For Sale: Sympathy for the Record Industry

After putting in 19 years and releasing over 750 records, Long Gone John is fixing to sell his Long Beach-based label, Sympathy for the Record Industry. He’s asking for $650,000, which is a downright steal, if you take into account the rich back catalog. The price includes all of SFTRI’s assets (master tapes, existing stock, distribution deals, website and mail-order business).

The company—which is a beloved haven for underground garage, psych and punk rock—had an uncanny knack for snagging exciting young bands that eventually went on to blow up (e.g., the White Stripes, Hole, the Electrocutes [who became the Donnas], Rocket from the Crypt, Turbonegro). Long Gone John also became infamous for his sneering contempt toward the business in which he operated and for his snide slogans (“We almost really care”; “A name you can pronounce since 1988”). In an interview with The Daily Swarm, LGJ said, “I wrote the notice a while ago and thought about putting it on eBay but never got around to it. The record industry has been complete shit for quite a while and this morning I was looking at it again and decided it was time. I want to solicit real interest.”

Interested suitors can contact LGJ at sympathy13@aol.com.

LGJ plans to move to Olympia, Washington, where vinyl records sound much better than they do in Long Beach.