Imago Records
Encyclopedia
Imago Records was an independent
record label
which was active during the late 1980s – early 1990s. Several influential artists released albums through Imago, including Henry Rollins
, Aimee Mann
, Paula Cole
and Love Spit Love
. Despite building a slate of up and coming alternative rock
artists, the company ran into serious financial difficulties when, in December 1994, Bertelsmann Music Group, who was financially backing Imago, pulled funding. This left many of their artists scrambling to find new labels. Following BMG's dropping of Imago, the company attempted to sue Henry Rollins for breach of contract and DreamWorks
for contract tampering when Rollins bolted the label after delivering two albums out of an eight album deal. Rollins mentions this fleetingly in his 1996 book Eye Scream: "I lost the distributor for my label and now I'm going to drag all the bands that I signed into the egotistical hell that is my life as I vainly attempt to save face in the record industry. I have millions but you know what happens when a man gets his ego injured - war, rape, Rocky, little critic asswipes like the ones who write for pseudo-intellectual publications like the Village Voice and of course, books like this. Suck my mighty staff of life, you parasites!"
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
which was active during the late 1980s – early 1990s. Several influential artists released albums through Imago, including Henry Rollins
Henry Rollins
Henry Rollins is an American singer-songwriter, spoken word artist, writer, comedian, publisher, actor, and radio DJ....
, Aimee Mann
Aimee Mann
Aimee Mann is an American rock singer-songwriter, guitarist and bassist.-Early life:Aimee Mann grew up in Bon Air, Virginia, graduated from Open High School in 1978 and attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, but dropped out to sing with her first punk rock band, the Young Snakes...
, Paula Cole
Paula Cole
Paula Cole is an American singer/songwriter. Her single "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone" reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1997, and the following year she won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist.-Early life:...
and Love Spit Love
Love Spit Love
Love Spit Love was a musical group founded in 1992 by singer Richard Butler following the initial disbanding of the Psychedelic Furs.-History:...
. Despite building a slate of up and coming alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
artists, the company ran into serious financial difficulties when, in December 1994, Bertelsmann Music Group, who was financially backing Imago, pulled funding. This left many of their artists scrambling to find new labels. Following BMG's dropping of Imago, the company attempted to sue Henry Rollins for breach of contract and DreamWorks
DreamWorks
DreamWorks Pictures, also known as DreamWorks, LLC, DreamWorks SKG, DreamWorks II Distribution Co., LLC, DreamWorks Studios or DW Studios, LLC, is an American film studio which develops, produces, and distributes films, video games and television programming...
for contract tampering when Rollins bolted the label after delivering two albums out of an eight album deal. Rollins mentions this fleetingly in his 1996 book Eye Scream: "I lost the distributor for my label and now I'm going to drag all the bands that I signed into the egotistical hell that is my life as I vainly attempt to save face in the record industry. I have millions but you know what happens when a man gets his ego injured - war, rape, Rocky, little critic asswipes like the ones who write for pseudo-intellectual publications like the Village Voice and of course, books like this. Suck my mighty staff of life, you parasites!"
Artists
All of the following artists released albums on the Imago label:- Baby AnimalsBaby AnimalsBaby Animals are a 1990s hard rock band from Australia.-Early history:The Baby Animals were formed in Sydney in 1989 by singer Suze DeMarchi, drummer Frank Celenza, guitarist Dave Leslie, and bassist Eddie Parise...
- BaseheadBaseheadBasehead, also known as dc Basehead and Basehead 2.0, is an American alternative hip hop group formed by Michael Ivey in 1992. Ivey serves as the group's songwriter and leader, performing vocals and various instruments. Basehead's 1992 debut album, Play with Toys, was recorded at Ivey's home with...
- Captain Hollywood ProjectCaptain Hollywood ProjectCaptain Hollywood Project is a German Eurodance project fronted by Tony Dawson Harrison.Harrison, a United States Army captain, was nicknamed Captain Hollywood, because he danced even when in uniform. He first started in the break dance scene in Europe as he performed on early '80s music TV shows...
- Paula ColePaula ColePaula Cole is an American singer/songwriter. Her single "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone" reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1997, and the following year she won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist.-Early life:...
- Doctor Rain
- Dread ZeppelinDread ZeppelinDread Zeppelin is an American band best known for performing the songs of Led Zeppelin in a reggae style as sung by a 300 pound Vegas Elvis impersonator. Over the years they would also perform songs originally by Elvis Presley, Bob Marley and The Yardbirds. The group toured extensively around the...
- EdenEden (band)Eden were an Israeli vocal group active between 1998 and 2001, consisting of Doren Oren, Rafael Dahan and brothers Gabriel and Eddie Butler. They are known primarily for their participation in the 1999 Eurovision Song Contest....
- The Figgs
- Giant SandGiant SandGiant Sand is an American rock band, based in Tucson, Arizona, USA. The name is shortened from the original Giant Sandworms, a reference to the creatures in the Dune books. Overseen by singer-songwriter Howe Gelb, its membership has shifted over the years—at times with each album...
- Great WhiteGreat WhiteGreat White is an American hard rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1978. The band gained popularity during the 1980s and early 1990s. The band released several albums in the late 1980s and gained airplay on MTV with music videos for songs like "Once Bitten, Twice Shy"...
- King of Fools
- Level 42Level 42Level 42 are an English pop rock and jazz-funk band who had a number of worldwide and UK hits during the 1980s and 1990s.The band gained fame for their high-calibre musicianship—in particular that of Mark King, whose percussive slap-bass guitar technique provided the driving groove of many of the...
- Love Spit LoveLove Spit LoveLove Spit Love was a musical group founded in 1992 by singer Richard Butler following the initial disbanding of the Psychedelic Furs.-History:...
- Aimee MannAimee MannAimee Mann is an American rock singer-songwriter, guitarist and bassist.-Early life:Aimee Mann grew up in Bon Air, Virginia, graduated from Open High School in 1978 and attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, but dropped out to sing with her first punk rock band, the Young Snakes...
- Kylie MinogueKylie MinogueKylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
- Modern EnglishModern English (band)Modern English are an English rock band best remembered for their songs "I Melt with You", "Hands Across the Sea", and "Ink and Paper". The group disbanded for a period in 1991, but later recorded in 1995 and 2002 with new members...
- OrangutangOrangutangOrangutang was a rock band from Boston.The members were Christian Dyas on vocals and guitar, Joe Klompus on bass, David Steele on guitar, and Todd Perlmutter on drums...
- Pere UbuPere UbuPere Ubu is an experimental rock music group from Cleveland, Ohio.Père Ubu may also refer to:* Ubu, the enigmatic central figure of a series of French plays by Alfred Jarry, including Ubu Roi, and subsequent plays Ubu Cocu and Ubu Enchaîné...
- Plan BPlan B (duo)Plan B is a Puerto Rican Reggaeton duo, consisting of Chencho , born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico and Maldy , born in Guayama, Puerto Rico...
This link is incorrect. The Plan B that released Cyber Chords and Sushi Stories on Imago was from Germany and predated reggaeton by years. See very brief bio on All Music Guide. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/plan-b-p22380 - Henry RollinsHenry RollinsHenry Rollins is an American singer-songwriter, spoken word artist, writer, comedian, publisher, actor, and radio DJ....
- Nikolaj Steen
- John WaiteJohn WaiteJohn Charles Waite is an English rock singer and musician. He was lead vocalist for The Babys and Bad English. As a solo artist, he scored several international hits, including 1984's "Missing You", a top ten hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart, reaching #1 in the...
- Bone Club