Wiki

Hellcat Records is a vanity record label based in Los Angeles, California. The label, an off-shoot of Epitaph Records, was started as a partnership between the owner of Epitaph, Brett Gurewitz from Bad Religion and Tim Armstrong of Rancid, the latter of which is generally responsible for signing the bands.

The label specializes in ska, punk, oi!, psychobilly and hardcore bands. Give ‘Em the Boot, a Hellcat label sampler which also includes tracks from other up-and-coming independent bands, has been issued every other year since 1997, with the exception of the third release which was released 3 years after the second.

Movies ——————-
In 2005, a Give ‘Em the Boot DVD was released, featuring tour footage of numerous Hellcat bands.

On January 15, 2006, the label released Live Freaky! Die Freaky!, a full-length movie produced by Tim Armstrong, and filmed using marionettes. The plot involves Charlie Manson returning to a post-apocalyptic Earth, and features the voice talents of the members of Rancid, Green Day, and The Transplants, among numerous others.

Bands ———————
This list includes bands which are currently active on Hellcat.

The Aggrolites
Tim Armstrong
Dropkick Murphys
The Heart Attacks
Hepcat
Horrorpops
Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards
Left Alone
Mercy Killers
Nekromantix
Orange
Rancid
The Slackers
Society’s Parasites
Static Thought
Tiger Army
Time Again
The Unseen
Westbound Train

Defunct bands
This list includes now defunct bands that finished their careers on Hellcat.

Choking Victim
F-Minus
Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros
The Nerve Agents
U.S. Roughnecks

Former bands
The following bands have either departed to other record labels or were dropped.

DAVE HILLYARD AND THE ROCKSTEADY SEVEN
The Distillers
The Gadjits
King Django
Leftover Crack
Mouthwash
The Pietasters
Roger Miret and the Disasters
Transplants
Union 13
U.S. Bombs

Controversy ——————-
Hellcat Records has been involved in a feud with one of its former bands, Leftover Crack, over censorship issues. Leftover Crack wanted their 2001 debut album to be titled Shoot the Kids at School, with the cover art depicting a gun-toting arm aiming at a playground. In the aftermath of the Columbine High School massacre, Hellcat refused to allow this, so the band titled their album Mediocre Generica in protest, as a veiled reference to what they viewed as the mediocrity of the bands on Hellcat’s label. This incident ultimately led to Leftover Crack departing the label.

After leaving the label, Leftover Crack has accused Hellcat Records of promoting sexism and homophobia within the punk community. Their accusations are based on allegedly homophobic lyrics by the now-departed U.S. Bombs, Hellcat’s attempted signing of controversial reggae artist Buju Banton, and Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards’ use of naked women in label art.