An overview of the Fat Wreck Chords compilations
Free samplers that were given out. Most album titles and covers are parodies of well-known punk albums.
Starting in 2006, Fat Wreck moved to distribute their annual free compilations online.
WIZO is a German punk rock band from Sindelfingen, that formed in 1985. WIZO's music is characterized by a combination of humorous and political lyrics with a fast, melodic punk rock sound. They are considered to be part of the German movement known as Fun-Punk. Their lyrics are written in German, and Axel Kurth has spoken about how German lyrics are important so that the music and lyrics go together. They have named three bands as important influences: Normahl, Hass, and The Exploited. Axel Kurth has spoken out about how difficult it is for musicians to make a living with streaming services.
Strike Anywhere is an American punk rock band from Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 1999 after the demise of frontman Thomas Barnett's previous band, Inquisition, they took their name from the Inquisition song "Strike Anywhere". Their music is characterized by fast tempos, catchy melodies, and emotionally charged vocals delivered via shouting and singing.
The Real McKenzies is a Canadian Celtic punk band founded in 1992 and based in Vancouver, British Columbia. They are considered the founders of the Canadian Celtic punk movement, and were one of the first Celtic punk bands, albeit 10 years after The Pogues. Founding member Paul McKenzie has been the only continuous member of the band since its inception.
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes are a punk rock supergroup and cover band that formed in San Francisco in 1995. The band's lineup consists of Spike Slawson, CJ Ramone, Joey Cape, Pinch and John Reis. Dave Raun, Chris Shiflett, and Fat Mike are former members.
Leftöver Crack is an American punk rock band formed in 1998, following the breakup of Choking Victim. The band is currently signed to Tankcrimes for CD releases, and Alternative Tentacles for vinyl releases. Leftöver Crack spans several different music genres including hardcore punk, ska, and crust punk. They write mostly political lyrics of a radical leftist nature, opposing religion, capitalism, and authority. Members of Leftöver Crack reside in the C-Squat on 155 Avenue C in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Natives of New York City, band members have a well-documented history of back-and-forth conflict with the NYPD which precedes the band's formation. The name "Leftöver Crack" is explained by Stza as being "an oxymoron", based on the idea that crack cocaine addicts are known for vigorous use and are unlikely to have any "leftover" crack.
Fat Wreck Chords is an independent record label based in San Francisco focused on punk rock. It was started by NOFX lead singer Michael Burkett and his wife at the time, Erin Burkett in 1990. As of 2009 Fat Wreck Chords has released over 300 studio albums.
Rock Against Bush was a project mobilizing punk and alternative musicians against the 2004 U.S. Presidential re-election campaign of George W. Bush. At its core was the idea of using music to create an anti-war, pro-peace sentiment, similar to counterculture music movements of the 1960s and 1970s, such as Woodstock. The effort inspired Australian punk bands to start Rock Against Howard.
Rock Against Bush, Vol. 1 is a Rock Against Bush compilation album released on the Fat Wreck Chords record label. It contains a collection of songs, both released and unreleased, by various punk rock artists and includes a bonus DVD with political facts, commentary regarding the U.S. presidential election, 2004, footage from a David Cross stand-up comedy performance, as well as a few music videos. It was released on 20 April 2004.
The Lawrence Arms are an American punk rock band from Chicago, formed in 1999. They have released seven full-length albums and toured extensively.
Fat Music Volume 5: Live Fat, Die Young is the fifth compilation album in the Fat Music series, released by the Fat Wreck Chords record label, in 2001. It was #187 on The Billboard 200. Its title is a parody of the Circle Jerks song "Live Fast Die Young".
Sloppy Seconds is an American, Ramones-influenced punk band sometimes referred to as a junk rock band from Indianapolis, Indiana, that started in 1984. They gained notoriety in the underground punk scene with gritty and controversial songs like "Come Back, Traci," "I Don't Want to be a Homosexual", "Janie is a Nazi", "I Want 'em Dead" and "So Fucked Up."
