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TKO Records

From Alfawiki
TKO Records
Company typeIndependent record label
IndustryMusic
Founded1997
FounderMark Rainey
Headquarters
Portland
,
United States
Area served
United States
ProductsPunk rock music, record releases, reissues, archival projects

TKO Records operates as an independent punk rock label headquartered in Portland, Oregon. Established in 1997 by Mark Rainey, it swiftly became a key player within the late 1990s American street punk movement. The label is distinguished for its combination of fresh releases, archival projects, and reissues. It earned accolades from OC Weekly, being named Orange County's "best record label" in 2011, while its retail outlet was honored as the "best punk-rock record store" in 2008.

History

Mark Rainey founded TKO Records in 1997, initially based in San Francisco, California. The label gained early momentum through releases by influential bands such as Dropkick Murphys, Lower Class Brats, Anti-Heros, Swingin' Utters, and U.S. Bombs. This helped shape the distinctive sound and style of U.S. street punk. Over time, TKO broadened its artist lineup to feature established punk veterans including Cocksparrer, Angelic Upstarts, the Partisans, Chelsea, and The Business.

Around the year 2000, the label relocated to Orange County, California and continued to expand its influence, releasing music from "Beach Punk" groups like the Smut Peddlers, the Stitches, Smogtown, and Broken Bottles, while maintaining a steady output of street punk and Oi! records.

In celebration of its tenth anniversary in 2007, TKO inaugurated a record store in Fountain Valley, California. Since then, the label has issued reissues and archival collections from seminal punk acts such as Poison Idea, T.S.O.L., The Meatmen, and Iron Cross. It also fostered emerging talent including Giuda. The store later moved to Huntington Beach, California in 2013, becoming a venue for events with punk authors like Tesco Vee and Jack Grisham, as well as live shows featuring Deniz Tek and Chuck Dukowski. The shop specialized in hard-to-find and out-of-print records alongside new releases across genres like punk, hardcore, garage, reggae, ska, rock, and metal.

TKO Records shifted its base to Portland, Oregon in Fall 2014. Following a change in ownership in 2016, the Huntington Beach store ceased operations in January 2020.

In addition to TKO Records, Mark Rainey collaborated with Ken Casey of Dropkick Murphys to co-run the Flat Records imprint. Flat Records focused on hardcore bands such as Agnostic Front and Blood For Blood.

Recent Roster

  • ANTiSEEN (2000–Present)
  • Death Ridge Boys (2023)
  • Long Knife (2023)
  • Lower Class Brats (1997–Present)
  • No Time (2023)
  • Poison Idea (2007–Present)
  • Rose Of Victory (2022)
  • Savage Beat (2022)
  • Soft Kill (2020)
  • the Templars (1997–Present)
  • Tyrant (2023)

Former


Flat Records roster

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