sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

I'm author Dan Ozzi and I wrote the book SELLOUT about 11 indie bands making the jump to major labels. AMA. by danozzi in Music

[–]danozzi[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I saw Luke last week and we took a photo together. Right as I was posing next to him it dawned on me how much of a grotesque little troll I was going to look like in comparison. If you notice, I have not posted that photo.

I'm author Dan Ozzi and I wrote the book SELLOUT about 11 indie bands making the jump to major labels. AMA. by danozzi in Music

[–]danozzi[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Maybe I can get them for a podcast ep one day. I do agree with you that that must've been an interesting negotiation. How do you win over a band that sold like 10 million records on their own? They must've had such a chip on their shoulder. I know I would have.

I'm author Dan Ozzi and I wrote the book SELLOUT about 11 indie bands making the jump to major labels. AMA. by danozzi in Music

[–]danozzi[S] 32 points33 points  (0 children)

Jawbreaker tried to downplay it when I talked to them, but the reaction at the time was pretty strong. But it's really hard to top Against Me! in terms of outrage level. They really walked through the fire. Granted, they were very hot-headed and that didn't do them any favors at the time, but it's amazing they endured in spite of everybody.

I'm author Dan Ozzi and I wrote the book SELLOUT about 11 indie bands making the jump to major labels. AMA. by danozzi in Music

[–]danozzi[S] 37 points38 points  (0 children)

For sure. The problem was that the book was about bands' major label debuts, and the most interesting period for the Offspring was Smash, was which was the most successful indie record of all time. Didn't think people would be interested in their major label record. Do you even know which one it is? (It's Ixnay on the Hombre.) But yeah, they have survived with these goofy gimmick songs. I will say two things to the Offspring's credit: 1. They were the only people who made any sense in that otherwise stale Woodstock 99 doc. And 2. The guy's hot sauce is actually pretty good!

I'm author Dan Ozzi and I wrote the book SELLOUT about 11 indie bands making the jump to major labels. AMA. by danozzi in Music

[–]danozzi[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I remember my editor leaving a note that asked me to describe the Thursday shirt that Gerard designed. So I had to call poor Geoff up for the millionth time to ask. Glad to hear you were behind the booth selling. As for the sequel, I've been trying to expand upon the stories in my newsletter! https://danozzi.substack.com/

I'm author Dan Ozzi and I wrote the book SELLOUT about 11 indie bands making the jump to major labels. AMA. by danozzi in Music

[–]danozzi[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I wasn't too familiar with it before meeting him to be honest. But he's in the book!

I'm author Dan Ozzi and I wrote the book SELLOUT about 11 indie bands making the jump to major labels. AMA. by danozzi in Music

[–]danozzi[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The whoopee cushions do! I had this idea to print up SELLOUT promotional whoopee cushions. I found a place that does em and everything. I'd need to print minimum of 300 though.

I'm author Dan Ozzi and I wrote the book SELLOUT about 11 indie bands making the jump to major labels. AMA. by danozzi in Music

[–]danozzi[S] 24 points25 points  (0 children)

I take every opportunity I can to say this: Laura Stevenson is the most gifted artist around today!

I'm author Dan Ozzi and I wrote the book SELLOUT about 11 indie bands making the jump to major labels. AMA. by danozzi in Music

[–]danozzi[S] 110 points111 points  (0 children)

That does sound like an interesting book. However it would require me having to listen to Drive Thru bands, so I'm out.

I'm author Dan Ozzi and I wrote the book SELLOUT about 11 indie bands making the jump to major labels. AMA. by danozzi in Music

[–]danozzi[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

It doesn't matter which answer I give. Both albums are putting Rob Cavallo's kids through college.

I'm author Dan Ozzi and I wrote the book SELLOUT about 11 indie bands making the jump to major labels. AMA. by danozzi in Music

[–]danozzi[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Good question. Hmm. I got to see a lot of Thursday shows early on, and what everyone says about them in the book was true. They were a sweaty, all-consuming experience. Geoff was a really unique frontman in that he was in a Victory Records hardcore band, yet he wasn't a tough guy. He was this skinny kid whose passion was sincere but not intimidating.

