Buddyhead Records is an independent record label from
Hollywood,
California that originated from a website of the same name. The label began in 2000 with the pressing of a seven-inch single from
The Icarus Line ("Kill Cupid With A Nail File") and is continuing over twenty years later. The label has released records by various bands, including Gayrilla Biscuits,
The Cassettes, Shat,
Dios (also known as
(dios) Malos,
Ink & Dagger,
The Icarus Line,
Burning Brides,
The Dillinger Escape Plan,
Jubilee,
Your Enemies Friends,
The Mean Reds,
400 Blows,
TEXT (ex-
Refused),
At the Drive-In,
Murder City Devils,
Modwheelmood,
Wires On Fire,
Radio Vago, Pyramyd, and The Cauterizers. Buddyhead Records also became known for its compilations. Their first compilation was released in 2003, the now out-of-print
Buddyhead Suicide Sampler, which featured key tracks from each of the label's releases, rare/live tracks from each band on the label's roster, and prank calls to music-industry luminaries from an unknown caller who went by the name "Torture Device". Rumors circulated claiming that Torture Device was everyone from
Bill Hicks to
Sam Kinison to
Chevy Chase. Buddyhead never officially commented on the matter. In 2004, Buddyhead released the major label-funded
Gimme Skelter compilation, which was paid for (and distributed by)
Netwerk Records. The compilation featured cover art by
Raymond Pettibon, who had previously created cover art for bands such as
Black Flag,
Sonic Youth,
Foo Fighters and
OFF!). The compilation also contained exclusive and/or rare songs from artists such as
Primal Scream,
Mudhoney,
Iggy Pop,
Yeah Yeah Yeahs,
Wire,
Weezer (
Pinkerton B-side),
Dead Meadow, and
Le Tigre. In addition to
CDs, the label released a
DVD compilation in 2004 entitled
Buddyhead Presents: Punk Is Dead through Image Entertainment, which featured music videos from
TV on the Radio,
The Jesus Lizard,
Singapore Sling,
Yeah Yeah Yeahs,
Turbonegro,
The Locust,
British Sea Power,
The Dillinger Escape Plan,
The Fiery Furnaces, and others. Buddyhead were also part of a number of pranks, including vandalizing The Strokes' tour bus, and breaking into
Fred Durst's office at Interscope Records. While in the office, Buddyhead stole three of
Fred Durst's red baseball caps and took photos in front of
Limp Bizkit gold records. Afterwards, the hats were auctioned off on
eBay (selling for $1700 each), and the money was donated to a charity for rape victims, a stab at Durst for allegations of rape that had occurred in the mosh pit during
Limp Bizkit's set at
Woodstock '99. The label recently saw releases by Pyramyd, The Cauterizers, Rathbone and Problemas' debut LP. ==Roster==