Revolver Music

Revolver Music is a British independent record label created by Paul Birch in 1979. It began as a guitar-music imprint and became associated with a broad range of rock, punk, heavy metal, alternative, and specialist releases. The label's history is closely connected with a family of related imprints, particularly FM Records and Heavy Metal Records. FM Records and Revolver Records were brought together under the FM-Revolver name during the 1980s, while Heavy Metal Records had been established earlier and helped demonstrate the commercial potential of a focused British metal label. Revolver is best known for its early association with the Manchester band the Stone Roses. Through the Black Records imprint, a division of FM-Revolver created to promote the group, the label released the band's Sally Cinnamon EP. The Stone Roses later disputed or reneged on their contractual relationship with Revolver and moved to Silvertone, then part of the Zomba Group. Although the association was commercially short-lived, it became one of the most notable episodes in the label's history and gave Black Records a lasting place in accounts of the Manchester independent music scene. Black Records was subsequently used for releases by other acts, including Crazyhead, the Pleasureheads, and the Wild Flowers. Revolver's wider roster included established punk and rock artists such as UK Subs and the Vibrators, as well as international and specialist acts. The label also issued the first self-titled album by Jane's Addiction in the United Kingdom. Other artists associated with Revolver releases included Ausgang, Bruce Cockburn, Be-Bop Deluxe, Karen Lawrence, the Plasmatics, Francis X and the Bushmen, Jayne County, Tyla of Dogs D'Amour, Peat Moss, 54-40, Vain, Tonic, Norman Connors, Rose Royce, Biomechanical, Babe Ruth Band, Madisuns, the OneThree, Greenhaus, and Elucidate. The connected FM label expanded the business beyond its original guitar-music focus. It operated under names including FM Records, FM Coast to Coast, FM Dance, and FM Revolver. FM became particularly associated with rock acts, including Magnum, whose 1985 album On a Storyteller's Night was an important release for the label. Its catalogue also included Asia, Atom Seed, Cloven Hoof, King Kobra, UFO, White Sister, Wrathchild, and numerous other rock and metal performers. FM Dance provided a separate home for acts such as Sister Sledge, Cecilia Ray, and Val Grant, illustrating the group's movement into dance and soul-oriented releases. Distribution arrangements changed over time. The FM label was distributed by BMG Ariola Munich and by BMG in the United Kingdom until 1991, by Sony Music Entertainment from 1991 to 2000, by Universal Music Group from 2000 to 2009, and by Plastic Head from 2009 onward. Revolver catalogue distribution has also been associated with Music Video Distributors in the United States and Canada, Plastic Head Distribution in the United Kingdom and Europe, and Victor Entertainment in Japan. The available reference material does not establish a current corporate structure, ownership arrangement, or definitive operating status for Revolver Music itself. It does indicate that FM material continues under the Revolver label.

Revolver Music was founded in Britain by Paul Birch in 1979 as a label focused on guitar music. Its development followed the emergence of Heavy Metal Records, which began in 1978 and achieved enough success to encourage a broader Revolver venture covering different forms of guitar-based music. The related labels operated as a connected group rather than as a single narrowly defined imprint. During the 1980s, FM Records and Revolver Records came together under the FM-Revolver or FM Revolver identity. The FM side of the business used several related presentations, including FM Records, FM Coast to Coast, FM Dance, and FM Revolver. This structure allowed the group to serve rock and metal audiences while also releasing dance, soul, jazz, and other specialist material. FM's rock profile was strengthened by its association with Magnum, particularly through the 1985 release of On a Storyteller's Night. The label also handled a wide range of other performers, including Asia, UFO, King Kobra, White Sister, Wrathchild, and acts connected with the British and international metal scenes. Revolver's most prominent artist relationship was with the Stone Roses. The group released the Sally Cinnamon EP through the Black Records imprint, which had been created within FM-Revolver as an independent vehicle to promote the band. The Stone Roses subsequently left the arrangement and moved to Silvertone, a label associated with the Zomba Group. Black Records continued beyond the Stone Roses project and issued work by Crazyhead, the Pleasureheads, and the Wild Flowers. The Revolver family maintained a broad roster. Its releases included punk acts such as UK Subs and the Vibrators, alternative and rock performers such as 54-40 and Vain, and artists from jazz, soul, and other genres. Revolver also issued the first self-titled Jane's Addiction album in the United Kingdom. The label's catalogue therefore combined new independent signings with releases aimed at specialist rock, metal, and crossover audiences. Distribution relationships changed across the label's history. FM material was distributed through BMG Ariola Munich and BMG in the United Kingdom until 1991, Sony Music Entertainment from 1991 to 2000, Universal Music Group from 2000 to 2009, and Plastic Head from 2009 onward. Revolver's output was distributed in North America by Music Video Distributors, in the United Kingdom and Europe by Plastic Head Distribution, and in Japan by Victor Entertainment. The available material does not provide a confirmed current owner, executive roster, headquarters beyond London, or formal closure date. It does state that FM Records continues under the Revolver label, so the precise present-day status of the wider Revolver Music entity remains unclear.

