Sellout: The Major-Label Feeding Frenzy That Swept Punk, Emo, and Hardcore (1994-2007)

By Dan Ozzi

Book Overview

NATIONAL BESTSELLER

AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

"Ozzi's reporting is strong, balanced and well told...a worthy successor to its obvious inspiration, Michael Azerrad's 2001 examination of the '80s indie underground, Our Band Could Be Your Life."--New York Times Book Review

A raucous history of punk, emo, and hardcore's growing pains during the commercial boom of the early 90s and mid-aughts, following eleven bands as they "sell out" and find mainstream fame, or break beneath the weight of it all.

Punk rock found itself at a crossroads in the mid-90's. After indie favorite Nirvana catapulted into the mainstream with its unexpected phenomenon, Nevermind, rebellion was suddenly en vogue. Looking to replicate the band's success, major record labels set their sights on the underground, and began courting punk's rising stars. But the DIY punk scene, which had long prided itself on its trademark authenticity and anti-establishment ethos, wasn't quite ready to let their homegrown acts go without a fight. The result was a schism: those who accepted the cash flow of the majors, and those who defiantly clung to their indie cred.

In Sellout, seasoned music writer Dan Ozzi chronicles this embattled era in punk. Focusing on eleven prominent bands who made the jump from indie to major, Sellout charts the twists and turns of the last "gold rush" of the music industry, where some groups "sold out" and rose to surprise super stardom, while others buckled under mounting pressures. Sellout is both a gripping history of the music industry's evolution, and a punk rock lover's guide to the chaotic darlings of the post-grunge era, featuring original interviews and personal stories from members of modern punk's most (in)famous bands:

Green DayJawbreakerJimmy Eat WorldBlink-182At the Drive-InThe DonnasThursdayThe DistillersMy Chemical RomanceRise AgainstAgainst Me!

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0063269147
• ISBN13: 9780063269149
• Release Date: October 2022
• Publisher: Dey Street Books
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 0.82 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.2" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

Great History of the Genre

This book has been on my to read list for several years now and I finally gave up on my local library stocking it on their shelves. I was not disappointed with it and it proved both an interesting read and a great research resource for a project I am working on. It's clear that Ozzi has a great fondness for many of the bands he discusses.