music
Changes to Data Protection Laws
Want to keep updated with news from Iron Man Records? Changes to data protection laws mean we will not be able contact you without your consent. So, if you want Iron Man Records to keep in touch, please confirm that you are happy to receive emails - opt in now, it only takes a minute. Opt in to emails Don’t worry - you can opt out of receiving communication from us at any time and can rest assured that your information is kept secure. We value your privacy and use a variety of security measures to protect your personal information. Your information will not be passed onto any third parties. For…
Where do you see Independent Record Labels heading in the future?
I have no idea where other Independent record labels are headed in future. Perhaps I can give you an idea of where I may take Iron Man Records if anything goes to plan. Which often, it doesn’t. But the quote “When all music is digital, all independence ceases” continues to permeate my thoughts. I want to keep the record label focused on releasing records, digitally and also on Vinyl. I want to leave the artists to work on writing, rehearsing, touring and recording. I’m not interested in getting more involved with the artists beyond releasing their music. I don’t like the idea of taking more control or involvement in what they…
What are your thoughts on Vinyl? Are the costs of Vinyl production affordable to Independent labels?
“When all music is digital, all independence ceases.” I suppose, what I’m trying to say is that whoever controls the digital platform controls the market. Whether it’s Google, Apple, Spotify, YouTube or Amazon, if all music is digital then at some point you will have to engage the digital platform for access. If you lose access to the platform, you lose access to the music. From an artists perspective, either you place your music where the people are, or you have to encourage people to find your music where you are. The first one is easy, the second is not so easy. But either way, the lack of scarcity in the…
How has Iron Man Records adapted to the growth of digitalisation?
Iron Man Records has had little choice, it has had to learn to adapt to digitalisation regardless. From 2004 until 2014 the label has seen a steady decline in physical sales both online and through physical outlets. From 2014 until 2017 this has continued at a faster rate and from 2017 to 2018 there has been a sharp drop, the decline has got much worse and deteriorated rapidly. This decline, which has accelerated in recent times, has effected not just Iron Man Records products, but all physical products the label makes available for sale. The physical distributors who take stock from Iron Man Records and distribute across the UK, Europe and…
What does the term ‘Independent’ mean to Iron Man Records?
“In a nation run by swine, all pigs are upward-mobile and the rest of us are fucked until we can put our acts together: Not necessarily to Win, but mainly to keep from Losing Completely.” Hunter S Thompson — Gonzo Papers, Vol. 1: The Great Shark Hunt: Strange Tales from a Strange Time (1979) Hunter S. Thompson had many wise words that can be useful to anyone wanting to work in the music business. But I’ve always puzzled over a simple question “How did he know?” Independent can mean many different things. For Iron Man Records, an independent record label, it often means working hard and trying to turn available time and resources into…
What was the last record you bought on Vinyl, and when was that?
Would you enjoy becoming an Iron Man Records Patron? Do you like listening to music on Vinyl? Would you feel happy supporting the cause and contributing to the next release on Vinyl? Do you want to Immanentize the Eschaton? Are you a risk taker? To be honest, I have NO idea what questions to ask or how much to ask for. What would you be able to give? It's probably none of my business. Iron Man Records needs more Patrons and you're exactly the sort of person. You're even reading this stuff. We all spend money on nonsense. This is not nonsense. I would like to invite you to become a…
John Sinclair – Beatnik Youth (Double CD) 2018
John Sinclair - “Beatnik Youth" on Double CD Released 2018 by Iron Man Records. All Press enquiries to Sean Newsham Catalogue Number: IMB6032 Release date: 2018 Label: Iron Man Records Distribution: Cargo Disc 1 Testify (9.10) Good Stuff (4.32) Everybody Needs Somebody (7.09) Change My Life (5.14) Ain't Nobody's Business (3.36) My Buddy (5.13) That Old Man (3.53) Disc 2 Brilliant Corners (11.29) Culture Cide (11.38) Red Dress (Ruby My Dear) (6.25) Sitarrtha (6.16) Do It (6.16) War On Drugs (6.18) Read a brilliant review of Beatnik Youth by Gus Ironside for Louder Than War here Saby Reyes-Kulkarni interviewed John Sinclair and Youth and wrote a fantastic piece for Bandcamp here…
The Imagine Nation
