Bad Stain Records

Bad Stain Records is an independent record label based out of Phoenix, AZ that started in 1995. The label is primarily focused on American Punk Rock bands, and was started Kris Johnson, Kelly Johnson, and Chase Stain (best known as lead singer and bassist of the Punk band Numbers On Napkins, and as the founder of the AZ Ska Punk Awards).

Bad Stain Records has released over 30 albums from various artists, including Numbers On Napkins, ATM, Mr. Plow, United Magnetics and Swallow This. They are best known for their “Punk til ya…” series of compilations that feature various bands and solo artists from across the world. Bad Stain Records gained exposure from the compilations thanks to working with other record labels like Fearless Records, Lobster Records, Capitol Records, and various others. Labels supported Bad Stain by contributing artists for the compilations ranging from well known independent bands like Less Than Jake, The Weakerthans, But Alive, Bickley, Link 80, 30 Foot Fall, Gob, Big Wig and At the Drive-In, to lesser known bands like F.Y.P. and Whippersnapper. This gave the label the advantage of putting their own artists like Dirty Laundry, D-I-X, and Subject Mad on the releases that helped gain more exposure to artists on Bad Stain Records.

According to their website, Bad Stain offers generous deals in comparison to other labels, and gives 50% of their profits to their artists. In addition, Bad Stain Records is truly unique because they do not exclusively sign bands to the label, giving them the freedom to work with other labels. They also state that they seldom sign bands for longer than a one album contract.

Employees are also treated well, with every employee making an equal share, including the President of the label, Chase Stain. The label is run by various supporters of the local underground music scene of Phoenix, AZ. Vice President for the label (Tad Gurthman) and President of A&R (Moe Money) are both local musicians, as is their Head of Booking (Matt Martini), and A&R rep (B-Hound Jamison). Their Head of Promotions (Mel “Just Mel”, according to her contact info on the official website) is a manager for various bands. Even their head of Public Relations (Elise Fauls) is a local writer for an independent Phoenix zine, and their Head of Advertising (Garrett Togstad) and Vice President of A&R (Chrissy Fauls) are both promoters that work at venues in Phoenix.

The label also supports local music by sponsoring over a dozen annual events in Phoenix, including the AZ Ska Punk Awards, when they offer their website as a place for fans to vote for their favorite bands online. The label also throws an annual birthday party for themselves and brings out various artists from around the country, sometimes around the world, to perform (according to their articles in The Phoenix New Times & College Times). At the birthday parties, the label offers hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars worth of prizes to be given away as a “thank you” to the supporters of the label. Bad Stain Records also contributes a great deal of cash to various charities, and in 2005, gave $2,000 to House of James Orphanages. When one of the founders and current Head of Mail Order, Kris Johnson was shot in a bar parking lot, the label worked with local venues to throw two separate shows to help pay for his medical bills. The label raised over $10,000 for Johnson, who made a full recovery.

Over the years, Bad Stain Records has grown to have over 60 distributors and their releases can be found at dozens of websites.

Current and Former Bands
Numbers On Napkins

ATM

Mr. Plow

Chase Stain

Three Chord Mafia

Dirty Laundry

D-I-X

United Magnetics

Corrupt Citizen

All Mouth No Trousers

Left Right Combo

Yellow Sloth Chicken Broth

Subject Mad

Swallow This

The Imports

Scratch N' Sniff

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