Label May Reissue TSOL And AFI Albums

Dexter Holland is following a fine lineage with his activities outside the realm of the Offspring. Like Dead Kennedys' Jello Biafra with his Alternative Tentacles label and Fugazi's Ian MacKaye with Dischord, he's putting his time and -- thanks to the sales of the Smash album -- not inconsiderable bucks back into the "punk" scene via his label, Nitro.
"I wanted to start a label," says the ever- affable Holland, "that could help promote other bands that I thought were deserving. The idea for me is not to sign a whole bunch of bands but to try to sign a few and try to really promote them as much as I can. So many labels just sign as much as they can, and it's like throw the shit at the wall and see what sticks. I just don't believe in that. We've got five -- the Vandals, Guttermouth, AFI, Jughead's Revenge, and One Hit Wonder."
"This year we'll have a release from Guttermouth and the Vandals and AFI for sure," he continues. "I don't think Jughead's Revenge are going to put out a record this year and One Hit Wonder have their first one already. I might put out an old record by AFI, their first one."
Being on a label run by the singer of one of the biggest acts around of course has its pros and cons. On the upside -- and it's a big upside -- is the exposure. On the downhill run there's the notion that the acts are operating in the shadow of the Offspring's towering stack of platinum sales awards. But as far as Holland is concerned, all the acts can and do stand on their own terms.
"Guttermouth lived in our neighbourhood, and when we'd go and see a local Guttermouth show in our town they'd draw like 500 kids and they'd be going bonkers," says Holland. "It was obvious that kids are going to like this band. It was just a matter of someone putting the record out and getting them on tour and stuff. The thing was, I couldn't get anybody else to sign them. I tried pitching them to other labels and no one wanted to sign them. I always wanted to have a label anyway, so I just decided to put them out. They were the first release."
In addition to new acts, Nitro had reissued the Offspring's self- titled 1989 debut album and Holland has hopes of re- releasing some other classic punk recordings.
"Well, funny you should mention that," he laughs. "I don't even know if I should tell you this because it hasn't really gone through yet, but it looks like I'm going to buy the first TSOL record, the old black EP with 'Abolish Government' and stuff. I'm so stoked. TSOL were our idols when we were starting a band. We haven't signed on the dotted line, but it's pretty much a done deal. That's a great record."
Don't let all this business talk and the huge aquarium in Holland's office at Nitro in Huntington Beach, California fool you. Holland doesn't bullshit down the line about doing lunch and no one calls him Mr Holland.
"I really try not to run it that way," he says. "I like having a label, but I don't want to be the label guy. I'd rather be the band guy. If you had a choice between the business side and the band side, I think most people would take the band side. I don't need any more spotlight."