Perhaps you don't believe me when I say Fat is in it for the
phat cash. I hope you're hungry, because you're about to eat your words. An interview I read has some
choice quotes from Fat Mike. When asked how punk had changed, Mikey had this to say: "More people like [punk]... and you can make money with
it."
And if all this hasn't convinced you, dearest reader, to join me
in my disdain for Fat, consider this: most Fat bands sound like NOFX. Reason enough?
Fat Wreck Chords. I can't explain how bad this label is. Simply despicable.
But I'll try.
Those damn cartoons are just too much. Take a look at your typical Fat release. I
guarantee this: there will be some reference to either sex or beer. Wow, that's really
cool. Really smashing the state! For a label claiming to produce punk rock,
anti-mainstream records (more on this later), the fatheads behind Fat are about as punk as
Regis Philbin.
Corruption! Screeching Weasel, never a pc
band by any means, at least refrained from featuring scantily-clad women on their album
covers. But their newish record, Bark Like a Dog, has an quasi-S&M woman comic on the
front. Their old records on Lookout! didn't have that. I know the "Janelle"
7-inch had a woman-in-bra picture, but that's from the fifties and it fit in with their
fifties-photo theme. But this cartoon realm is a new thing. Does Fat = bad comic album
art? Very shady.
Would you like to buy some punk rock?
Take a look at a Fat ad; there are lots in MRR and Spin. Notice how many of them say
"PUNK ROCK!" or something similar. Now wait a goll-darn minute. If you are
reading MRR or another punky publication, wouldn't you think most bands in there are punk?
If I'm reading MRR, I doubt I'm going to find a Hanson ad. Fat uses the punk idea to sell.
It's as simple as that. They want our money, punk is in, and if they label something punk,
it will likely sell better. For cryin' out loud, they make NOFX skate shorts, hats,
wallets. Mass merchandising is a large part of Fat's plan. Take a field trip to the local
Sam Goody or Camelot. Look around the t-shirts section and there will likely be Fat
goodies. It's all about money, not about us. Whose money do you think helped to pay for
Strung Out's tour bus?
