can see most of the stuff they do is necessary, don't get me wrong, I enjoy a lot of it. I just feel that some of the extra stuff they do detracts from the band, rather than giving them a better image. I think Warners sometimes tries to present them in a kind of sanitized way that doesn't accurately represent them. When I had only seen them on MTV and through their music videos, I had a totally different impression of the band compared to now. Obviously this is part and parcel of being in a successful band, it's just a tad annoying.

[NickD]

the band had to pull the Network from Adeline and re-release them on Warner. do you honestly think Green Day could do it? I think them putting out their singles on Adeline is enough

I believe Green Day is still in contract are they not?

no, they are not, unless they've renewed it. their original contract was a 5-album deal. i dont know what they do now. but, they probably have a similar deal that anti-flag does with whoever they're signed to. so the band has all rights to songs/art/touring/everything now. Reprise was on it's last thread before Dookie. now every rock band and it's mother wants to sign to Reprise/warner

[bjrules]

i think green day are too popular to leave reprise and go to adeline.

[Trina]

I don't think an indie (esp as small as Adeline) could handle the massive amount of work that goes with a band as popular as Green Day...It would be nice because they would be so free but to be honest they havent changed artistically becuse of signing to Reprise so I dont think it matters too much...

Also I dont know if Mike and Tré would be as happy as Billie to go on his label??

It would be nice in a way but I just dont think its possible really...well its possible but not a smart move I guess if youre looking at it from a businessy point of view

[M1KEY]

But why move? They seem happy with Reprise, they have total artistic control. They have been with Reprise for 15 years. If it ain't broke don't fix it....

I certainly hope they do, because they didn't always. Platypus (I Hate You) was written for 'insomniac', but Warner wouldn't allow it on the album. They finally got the go-ahead to put it on 'nimrod.', but they weren't allowed to print the lyrics on the booklet. Fascists.