| Underground Operations | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1995 |
| Founder | Mark Spicoluk |
| Status | Defunct |
| Distributor(s) | Universal Music Group |
| Genre | Punk, metalcore, post-hardcore |
| Country of origin | Canada |
| Location | Toronto, Ontario |
| Official website | undergroundoperations.com |
Underground Operations was an independent punk rock record label based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Established in 1995, the label was originally based in Ajax, Ontario. [1] [2] Operated by Mark Spicoluk, former Closet Monster member and former bass player for Avril Lavigne, this label was one of the most successful independent labels in Canada. [3] Spicoluk started the label when he was 16 years of age. [4] Underground Operations shut down on December 2, 2016. [5]
Lightning Bolt is an American noise rock duo from Providence, Rhode Island, composed of Brian Chippendale on drums and vocals and Brian Gibson on bass guitar. The band met and formed in 1994 as students of the Rhode Island School of Design. Lightning Bolt were listed 8th in Metacritic's Artists of the Decade 2000–09.
Drive-Thru Records was a California-based independent record label owned by siblings Richard and Stefanie Reines. The label was partially responsible for popularizing the pop-punk/emo merger sound of the early to mid-2000s. After facing financial obstacles in getting their bands' music into stores, Drive-Thru entered into a distribution deal with MCA/Universal. In 2003 MCA was dissolved and folded into Geffen Records. One of the clauses of that agreement was MCA/Geffen being able to sign any band of their choosing from Drive-Thru's roster.
Mark Spicoluk is a Canadian content creator, yoga instructor, musician, podcaster, and entrepreneur. He is best known as co-creator and yoga teacher for the lifestyle brand Boho Beautiful, his time as bass player with Avril Lavigne, and as the vocalist and bassist for the punk rock band Closet Monster. From 2012 to 2015 he appeared as a judge on YTV's The Next Star. He is also known as the founder of the indie record label Underground Operations, and his production credits on albums by artists such as Protest the Hero, Abandon All Ships, Stereos and DVBBS. Along with his musical and business accomplishments, he is also a strong animal rights and social justice advocate.
DFA Records is an American independent record label founded in 2001 by Mo' Wax co-founder Tim Goldsworthy, musician James Murphy, and manager Jonathan Galkin. They previously had a production team called The DFA, consisting of Goldsworthy and Murphy.
Matchbook Romance was an American emo band from Poughkeepsie, New York and was formed in 1997. They were signed to Epitaph Records. They released two full-length albums and one EP. Their EP, West for Wishing, released in 2003 was their first recorded album during their time on Epitaph; their full-length debut album, Stories and Alibis, was recorded in the same year.
The Dirtbombs are an American garage rock band based in Detroit, Michigan, notable for blending diverse influences such as punk rock and soul, while featuring a dual bass guitar, dual drum and guitar lineup. The Dirtbombs were formed by Mick Collins as a side project and started recording songs by 1995.
Protest the Hero is a Canadian progressive metal band from Whitby, Ontario. Originally named Happy Go Lucky, the band changed their name to Protest the Hero, then released their debut EP, Search for the Truth, in 2002. In 2005, the band released their first album Kezia on Canadian indie label Underground Operations.
Closet Monster was a Canadian punk rock band from Ajax, Ontario.
GFK were a Canadian hardcore metal band, based in Quebec City Their songs have lyrics with political messages.
Hostage Life was a Canadian punk band from Toronto.
Amy Blue is a British alternative rock band composed of Simon Chatterton (guitar), JP Rutter (guitar), Lex Sampson (drums) and Tom Parr (bass). The group's name was inspired by Rose McGowan's character in the 1995 Gregg Araki movie The Doom Generation.
Immortal Souls is a melodic death metal band from Kokkola, Finland, formed in 1991. They released a split album and their debut on Little Rose Productions in the late 1990s and early 2000s. In 2002, Immortal Souls signed with Dutch label Fear Dark which released their second and third album as well as a compilation. They have performed at Tuska Open Air Metal Festival. Their musical style is characterized by their use of melodic guitar riffs and singing which shifts between growls and shouting. Their music has been called winter metal since Immortal Souls utilizes frosty metaphors in their lyrics and usually creates a cold, wintry atmosphere. The album Wintereich was released in 2007 in Europe on Dark Balance and in the USA through Facedown Records.
I Hate Sally was a four-piece metal/post-hardcore band from Ontario, Canada. It was formed in 2000 in Kingston, Ontario by Marc Garniss, Ben Thomas and Kelly Payne.
Kezia is the debut full-length album by the Canadian progressive metal band Protest the Hero, first released in Canada on August 30, 2005, by Underground Operations. It is a concept album about a young girl (Kezia) sentenced to death, told from the perspectives of the various players involved in her sentencing and execution.
Bombs Over Providence was a Canadian pop-punk/punk rock band from Brampton, Ontario, whose songs were mainly about politics. They were one of the first bands signed to the independent punk label Underground Operations.
Marilyn's Vitamins were a Canadian punk rock band formed in 1995 from Orangeville, Ontario, Canada, playing their last show December 28, 1999 in Toronto, Ontario. In those near-five years they released two albums on Raw Energy and 7"s on Ductape, and Ugly Pop Vinyl. A posthumous collection was released on Underground Operations in 2003. The band consisted of Rob Moir (guitar), Danny Complex (guitar/vocals), Colin Lichti (vocals), Adam Cook (bass/vocals), Jeff Breen (guitar), Kristoffer Wood (bass) and Shawn Dickey (drums). Members of the band went on to form Bombs Over Providence, Hostage Life and Dead Letter Dept. Their lyrics mainly dealt with various political issues of the time.
Dead Letter Dept., formerly known as The Stiffs, are a Canadian punk band from Toronto, Canada. The band consists of Rob Moir (guitar/vocals), Mike Leblanc (drums), Andrew Sparks (bass), Danny Complex (guitars). The band announced their break up on their Myspace blog in 2008. Their songs are mainly about girls and relationship with the occasional political song. Their last release was Rock n' Roll Hates You, which was released in 2005 by Underground Operations.
Nene Encarnacion, also known as Myzery, is a Puerto Rican rapper based out of the Bronx in New York City. He was the first solo act signed with Psychopathic Records, and released his debut EP titled Para La Isla on the label in 1998. Following his departure from Psychopathic Records, Myzery continued to release albums independently. He later returned to Psychopathic Records to release 2018's The Demon Angel.
Robert Daniel Moir, known as Rob Moir, is a Canadian songwriter, guitarist, poet, and singer.
Red Cross, a six-song punk rock EP record, is the first stand-alone release by American rock band Red Cross.
