Music

R.I.P Lookout Records, 1987-2012

by Tyler Munro

One of punk rock’s most important labels has reportedly closed its doors for good, with Ted Leo blogging today that Lookout Records has, uh… “shut its doors for good.” While the label stopped releasing new music six years ago, it had up until this point continued to keep publishing its back catalogue. No more, says Leo, who says he know has complete ownership over his records.

Lookout Records was an integral part in kick-starting the pop-punk boom of the early-to-mid 1990s, giving bands like Screeching Weasel, Operation Ivy and Green Day the exposure and distribution they deserved. For their part, Green Day also had a hand in neutralizing the label’s financial gains. As Alternative Press points out, the American Idiots rescinded their masters from the label back in 2005, citing unpaid royalties.