A fine example of two entities branching outside of their comfort zone while still doing something totally cool was revealed this week. Not only has former Million Dead vocalist Frank Turner become quite popular for his solo, folk singer-songwriter music but he's reached out to a decidedly non-folk, non-singer-songwriter label and they've reached back.
Turner announced that he has signed with prominent punk label Epitaph Records as his North American representatives.
Becoming a hot commodity over the past few years with two acclaimed albums - 2007's Sleep Is For The Week and 2008's Love, Ire And Song - Turner previously alluded that his third effort, Poetry Of The Dead, would be released this September. No word yet on if that will change given the new home but Love, Ire And Song has been assured as the Epitaph's first official Turner release and Poetry Of The Dead will quickly follow. As would be expected from a punk label, the concept of family has been left respectfully intact despite the new deal. Taking on Turner here, Epitaph has not touched his longstanding deal with the UK's Xtra Mile Records.
Even though he's traded in his leather jacket for an acoustic guitar, Turner is still quite proud of the pairing, saying, "Anyone with even a passing knowledge of punk rock will have some inkling of how fucking awesome this is. For many years (and this is pre-MySpace) the Epitaph logo was a badge of quality that meant I would buy the record, regardless of what it was. In so doing I got into almost all my favourite punk bands. They're still one of the best labels in the world, and they're independent to boot. It's also really important to me that they've accommodated me staying with Xtra Mile in the UK - those guys are my family, and there's no way I was going to jump ship."
Turner announced that he has signed with prominent punk label Epitaph Records as his North American representatives.
Becoming a hot commodity over the past few years with two acclaimed albums - 2007's Sleep Is For The Week and 2008's Love, Ire And Song - Turner previously alluded that his third effort, Poetry Of The Dead, would be released this September. No word yet on if that will change given the new home but Love, Ire And Song has been assured as the Epitaph's first official Turner release and Poetry Of The Dead will quickly follow. As would be expected from a punk label, the concept of family has been left respectfully intact despite the new deal. Taking on Turner here, Epitaph has not touched his longstanding deal with the UK's Xtra Mile Records.
Even though he's traded in his leather jacket for an acoustic guitar, Turner is still quite proud of the pairing, saying, "Anyone with even a passing knowledge of punk rock will have some inkling of how fucking awesome this is. For many years (and this is pre-MySpace) the Epitaph logo was a badge of quality that meant I would buy the record, regardless of what it was. In so doing I got into almost all my favourite punk bands. They're still one of the best labels in the world, and they're independent to boot. It's also really important to me that they've accommodated me staying with Xtra Mile in the UK - those guys are my family, and there's no way I was going to jump ship."
