Cock Rock Disco

Cock Rock Disco is an independent American record label and music platform established by electronic musician Jason Forrest in New York City in 2000. The label began as a vehicle for Forrest's own recordings and developed into a broader outlet for noisy experimental electronica, breakcore, mash-up-informed production, and unconventional club music. Its identity is closely associated with the aesthetics of digital sampling, recontextualized popular culture, deliberately abrasive sound design, irreverent artwork, and an open approach to emerging artists. During its first years, Cock Rock Disco primarily functioned as a self-release operation. Forrest issued early recordings on CD-R, including Rock Non Rock and the unreleased full-length Belligerent Super Vision. This early period reflected the label's informal, do-it-yourself structure: the label was not built around a conventional commercial catalogue so much as around Forrest's personal network, visual work, and interest in experimental music that could circulate outside mainstream industry channels. The label expanded its roster in 2005, when it began releasing music by artists such as Duran Duran Duran, Drumcorps, Otto von Schirach, About, the Assdroids, and Dev/Null. Its output included full-length albums, 12-inch releases, and free digital albums. By late 2009, reference material described a catalogue of 18 full-length releases and 15 12-inch-only releases, alongside a growing series of free MP3 albums. The label's digital distribution model helped it reach listeners internationally, including through a free full-length MP3 release reported to have exceeded 70,000 downloads. Cock Rock Disco also operated as a community and event platform. In 2009 it issued the free compilation Monsters of Cock Rock Disco, featuring established label artists and newer participants such as Captain Ahab. The compilation was supported by a two-week Central European tour involving Otto von Schirach, Duran Duran Duran, Nero's Day at Disneyland, and Forrest performing as DJ Donna Summer. A limited tour poster sold out, illustrating the label's combination of music, visual design, live performance, and collectible physical culture. Forrest designed much of Cock Rock Disco's visual identity, including the website, many album covers, and online promotional material. This integrated approach made the label a direct extension of his artistic practice. The label's output sat within a wider network of projects involving radio, festivals, online video, and experimental media. Forrest co-founded the Wasted Festival in 2005, a breakcore-focused event series that operated in cooperation with Club Transmediale and ran at least ten events. He later co-founded the online television and magazine project Network Awesome, launched in 2011. In 2015, Cock Rock Disco was relaunched. Many earlier releases were made available again as free MP3 downloads, while the label continued to issue new music and videos. The available reference material does not provide a current corporate structure, headquarters, financial information, or a complete recent catalogue. Cock Rock Disco is best understood as an artist-led independent label whose significance lies in its support for experimental electronic music, its early use of free digital distribution, and its blend of record-label, design, touring, and community functions.

Jason Forrest created Cock Rock Disco in New York City in 2000 as an outlet for his own experimental electronic recordings. Forrest was known for noisy electronica and breakcore built from digital samples, found sounds, and reworked elements of other artists' music. That creative method shaped the label's identity from the beginning: Cock Rock Disco treated the record label as part of a wider artistic practice involving sound, design, performance, and the appropriation of popular-culture imagery. For roughly its first three years, the label concentrated on Forrest's own work and issued early albums in a self-released CD-R format. Rock Non Rock was among these early releases, while Belligerent Super Vision was an early full-length that remained unreleased. The label's informal production model allowed Forrest to control recording, packaging, and presentation without relying on a conventional record-company infrastructure. In 2005 Cock Rock Disco broadened its remit and began releasing other artists. The roster cited in reference material includes Duran Duran Duran, Drumcorps, Otto von Schirach, About, the Assdroids, and Dev/Null. The catalogue developed across several formats: full-length releases, 12-inch records, and free MP3-only albums. By November 2009, the label was described as having 18 full-length releases and 15 12-inch-only releases, with 19 free MP3 albums available or in development. A free digital full-length released in December 2005 was reported to have received more than 70,000 downloads. The label used compilations and live events to connect its catalogue to the international breakcore and experimental electronic scenes. In April 2009 it released Monsters of Cock Rock Disco, a free compilation that included newer contributors such as Captain Ahab alongside more established artists. To support the release, Cock Rock Disco organized a two-week Central European tour featuring Otto von Schirach, Duran Duran Duran, Nero's Day at Disneyland, and Forrest performing as DJ Donna Summer. The tour visited ten cities and included a limited poster that sold out. Cock Rock Disco's presentation was strongly shaped by Forrest, who designed much of the label's website, album artwork, and online presence. The label therefore operated not only as a catalogue owner but also as a platform for visual experimentation and music discovery. Its free-download policy anticipated the importance of direct digital circulation for independent electronic music, while its physical editions and touring activities maintained links to underground record culture. The label existed within a larger group of projects associated with Forrest. In 2005 he co-founded the Wasted Festival, a breakcore and related-music event series developed in cooperation with Club Transmediale and held at least ten times. In 2008 he co-founded the club-oriented label Nightshifters with New York DJ Jubilee; Nightshifters was separate from Cock Rock Disco and focused on shorter digital releases, remixes, and dance-floor music. In 2011 Forrest and Greg Sadetsky launched Network Awesome, an online television and magazine project that later went offline. Cock Rock Disco was relaunched in 2015. The relaunch restored many previous releases as free MP3 downloads and continued the label's publication of new music and videos. The supplied reference material does not establish a current legal entity, physical headquarters, revenue, ownership structure beyond Forrest's founding role, or a definitive present-day release schedule. Its documented history nevertheless identifies Cock Rock Disco as a notable artist-run outlet for experimental electronic music and breakcore, distinguished by a broad international roster, free digital distribution, DIY design, and event-based community building.

