Fiction Records
Encyclopedia
Fiction Records is a UK label founded by Chris Parry in 1978 that is best known for being the home of The Cure
for over 20 years. Formerly independent, the label is now owned by Polydor, a subsidiary of Universal Music Group
.
In January 2004 Joe Munns, Paul Smernicki
and Jim Chancellor decided to revive Fiction to "give Polydor a bit more of a guitar stronghold", as their roster then consisted mostly of pop acts. The first release on the "new" Fiction was the Snow Patrol
single "Run
", which entered the UK chart at #5. The subsequent Snow Patrol
album Final Straw
has since gone on to sell over 2 million copies around the world.
The current Fiction stable includes Crystal Castles
, Ian Brown
, Snow Patrol
, The Maccabees
, Kate Nash
, Athlete
, Elbow
, White Lies
, Yuksek, Detroit Social Club
, and Filthy Dukes
.
Fiction has also released records by Stephen Fretwell
, Jacknife Lee
, Delays
, Alberta Cross
, Guillemots and Yeah Yeah Yeahs
.
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
for over 20 years. Formerly independent, the label is now owned by Polydor, a subsidiary of Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
.
History
Fiction Records was founded in 1978 by Chris Parry. In the early nineties the label was bought by Polydor where it lay effectively dormant for a decade apart from the occasional Cure release. In 1992 the imprint achieved its first #1 record in The Cure's album Wish, which reached the top of the charts in the United Kingdom.In January 2004 Joe Munns, Paul Smernicki
Paul Smernicki
Paul Smernicki is of the founders of the relaunched Fiction Records, along with Joe Munns and Jim Chancellor. Smernicki is now Head of Digital for Polydor Records, and also a member of the band South Playground with Glasgow Rangers and Scotland football player Christian Dailly.-References:...
and Jim Chancellor decided to revive Fiction to "give Polydor a bit more of a guitar stronghold", as their roster then consisted mostly of pop acts. The first release on the "new" Fiction was the Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol are an alternative rock band from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. Formed at the University of Dundee in 1994 as an indie rock band, the band is now based in Glasgow...
single "Run
Run (Snow Patrol song)
"Run" is a cover of the Snow Patrol song by Leona Lewis on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge on 31 October 2007. She later released the song as a single from Spirit: The Deluxe Edition in November 2008. At the time, "Run" was the UK's fastest-selling digital only release ever, selling 69,244 copies in just...
", which entered the UK chart at #5. The subsequent Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol are an alternative rock band from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. Formed at the University of Dundee in 1994 as an indie rock band, the band is now based in Glasgow...
album Final Straw
Final Straw
UK re-release bonus tracks*The AOL sessions feature frontman Gary Lightbody & lead guitarist Nathan Connolly being interviewed, and performing an acoustic rendition of "Run".*The dualdisc version does not include the UK bonus tracks....
has since gone on to sell over 2 million copies around the world.
The current Fiction stable includes Crystal Castles
Crystal Castles (band)
Crystal Castles are an experimental electronic band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, consisting of producer Ethan Kath and lyricist and vocalist Alice Glass. Crystal Castles are known for their chaotic live shows and their lo-fi home productions. The duo released many limited EPs between 2006 and...
, Ian Brown
Ian Brown
Ian George Brown is an English musician, best known as the lead singer of the alternative rock band The Stone Roses, which broke up in 1996 but are confirmed to reunite in 2012. Since the break-up of the Stone Roses he has pursued a solo career...
, Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol are an alternative rock band from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. Formed at the University of Dundee in 1994 as an indie rock band, the band is now based in Glasgow...
, The Maccabees
The Maccabees
The Maccabees are a indie rock band from Brighton, England. They have released two albums so far, Colour It In in 2007, with a follow-up, Wall of Arms, released on 4 May 2009...
, Kate Nash
Kate Nash
Kate Marie Nash is an English singer, songwriter, and musician. She had a UK no. 2 hit "Foundations" in 2007, followed by the platinum selling UK number 1 album Made of Bricks. She was named Best Female Artist at the 2008 BRIT Awards....
, Athlete
Athlete (band)
Athlete are a British rock band formed in Deptford, London, comprising Joel Pott , Carey Willetts , Stephen Roberts and Tim Wanstall...
, Elbow
Elbow (band)
Elbow are an English rock band. They have played together since 1990 and recorded five studio albums, the most recent of which is Build a Rocket Boys!, released in March 2011...
, White Lies
White Lies (band)
White Lies is an English indie rock band from Ealing, London. Formerly known as Fear of Flying, the band consists primarily of Harry McVeigh , Charles Cave , and Jack Lawrence-Brown...
, Yuksek, Detroit Social Club
Detroit Social Club
Detroit Social Club are an indie rock band from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England formed in 2007. They have been tipped to achieve national success by several British music magazines, most notably the NME. They are signed to Fiction Records. They have also recently decided to split up after the current...
, and Filthy Dukes
Filthy Dukes
Filthy Dukes are a synthpop band from London, England. The band is composed of Olly Dixon , Tim Lawton and Mark Ralph . Having been active since 2005, the band released their debut single "Tupac Robot Club Rock" on Fiction Records...
.
Fiction has also released records by Stephen Fretwell
Stephen Fretwell
Stephen Fretwell is an English singer-songwriter.-Biography:Fretwell attended St. Augustine Webster Primary School in Scunthorpe and St. Bede's Catholic School in Ashby before furthering his study at John Leggott College...
, Jacknife Lee
Jacknife Lee
Garret "Jacknife" Lee is an Irish music producer and mixer. He has worked with a variety of artists, including The Cars, U2, R.E.M., Snow Patrol, Bloc Party, AFI, The Hives, Weezer, Vega4 and Editors.-Biography:...
, Delays
Delays
Delays are an English indie band formed in Southampton, consisting of brothers Greg and Aaron Gilbert, Colin Fox and Rowly. The band's sound combines guitar and synths and features Greg Gilbert's distinctive falsetto lead vocals...
, Alberta Cross
Alberta Cross
Alberta Cross is a New York-based band, formed by Petter Ericson Stakee & Terry Wolfers . Despite their different upbringings - Stakee travelled from an early age between Sweden and England with his singer-songwriter father, whilst Wolfers was brought up in London's East End - they formed what...
, Guillemots and Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs are an American indie rock band formed in New York City in 2000. The group is composed of vocalist and pianist Karen O, guitarist and keyboardist Nick Zinner, and drummer Brian Chase. They are complemented in live performances by second guitarist David Pajo, who joined as a touring...
.