Epitaph Records and the 1990s Punk Explosion

Epitaph, founded by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz in 1981, grew from a DIY vinyl pressing operation into the largest independent punk label of the 1990s, propelling bands like The Offspring and NOFX onto a global stage. This episode traces its grassroots distribution model, early press runs, mail‑order network, and how Epitaph balanced indie credibility with commercial success during a time when major labels were eyeing punk’s profitability.

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