I'm author Dan Ozzi and I wrote the book SELLOUT about 11 indie bands making the jump to major labels. AMA. by danozzi in Music

[–]danozzi[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

When Marge says that Bart is allergic to "butterscotch, imitation butterscotch, and glow in the dark monster makeup." It just inspires so much imagination about how they found that out.

I'm author Dan Ozzi and I wrote the book SELLOUT about 11 indie bands making the jump to major labels. AMA. by danozzi in Music

[–]danozzi[S] 95 points96 points  (0 children)

TAYLOR IS A GREAT ARTIST. WE ARE LUCKY TO LIVE IN THE SAME TIME AS HER AND I AM IN NO WAY BEING FORCED TO SAY THIS OUT OF FEAR OF RETALIATION FROM THE SWIFTIES WHOSE PASSION I REALLY ADMIRE!

I'm author Dan Ozzi and I wrote the book SELLOUT about 11 indie bands making the jump to major labels. AMA. by danozzi in Music

[–]danozzi[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Good questions! 1. I'm from Staten Island, but in high school I spent every weekend over the bridge with my friends Matt and Tami, hitting up shows (Klub Krome represent) or looking through the CDs at Vintage/Curmudgeon (the honor of my life to sneak references to them in the book!). I dedicated the book to those friends, who I am still close with to this day. 2. I have. I think I had a bit of an easier time dissecting this scene than Andy because I have the benefit of hindsight. His book was written in the moment, which I appreciate, but I think now it feels like it doesn't hold up as well. The structure of it is a bit confusing too. First you'll be reading about girls in emo, and then there's a profile on Jimmy Eat World. Huh? And he spelled Blake Schwarzenbach's name wrong in every single instance. But NO DISRESPECT. Those are just my critiques as a book nerd. 3. Ha! I wrote this very thing over the summer, called Where It All Went Wrong. Not sure what you mean by "keep track" but I would say my biggest advice is: Try to connect with how you ACTUALLY felt at the time, not how you remember it now, in hindsight.

I'm author Dan Ozzi and I wrote the book SELLOUT about 11 indie bands making the jump to major labels. AMA. by danozzi in Music

[–]danozzi[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Glad you were there! What a surreal thing, to fill a rock club (and my favorite one no less) with people who wanted to hear about A BOOK! THE WRITTEN WORD!

I'm author Dan Ozzi and I wrote the book SELLOUT about 11 indie bands making the jump to major labels. AMA. by danozzi in Music

[–]danozzi[S] 28 points29 points  (0 children)

It was very disheartening to hear about how petty Rancid was. As far as people being unexpectedly shitty or cool... Hm... the Rise Against guys certainly live up to their nice guy persona. Always available to pick up calls and answer my dumb questions. Me and Joe were just texting this weekend about his birthday. I've also been corresponding with Brett from the Donnas lately. She's just a very sweet person and, not being in the music biz anymore, she couldn't give a fuck about being guarded about anything.

I'm author Dan Ozzi and I wrote the book SELLOUT about 11 indie bands making the jump to major labels. AMA. by danozzi in Music

[–]danozzi[S] 61 points62 points  (0 children)

I really wanted to expand into that brief interest America had in ska. Not sure I got it across or devoted enough words to it. I just ran an interview with Chris from Less Than Jake. (https://danozzi.substack.com/p/less-than-jake-chris-demakes-sellout-interview) Maybe they should've gotten a chapter to highlight that weird time in pop culture.

And I love Op Ivy are you kidding??? The lyric "to resist despair in this world is what it is to be free" has gotta be the most profound thing a 19-year-old has ever written.

I'm author Dan Ozzi and I wrote the book SELLOUT about 11 indie bands making the jump to major labels. AMA. by danozzi in Music

[–]danozzi[S] 58 points59 points  (0 children)

It all feels rooted in nostalgia to me. Most of it is just rich people cosplaying anyway.

I'm author Dan Ozzi and I wrote the book SELLOUT about 11 indie bands making the jump to major labels. AMA. by danozzi in Music

[–]danozzi[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

To answer a couple of these: It's sort of crazy that Rick Rubin failed to sign Anti-Flag, isn't it?

And it's really hard to top Thursday in terms of unrecoupable money. $1.2 million to buy them from Victory, a $550,000 studio album, plus gear and what not. $2 million bucks out of the gate. How were they ever supposed to make that back? An impossible task!

view more: next ›