Blackout Records

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Blackout Records is an independent record label which specializes in the hardcore punk genre. It is now based in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA.

It was formed in 1988 by Bill Wilson – now forever known as "Bill Blackout" – and, together with a friend called Jim Gibson, they released their first record – a New York hardcore compilation album entitled, Where The Wild Things Are, in 1989.

In 1990, Gibson amicably parted company and instigated his own record label, Noiseville Records.

There was a lull in activity during the beginning of the 1990s as the local hardcore scene became more prone to violence – a fact which compounded the temporary demise of one Blackout band in particular, Killing Time.

However, in 1992, they chanced upon a female band, The Goops, playing at CBGB's and decided to release their records. The band later signed to Warner Brothers.

Another of the bands they helped launch all those years ago on the Where The Wild Things Are compilation was Sheer Terror – they subsequently signed to MCA. Part of the deal was that Blackout Records received some office space, but with running costs being high, the label relocated to Hoboken.

From around 1995 onwards, there was a general explosion of a new wave of hardcore punk – not only on the east coast of America, but also the opposite coast, where Californian labels Indecision Records and Nitro Records started releasing product. Along with Blackout and Victory Records, they were the main independent punk record labels well into the new millenium.

In 2000, there was a short break of around a year before the label started releasing again – this time newer bands.

There is also an affiliation with the Creep Records label/studio, on which a few of the Blackout bands have recorded.