Named after a
Public Image Limited song, Poptones was seen as something of a return to the staunchly independent roots of Creation, and also included a re-issue label called
From The Vaults and a reggae label run by his wife (Frazier Chorus' Kate Holmes) called
In Dub. Poptones' record sleeves were designed by Mike Alway of
él Records and its first releases included licensed product by
The Montgolfier Brothers,
Outrageous Cherry and
El Vez. Most notably, the label arranged a licensing deal with Sweden's
Burning Heart Records and launched the career of
The Hives in the UK. Poptones' roster included acts such as the former Creation band
Arnold, psychedelic DJ
Cherrystones, ex-
Beta Band member
Steve Mason's
King Biscuit Time,
Thee Unstrung, January, The Mardous,
The Boxer Rebellion,
The Icarus Line's sister project Souls She Said, Sailboats are White, Viking Moses,
Beachbuggy, Special Needs and acey-folk acts The Singleman Affair and
Pure Reason Revolution and Trashmonk, a project of
Nick Laird-Clowes. Poptones reportedly was close to signing
Hole after they left
Universal Music Group and before their demise in 2002. In 2002, Poptones gained national success and media with The Hives'
Your New Favourite Band album, Main Offender 7" (which featured "Lost And Found" originally performed by The Saints as a B-Side), and Supply And Demand/The Stomp 7".
Your New Favourite Band album contained the international hits "Hate To Say I Told You So", "Main Offender", "Supply And Demand", "Die, Alright", and "Outsmarted" off
Veni Vidi Vicious (Epitaph/Sire/Reprise Records), as well the Independent success of "Here We Go Again", "A.K.A. I-D-I-O-T", "Automatic Schmuck", and "Hail Hail Spit N'Drool" off
Barely Legal (Burning Heart/Epitaph/Gearhead Records). In May 2007, McGee told
The Independent newspaper that he was winding down Poptones for financial reasons. ==See also==