Sub Pop Records
Sub Pop is a Seattle, Washington-based record label famous for first signing Nirvana, Soundgarden, and other grunge bands.
Sub Pop was started by Bruce Pavitt in 1980 as a fanzine called Subterranean Pop (Sub Pop, starting with issue 2), which, inspired by the Fast Forward cassette fanzine, began alternating issues with compilation tapes of American bands (though several foreign bands did appear on Sub Pop cassettes). There were nine issues of Sub Pop in all: six magazines and three cassettes (issues 5, 7, and 9). After issue 9, Sub Pop switched to an all-cassette format, but the amount of work required scuttled the project. It continued as a column in the Seattle newspaper The Rocket for several more years.
Kim Thayil of Soundgarden introduced Pavitt to Jonathan Poneman, and the two decided to form a record label.
Other artists who have been signed to Sub Pop or had material released through them include Tad, The Shins, Afghan Whigs, Screaming Trees, Mudhoney, L7, and Hot Hot Heat.
Sub Pop is also known for sales representative Megan Jasper, who created the hoax of grunge speak.
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