Randy is a Swedish punk rock band from Hortlax, Sweden, formed in 1992. While never achieving mainstream success, Randy have developed a cult following in the punk community over the years and were particularly successful in their homeland. They were particularly well-known for writing catchy songs with politically conscious messages, often broaching topics like income inequality, socialism, working-class revolutions throughout European history, and Karl Marx and Marxism.
Only Crime is an American melodic hardcore group formed by Good Riddance singer Russ Rankin and Bane guitarist Aaron Dalbec in 2003. The band plays melodic but hard-hitting punk rock that borrows heavily from early-1980s hardcore bands such as Black Flag.
Useless ID is an Israeli punk rock band, formed in Haifa in 1994.
Christopher Leslie "Gunner" McGrath is the American founder, lead singer, and guitarist of the punk rock band Much The Same. In April 2007, he quit Much The Same citing an overwhelming frustration with the music industry, and the lifestyle of a touring musician. From 2009 to 2011, he was part of the Willow Creek Community Church Studio Choir. On March 30, 2015, Much The Same reunited released their third album, Everything Is Fine, in 2019. In July 2020, McGrath joined the band Winning Streak, and recorded vocals for their album, We Need a Plan.
Cheer-Accident is an American progressive rock ensemble headed by Thymme Jones. Jones took the name of the band from a Hallmark Cards shopping display, and first formed the group in 1981 with singer Jim Drummond and drummer Mike Greenlees.
Fat Music is a series of eight compilation albums published by Fat Wreck Chords since 1994. The albums include artists from the label's roster, focusing on then-current and upcoming releases and often including previously unreleased material. In total the series includes 127 songs contributed by 49 different artists, focusing stylistically on punk rock and various subgenres such as hardcore punk, pop punk, ska punk, skate punk, and street punk. The Fat Music series tapered off after its sixth installment as the label moved from compact discs toward digital downloads for its samplers instead. Subsequent physical compilation albums released by Fat Wreck Chords were themed around social and political causes, including the benefit albums Liberation (2003) and Protect (2005), and the two volumes of Rock Against Bush released preceding the 2004 United States presidential election. In 2010 the Fat Music series was revived with the release of a seventh volume, Harder, Fatter + Louder!
The Eyeliners are an all-woman American pop punk band from Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States.
Harder, Fatter + Louder! is a compilation album released November 22, 2010 by Fat Wreck Chords as the seventh volume in the label's Fat Music series. It marked the resumption of the series after an eight-year gap since 2002's Uncontrollable Fatulence. During the intervening years Fat Wreck Chords had moved from compact discs toward digital downloads for its samplers, curtailing the Fat Music series and instead releasing compilation albums themed around social and political causes. These included the benefit albums Liberation (2003) and Protect (2005), and the two volumes of Rock Against Bush released preceding the 2004 United States presidential election. Harder, Fatter + Louder! resumed the Fat Music series by featuring solely artists from the label's roster, with tracks selected from current and upcoming releases.
None More Black was a New Jersey-based punk rock band on Fat Wreck Chords, formed by lead singer/guitarist Jason Shevchuk after the demise of his previous band, Philadelphia's Kid Dynamite. Shevchuk left Kid Dynamite so that he could finish film school, and "to sort some things out." While at school, Shevchuk had written some songs and would play them with his roommate Dan Gross, who had a Drum Machine. By 2000, they had a second guitarist and a real drummer. That lineup soon fell apart, but by 2001 Shevchuk and Gross had recruited Shevchuk's brother Jeff Shevchuk, along with a new drummer. After recording a 7" for Sub Division Records, that lineup fell apart as well, this time leaving only the two Shevchuks. In 2002 a solid lineup was established, featuring Paul from Kill Your Idols on bass. A demo was recorded, circulated, and the band went on to release their first full length on Fat Wreck Chords.