“Under the present system of mass education by classes too much stress is laid on teaching and too little on active learning. The child is not encouraged to discover things on his own account. He learns to rely on outside help, not on his own powers, thus losing intellectual independence and all capacity to judge for himself. The over-taught child is the father of the newspaper - reading, advertisement - believing, propaganda - swallowing, demagogue - led man – the man who makes modern democracy the farce it is.” – Aldous Huxley, Proper Studies (1927) Culture Industry is a term coined by Theodor Adorno (1903–69) and Max Horkheimer (1895–1973), who argued…
John Sinclair – Beatnik Youth – Double CD – review by Steve Fly Amsterdam, 2017
The story of the Beatnik Youth album begins in London. John Sinclair was visiting to perform with guitarist Al Clayton and his band The Dirty Strangers, Gigs organised in part by Ian Grant, including a double bill with Zodiac / Youth. Martin ‘Youth’ Glover came into John’s orbit and found a kindred spirit in John, proposing they work on a jazz project together. Sure enough plans were laid out for John to travel to Kingston College Of Music in London, to a recording session set up by Youth. The list of musicians in the large room was staggering: George Butler, Hugo Wilkinson and Steven Pratt on drums, Al Clayton and Brian…
John Sinclair – Beatnik Youth (Double CD) 2017
John Sinclair - “Beatnik Youth" on Double CD Released 2017 by Iron Man Records. All Press enquiries to Sean Newsham : sean@mutante.co.uk Catalogue Number: IMB6032 Release date: 2017 Label: Iron Man Records Distribution: Cargo Disc 1 Testify (9.10) Good Stuff (4.32) Everybody Needs Somebody (7.09) Change My Life (5.14) Ain't Nobody's Business (3.36) My Buddy (5.13) That Old Man (3.53) Disc 2 Brilliant Corners (11.29) Culture Cide (11.38) Red Dress (Ruby My Dear) (6.25) Sitarrtha (6.16) Do It (6.16) War On Drugs (6.18) Read the brilliant review of Beatnik Youth by Gus Ironside for Louder Than War here John Sinclair, the renegade poet, scholar and cultural revolutionary releases "Beatnik Youth" on…
Become an Iron Man Records Patron and support victims of injustice
Reprieve works worldwide to help victims of human rights abuses like the death penalty, torture and extrajudicial detention. I donate to Reprieve on a personal level whenever I have funds to do so. I have a lot of respect for the work of Clive Stafford Smith, Founder of Reprieve and his team. Reprieve fund the litigation, expert witnesses and investigations which help to deliver justice and save lives across the globe. I have added a new tier reward for Iron Man Records Patrons. Iron Man Records will donate £10 to Reprieve each month for every Patron who signs up to the Reprieve tier/reward. Patrons at this level will also ensure that…
John Sinclair – Beatnik Youth Ambient – Press update
John Sinclair - Beatnik Youth Ambient Iron Man Records IMB6033 Distributed by Cargo All Press enquiries to Sean Newsham : sean@mutante.co.uk "Incendiary bebop beauty from the renegade poet John Sinclair with hand drawn cover artwork by YOUTH. If we ever needed a passionate beat soul speaking words of wisdom, it’s now, and John Sinclair - Revolutionary, Jazzman - lays it down. Bohemian ex-manager of the MC5, Sinclair was central to 1960’s counterculture. A year or two back he met producer YOUTH (Primal Scream, U2), and got dragged into the 21st Century. The result is a hypnotic celebration of personal freedom; laid-back thoughts spoken in John Sinclair’s gruff, grainy drawl, draped against blues, bebop and…
Iron Man Records releases to be included in British Library Sound Archive
Something happens while you are orbiting the Nation's capital on the M25 for 25 hours in a van with a dangerous madman jumping around and shouting instructions from the back seat. James at British Library Sound Archive has been in touch, he wants to catalogue and archive all the releases on Iron Man Records. The music will become part of the nation's audio & cultural heritage and it will be available (on a restricted access server) to anyone holding a British Library readers pass (writers, researchers, fans etc.). You have to go in person either to London or to the other site in Boston Spa, Yorkshire. The Library do not allow…
John Sinclair – Beatnik Youth (Double CD) 8th September 2017
John Sinclair - “Beatnik Youth" on Double CD Released 8th September 2017 by Iron Man Records. All Press enquiries to Sean Newsham : sean@mutante.co.uk Catalogue Number: IMB6032 Release date: 8th September 2017 Label: Iron Man Records Distribution: Cargo Disc 1 Testify (9.10) Good Stuff (4.32) Everybody Needs Somebody (7.09) Change My Life (5.14) Ain't Nobody's Business (3.36) My Buddy (5.13) That Old Man (3.53) Disc 2 Brilliant Corners (11.29) Culture Cide (11.38) Red Dress (Ruby My Dear) (6.25) Sitarrtha (6.16) Do It (6.16) War On Drugs (6.18) John Sinclair, the renegade poet, scholar and cultural revolutionary releases "Beatnik Youth" on 8th September 2017 on Iron Man Records. The double CD contains…
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