• 2015

  Cock Rock Disco is relaunched

  [1]Jason Forresten.wikipedia.org

  Earlier releases are restored as free MP3 downloads and the label resumes issuing music and videos.

• 2009

  Monsters of Cock Rock Disco is issued

  [1]Jason Forresten.wikipedia.org

  A free compilation introduces or highlights artists from the label's experimental electronic network.

• 2009

  Central European compilation tour

  [1]Jason Forresten.wikipedia.org

  The label supports its compilation with a two-week, ten-city Central European tour featuring several associated artists and Forrest.

• 2005

  The label expands to other artists

  [1]Jason Forresten.wikipedia.org

  Cock Rock Disco starts releasing music by artists beyond Forrest, including Duran Duran Duran, Drumcorps, and Otto von Schirach.

• 2005

  Free digital distribution becomes a major channel

  [1]Jason Forresten.wikipedia.org

  The label offers a full-length MP3 album as a free download, later reported to have exceeded 70,000 downloads.

• 2003

  Early self-release period ends

  [1]Jason Forresten.wikipedia.org

  After approximately three years of CD-R self-releases, the label begins moving toward a broader catalogue and artist roster.

• 2000

  Cock Rock Disco is founded

  [1]Jason Forresten.wikipedia.org

  Jason Forrest creates the label in New York City to release his own recordings.

An artist-led independent label for experimental electronic and breakcore music, positioned around DIY production, unconventional digital distribution, sample-based experimentation, irreverent visual culture, and international underground music networks.

• Music albums · 2000

  Cock Rock Disco full-length releases

  The label's full-length catalogue centers on experimental electronic music, breakcore, noise, and sample-based compositions. Early releases were self-issued by Jason Forrest, while later albums expanded to a roster of associated artists. By late 2009, the label was described as having 18 full-length releases.

• Vinyl records

  Cock Rock Disco 12-inch releases

  Cock Rock Disco also issued limited 12-inch releases connected to its breakcore and underground electronic catalogue. These physical releases complemented the label's free digital distribution and helped preserve a traditional collector-oriented format within its otherwise highly DIY operation.

• Digital music · 2005

  Free MP3 albums and compilations

  Free MP3 releases became a defining part of Cock Rock Disco's distribution model. The label circulated standalone albums and compilations online, including Monsters of Cock Rock Disco, and restored many earlier releases as free downloads during its 2015 relaunch.

• Compilation album · 2009

  Monsters of Cock Rock Disco

  This free 2009 compilation gathered artists associated with the label and included newer contributors such as Captain Ahab. Its release was paired with a Central European tour, making it both a catalogue product and a promotional platform for the label's wider community.

• 2009Monsters of Cock Rock Disco Central European Tour

  Central Europe

  Cock Rock Disco supported the free Monsters of Cock Rock Disco compilation with a two-week tour involving Otto von Schirach, Duran Duran Duran, Nero's Day at Disneyland, and Jason Forrest performing as DJ Donna Summer. The tour stopped in ten cities and used a limited poster as a physical promotional item.

  Outcome. The limited-edition tour poster sold out; the supplied material does not provide attendance or financial results.

  Source

• 2015

  Relaunch the label catalogueStrategy

  Background

  Cock Rock Disco had accumulated an earlier catalogue of physical and digital releases.

  Action taken

  The label restored many previous releases as free MP3 downloads and continued releasing new music and videos.

  Aftermath

  The relaunch extended the availability of the back catalogue and reaffirmed the label's digital-first, artist-led model.

  Source

• 2005

  Expand from self-releases to a multi-artist labelStrategy

  Background

  Cock Rock Disco initially existed mainly to publish Jason Forrest's own music through CD-R self-releases.

  Action taken

  The label began signing or issuing releases by other experimental electronic and breakcore artists, including Duran Duran Duran, Drumcorps, Otto von Schirach, About, the Assdroids, and Dev/Null.

  Aftermath

  The catalogue grew into a multi-format, internationally oriented independent label.

  Source

• 2005

  Adopt free MP3 distributionStrategy

  Background

  The label sought to circulate experimental music beyond conventional physical-release channels.

  Action taken

  Cock Rock Disco made full-length albums and later compilations available as free MP3 downloads.

  Aftermath

  One free full-length release was reported to have exceeded 70,000 downloads, and free digital albums became a recurring part of the label's identity.

  Source

• 2015

  Cock Rock Disco relaunches its catalogue and activities[1]Jason Forresten.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The label was relaunched, with earlier releases returning as free MP3 downloads and new music and videos continuing to appear.

• 2009

  Monsters of Cock Rock Disco compilation is released[1]Jason Forresten.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Campaign

  Cock Rock Disco issued a free compilation featuring label regulars and newer artists, including Captain Ahab.

• 2005

  Cock Rock Disco begins releasing music by other artists[1]Jason Forresten.wikipedia.org

  Other

  After initially serving as a vehicle for Jason Forrest's own recordings, Cock Rock Disco expanded its activities to issue music by artists including Duran Duran Duran, Drumcorps, Otto von Schirach, About, the Assdroids, and Dev/Null.

• 2005

  Cock Rock Disco releases a free full-length MP3 album[1]Jason Forresten.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Other

  The label made a full-length MP3 album available for free download. Reference material reported more than 70,000 downloads, although the specific title is not identified in the supplied material.

1. 1Jason Forresten.wikipedia.org