4AD Records
The British
indie rock record label
4AD Records was started in
1979 by
Ivo Watts-Russell and
Peter Kent, funded by
Beggars Banquet Records.
It was originally formed as
Axis Records, but this was quickly changed to 4AD when it became apparent that the name Axis was already being used by another music company.
In
1980 Kent left the company to start another label (also funded by Beggars Banquet):
Situation Two Records. Shortly afterwards, Watts-Russell invited the graphic designer
Vaughan Oliver to create sleeve art for the label and as a result 4AD quickly acquired a visually distinctive identity which complemented the artful and atmospheric music that it was releasing at that time. Its artists like the
Cocteau Twins and
Dead Can Dance developed substantial cult followings in the mid-
1980s, but 4AD continued to evolve, and, after resigning to
Throwing Muses and
Pixies, the label increasingly concentrated on underground American rock music. At the same time, 4AD somehow had a freak UK Number One hit in the early days of House music with the
collaged and influential "Pump Up The Volume" by
M/A/R/R/S.
In the 1990s, 4AD established an office in
Los Angeles and enjoyed success with bands such as
The Breeders,
Red House Painters,
Unrest, and
His Name Is Alive. In
1999, Watts-Russell sold his share in 4AD back to the Beggars Group (as it had by then become), but the label continued to release music and add new artists to its roster.
*
The Birthday Party*
Blonde Redhead*
The Breeders*
Celebration*
Tanya Donelly *
50 Foot Wave (excluding the US)
*
Lisa Gerrard*
Rachel Goswell*
Neil Halstead*
Kristin Hersh*
The Hope Blister*
Johann Johannson*
Magnétophone*
Cass McCombs (excluding the US and Canada)
*
Minotaur Shock*
Mojave 3*
The Mountain Goats*
Brendan Perry*
Emma Pollock*
Sybarite*
TV On The Radio (excluding the US and Canada)
*
Scott Walker*
M. Ward*
Wolf & Cub (excluding Australia and New Zealand)
*
Air Miami*
The Amps*
A R Kane*
Daniel Ash &
Glenn Campling*
Tom Baril*
Bauhaus*
Bearz*
Belly *
Heidi Berry *
Bettie Serveert*
The Birthday Party*
Frank Black*
Michael Brook*
Harold Budd/
Elizabeth Fraser/
Robin Guthrie/
Simon Raymonde*
Bulgarian Voices also (Voix Bulgares)
*
Clan of Xymox*
Cocteau Twins*
Colourbox *
Cuba *
Cupol*
Dance Chapter*
Dead Can Dance*
Dif Juz*
The Fast Set*
Frazier Chorus*
Lisa Germano*
Lisa Gerrard &
Pieter Bourke*
B. C. Gilbert &
G. Lewis*
The Glee Club*
Gus Gus*
Rene Halkett &
David Jay*
His Name Is Alive *
Rowland S. Howard &
Lydia Lunch*
In Camera*
Insides*
Matt Johnson*
Lakuna*
Last Dance*
Liquorice*
Lydia Lunch*
Lush*
M/A/R/R/S*
Mass*
Vinny Miller*
Modern English *
My Captains*
Colin Newman*
Pieter Nooten/
Michael Brook*
The Paladins*
Pale Saints*
The Past 7 Days*
Piano Magic*
Pixies*
Psychotik Tanks*
Red Atkins*
Red House Painters*
Rema-Rema *
Richenel*
Scheer*
Shox*
Kendra Smith*
Sort Sol*
Spirea X*
Spoonfed Hybrid*
Starry Smooth Hound*
Swallow*
Tarnation*
That Dog*
The The *
Thievery Corporation*
This Mortal Coil*
Throwing Muses*
23 Envelope*
Ultra Vivid Scene*
Underground Lovers*
Unrest*
Vaughan Oliver and v23 (and 23 Envelope)
*
The Wolfgang Press*
Xmal Deutschland*
Hans Zimmer &
Lisa Gerrard (Hans Zimmer is not on 4AD)
*
List of record labels*
Official site*
Eyesore Database: Complete 4AD Discography through ca.
1998*
4AD : The Perfect Antidote: Complete 4AD Discography and Miscellany
1998* Ingebrigtsen, Lars Magne (2000).
Eyesore list of 4ad groups Retrieved Feb. 22, 2005.
* Keibel, Jeff (2004).
4AD: Facing The Wrong Way fan site. Retrieved Feb. 17, 2005.
* Zax, Andy (1999).
An Official History of 4AD. Retrieved Jan. 27, 2005.