• 2009

  Plastic Head distribution period begins

  [1]Revolver Musicen.wikipedia.org

  Plastic Head becomes the stated distributor for the FM label from 2009 onward.

• 2000

  Universal distribution period begins

  [1]Revolver Musicen.wikipedia.org

  Universal Music Group becomes the stated distributor for FM releases from 2000 through 2009.

• 1991

  Sony distribution period begins

  [1]Revolver Musicen.wikipedia.org

  Sony Music Entertainment becomes the stated distributor for the FM label from 1991 through 2000.

• 1985

  Magnum releases On a Storyteller's Night

  [1]Revolver Musicen.wikipedia.org

  FM releases Magnum's On a Storyteller's Night, one of the label's notable rock releases.

• 1980

  FM and Revolver come together

  [1]Revolver Musicen.wikipedia.org

  FM Records and Revolver Records are brought together during the 1980s under the FM-Revolver identity.

• 1979

  Revolver Music is created

  [1]Revolver Musicen.wikipedia.org

  Paul Birch creates Revolver Music as a British label focused on guitar music.

• 1978

  Heavy Metal Records begins

  [1]Revolver Musicen.wikipedia.org

  Heavy Metal Records, later described as a sister label to Revolver, starts operating before the creation of Revolver Music.

An independent British label built around guitar music and expanded into punk, alternative rock, heavy metal, jazz, dance, soul, and catalogue projects through the Revolver, FM, Black Records, and Heavy Metal Records imprints.

• Record label · 1979

  Revolver Records

  The principal Revolver imprint began as a guitar-music label and later issued rock, punk, alternative, metal, and specialist recordings. Its associated artist history includes UK Subs, the Vibrators, Jane's Addiction, Bruce Cockburn, Be-Bop Deluxe, 54-40, Vain, Tonic, and other acts.

• Record label

  FM Records

  FM Records was a commonly owned sister label that later operated within the FM-Revolver structure. It focused heavily on rock and metal, with Magnum, Asia, UFO, King Kobra, White Sister, Wrathchild, and many other acts among its associated releases. The FM name also appeared as FM Coast to Coast, FM Dance, and FM Revolver.

• Independent imprint

  Black Records

  Black Records was created as an FM-Revolver imprint to promote the Stone Roses. It released the band's Sally Cinnamon EP and was later used for material by Crazyhead, the Pleasureheads, and the Wild Flowers.

• Heavy metal record label · 1978

  Heavy Metal Records

  Heavy Metal Records is a sister label that predates Revolver. It operated under names including Heavy Metal Records, Heavy Metal America, and Heavy Metal Worldwide, and its success helped lead to the creation of Revolver as a broader guitar-music venture.

• 1985

  Release Magnum's On a Storyteller's NightProduct launch

  Background

  FM sought to establish a significant presence in rock and melodic hard rock.

  Action taken

  The label released Magnum's On a Storyteller's Night.

  Aftermath

  The album became one of the releases most associated with FM's rock identity.

  Source

• 1980

  Combine FM Records and Revolver RecordsStrategy

  Background

  The two commonly owned labels operated in overlapping rock and guitar-music territory during the 1980s.

  Action taken

  They were brought together under the FM-Revolver or FM Revolver identity while retaining multiple label presentations.

  Aftermath

  The combined structure supported a broader roster spanning rock, metal, dance, soul, jazz, and catalogue releases.

  Source

1. 1Revolver Musicen.wikipedia.org