This article is about the record label, not the year 4

British indie rock record label, 4AD, was started in 1979 by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, funded by Beggars Banquet Records. It was originally christened Axis Records, but this was quickly changed to 4AD when it became apparent that the name Axis was already being used by another music company. In 1980 Peter Kent left the company to start another label (also funded by Beggars Banquet): Situation Two Records. Shortly afterwards, Ivo invited the graphic designer Vaughan Oliver to create sleeve art for the label and as a result 4AD quickly acquired a visually distinctive identity which complemented the artful and atmospheric music that it was releasing at that time. Its artists like the Cocteau Twins and Dead Can Dance developed substantial cult followings in the mid-1980s, but 4AD continued to evolve, and, after signing Throwing Muses and Pixies, the label increasingly concentrated on underground American rock music. At the same time, 4AD somehow had a freak UK Number One hit in the early days of House music with the collaged and influential "Pump Up The Volume" by M/A/R/R/S. In the 1990s, 4AD established an office in Los Angeles and enjoyed success with The Breeders, Red House Painters, and many others. In 1999, Ivo Watts-Russell sold his share in 4AD back to the Beggars Group (as it had by then become), but the label continued to release music and add new artists to its roster.

Current Artists

• Blonde Redhead
• The Breeders
• Tanya Donelly
• 50 Foot Wave
• Lisa Gerrard
• Rachel Goswell
• Neil Halstead
• Kristin Hersh
• Magnétophone
• Cass McCombs
• Minotaur Shock
• Mojave 3
• The Mountain Goats
• Brendan Perry
• Sybarite
• Throwing Muses
• TV On The Radio
• Scott Walker

Past Artists

• Air Miami
• The Amps
• AR Kane
• Daniel Ash & Glenn Campling
• Tom Baril
• Bauhaus
• Bearz
• Belly
• Heidi Berry
• Frank Black
• Bettie Serveert
• The Birthday Party
• Michael Brook
• Harold Budd/Elizabeth Fraser/Robin Guthrie /Simon Raymonde
• Bulgarian Voices
• Clan of Xymox
• Cocteau Twins
• Colourbox
• Cuba
• Cupol
• Dance Chapter
• Dead Can Dance
• Dif Juz
• The Fast Set
• Frazier Chorus
• Lisa Germano
• Lisa Gerrard & Pieter Bourke
• B. C. Gilbert & G. Lewis
• The Glee Club
• Gus Gus
• Rene Halkett & David Jay
• His Name Is Alive
• The Hope Blister
• Rowland S. Howard & Lydia Lunch
• In Camera
• Insides
• Matt Johnson
• Lakuna
• Last Dance
• The Lillies
• Liquorice
• Lydia Lunch
• Lush
• M/A/R/R/S
• Mass
• Vinny Miller
• Modern English
• My Captains
• Colin Newman
• Pieter Nooten/Michael Brook
• The Paladins
• Pale Saints
• The Past 7 Days
• Piano Magic
• Pixies
• Psychotik Tanks
• Red Atkins
• Red House Painters
• Rema-Rema
• Richenel
• Scheer
• Shox
• Kendra Smith
• Sort Sol
• Spirea X
• Spoonfed Hybrid
• Starry Smooth Hound
• Swallow
• Tarnation
• That Dog
• The The
• Thievery Corporation
• This Mortal Coil
• 23 Envelope
• Ultra Vivid Scene
• Underground Lovers
• Unrest
• v23
• The Wolfgang Press
• Xmal Deutschland
• Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard

References

• Ingebrigtsen, Lars Magne (2000). Eyesore list of 4ad groups Retrieved Feb. 22, 2005.
• Keibel, Jeff (2004). 4AD: Facing The Wrong Way fan site. Retrieved Feb. 17, 2005.
• Zax, Andy (1999). An Official History of 4AD. Retrieved Jan. 27, 2005.

See also

• List of record labels

External links

• 4AD official site
• Eyesore Database: Complete 4AD Discography through ca. 1996