Tombstone Records
An independent American record label associated particularly with Dead Moon and Portland's underground rock scene.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Tombstone Records was an independent record label connected to the Portland, Oregon music community and especially known for issuing early recordings by the rock band Dead Moon. The label took its name from the musical-equipment store operated by Fred Cole and Kathleen “Toody” Cole, who formed Dead Moon with drummer Andrew Loomis in 1987. Rather than functioning solely as a conventional commercial label, Tombstone also served practical needs within the local independent-music network. The Coles used the operation to provide relatively inexpensive mastering and record duplication for other bands, giving it a cooperative and service-oriented character. Dead Moon’s earliest records, including the band’s 1988 debut album In the Graveyard, appeared on Tombstone Records. The label’s releases reflected the group’s deliberately raw production methods and stripped-down musical identity. Fred Cole engineered much of the band’s material and mastered recordings with a mono recording lathe associated with the Kingsmen’s version of “Louie Louie.” The resulting records combined punk intensity with country and dark-rock influences, and they helped establish the label’s reputation within the American underground scene. Tombstone’s role was primarily domestic. Dead Moon later attracted the attention of the German independent label Music Maniac Records, which released and distributed much of the band’s catalog internationally. As a result, the group developed a particularly strong following in Europe, while Tombstone remained an important U.S. outlet. Dead Moon also recorded for other labels, including Empty Records, so Tombstone was one part of a broader network of independent releases rather than the band’s exclusive home. The label’s known association with Dead Moon includes studio, compilation, live, and single releases across the late 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. Dead Moon initially ended its activities in 2006, reunited for performances beginning in 2013, and ceased again after the deaths of Andrew Loomis in 2016 and Fred Cole in 2017. Those events affected the central act most closely identified with Tombstone, but the available reference material does not establish whether Tombstone Records formally closed, continued operating, or transferred its catalog. Its present corporate or operational status is therefore unconfirmed.
History
Tombstone Records emerged from the Portland, Oregon independent-music environment surrounding Fred Cole and Kathleen “Toody” Cole. The couple operated a musical-equipment store, and the label was named after that business. Its best-documented activity is connected with Dead Moon, the rock band formed by Fred and Toody Cole with drummer Andrew Loomis in 1987. Dead Moon developed a stark, low-budget sound that drew on punk, country, and darker rock traditions. The group’s early records were released through Tombstone, beginning with In the Graveyard in 1988. Fred Cole handled much of the engineering and used a mono recording lathe linked to the history of the Kingsmen’s recording of “Louie Louie.” This approach contributed to the direct, unpolished character of the label’s output and to Dead Moon’s reputation within underground music. Tombstone was not only a vehicle for the Coles’ own band. It also offered inexpensive mastering and duplication for other groups. The available account characterizes the operation more as a cooperative resource than as a conventional promotional company. This distinction helps explain its importance: Tombstone supported the physical production of independent music while operating within a local scene rather than pursuing the scale or commercial infrastructure of a major label. During the 1990s and 2000s, Dead Moon’s international profile grew. German independent label Music Maniac Records released much of the band’s material outside the United States, while Tombstone remained associated with U.S. editions and releases. Dead Moon’s catalog included studio albums, compilations, live recordings, and singles. The band’s European touring success preceded its broader U.S. touring presence, and much of its following was located in Europe. Dead Moon announced a breakup in December 2006 after its final performance of that touring period. The Coles subsequently formed Pierced Arrows, while Tombstone’s best-known catalog continued to define the label’s historical identity. Dead Moon reunited for performances in 2013, with later shows involving Kelly Halliburton after Loomis’s departure from the performance lineup. Loomis died from cancer in 2016, and Fred Cole died from cancer in 2017. The band’s second period ended after Cole’s death. The available sources do not document a formal closure, sale, ownership transfer, or current operating structure for Tombstone Records, so the label’s present status remains unknown.
- 2017
The label's principal associated act ends
[1]Following Fred Cole's death, Dead Moon ends its second period of activity.
- 2013
Dead Moon reunites
[1]Dead Moon returns for a performance at Portland's Crystal Ballroom and later reunion shows.
- 2006
Dead Moon's initial run ends
[1]The band releases Echoes of the Past and announces its breakup near the end of its 2006 tour.
- 1990
Dead Moon compilation releases expand the catalog
[1]Dead Moon Night and Thirteen Off My Hook are listed among the label-associated compilation releases.
- 1988
In the Graveyard is released
[1]Dead Moon's debut studio album is issued on Tombstone Records, establishing the label's documented recording identity.
- 1987
Dead Moon is formed
[1]Fred Cole, Toody Cole, and Andrew Loomis form Dead Moon in Portland, creating the act most closely associated with Tombstone Records.
Products and positioning
A Portland underground-music label and cooperative production outlet centered on independent rock recordings, with a strong association with Dead Moon.
Music catalog · 1988
Dead Moon recordings
Tombstone Records is chiefly documented as the U.S. label associated with Dead Moon. The catalog includes stripped-down underground rock shaped by punk, country, and dark-rock influences. Known releases span studio albums, compilations, live albums, and singles, with Fred Cole contributing substantially to recording and mastering. International editions were often handled by Music Maniac Records.
Music production service
Mastering and record duplication
In addition to releasing records, the Tombstone operation provided comparatively inexpensive mastering and duplication for other bands. Available descriptions present this activity as a cooperative service within Portland's independent music community rather than as a large-scale commercial manufacturing business.
Recent events
- 2017
Fred Cole dies after illness[1]
Other
Fred Cole, Dead Moon's singer, guitarist, principal recording engineer, and a key figure behind Tombstone Records, died from cancer at age 69. Dead Moon subsequently ended its activities.
- 2016
Andrew Loomis dies after illness[1]
Other
Andrew Loomis, Dead Moon's drummer and a central figure in the label's best-known catalog, died from cancer at age 54.
- 2013
Dead Moon reunites for Portland performance[1]
Other
Dead Moon reunited for a performance at Portland's Crystal Ballroom, beginning a series of reunion appearances connected with the band most closely associated with Tombstone Records.
- 2006
Dead Moon releases Echoes of the Past during final touring period[1]
Product launch · Other
Dead Moon issued the Echoes of the Past compilation while concluding its original touring period. The band announced its breakup in December 2006, making the release one of the final major releases associated with its first period of activity.
Sources1 sources
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