Independence days: the story of UK independent record labels

Drawing on more than 160 interviews with many of the mostsignificant figures of the era, 'Independence Days' documents theUK independent record label boom from the late 1970s onwards.

While many leading punk bands were co-opted by major labels,a new generation of independent spirits took the baton andrevolutionised the course of popular music during a decade ofartistic innovation and risk-takingEven by the standards of Alex Ogg's previous work (The Hip HopYears, No More Heroes), this is an exhaustive undertaking,providing a detailed overview of the history of independentlabels in the UK, including Chiswick, Stiff, Rough Trade, BeggarsBanquet, 4AD, Factory, Mute, Crass, Cherry Red and a myriad ofsmaller and boutique labels.

Interviewees include Geoff Travis,Bill Drummond, Miles Copeland, Daniel Miller, Ivo Watts-Russell,Iain McNay, Dave Robinson, Ted Carroll, Roger Armstrong, PennyRimbaud, Richard Boon, Martin Mills, Richard Scott, Mike Alway,Mike Stone, Bob Last, Terri Hooley, Bill Gilliam, Charlie Gillett,Seymour Stein, Geoff Davies and many more.

From the budget DIY of Buzzcocks and the Desperate Bicycles tothe chart dominance of Depeche Mode, New Order and theSmiths, all the key moments and the thoughts of its participantsare documented through painstaking research, analysis andeyewitness accounts.