diytest

One week down, two (three) to go! We kick off this week's Lovable Labels feature with Kill Rock Stars.

I have said it before and I will say it again: Kill Rock Stars are good people. Originally intended to be a spoken-word label, they have put out great records by Elliot Smith, Decemberists, and many more. Thanks to Maggie and Slim for answering my questions.

Where is Kill Rock Stars based?

KRS/5RC Inc is located in Olympia, WA with a satellite office (my extra bedroom) in Portland, OR.

How long has it been in existance?

15 years!

It seems like a lot of labels started out with the goal of releasing a specific album or specific band. Was this the case with your label, and if not, how did it begin?

slim initially wanted to be a spoken word label but it quickly changed to include local exciting bands like unwound, bikini kill, and bratmobile.

How did you come up with the label's name?

Slim Moon [founder]: "In January, 1991, I was living with Greg Babior and i bought some watercolor paints and made a painting on the back of a Pontiac Brothers poster, a bunch of sweeping lines of color, a few splashes and a few words, the most prominent being "kill rock stars". This was about the same time as when i spraypainted "Zap 'em back with superlove" on a big piece of plywood for a spoken word performance. When I applied for a business license I felt pressed to come up with a name. That poster was on my wall and it seemed like a good idea (especially since the first poem on the first record is called "Rock Star".)"

How many people does the label employ? (Not including bands)

Have you ever signed someone you discovered through a demo you received?

yes - jeff hanson and paper chase I know for sure. maybe a couple others?

How many copies has your top-selling release sold? What is it?

elliott smith either/or and it is currently sound scanned 280,000+

How has the label changed from its beginning to now?

well it's certainly grown. I was the first full time employee and person who would answer the phone. now we have several full timers and more phone lines. I think we have all learned quite a bit about the music industry but have managed to maintain our core ideals. which are to keep the band/label relationship a partnership based on trust and mutual understanding. it's hard, sometimes it doesn't work but most times it does and it's very gratifying. we are extremely proud to say that we actually pay our bands royalties. the longer I work in this business it seems the more I learn about how corrupt most labels are. it's especially disheartening when it's your peers that should know better.

What is the ultimate goal of the label?

to put out records we love and believe in.

Notable Releases: