Some Bizzare Records

Lore & Background

Some Bizzare Records was founded in 1981 by Stevo Pearce, who had previously championed Soft Cell's *Mutant Moments* EP in *Sounds*. After signing Soft Cell, Pearce managed them under a deal with Phonogram Inc. The label gained a reputation for maverick behavior; for instance, Pearce licensed The The's *Soul Mining* album to Warner Bros. Records and CBS before its eventual release in 1983. Later acts included Cabaret Voltaire, Psychic TV, Test Department, Einstürzende Neubauten, Coil, Swans, and Scraping Foetus Off the Wheel, many of whom appeared on the 1985 compilation *If You Can't Please Yourself, You Can't Please Your Soul*.

During the 1990s, Some Bizzare's Mayfair offices featured a private chapel and confession box for demo-tape handovers. Stevo Pearce was known to insult record shop employees who sold Coil recordings. The label's output was minimal between 2001 and 2005, though a 2001 compilation *I'd Rather Shout at a Returning Echo Than Kid Someone's Listening* included a new Soft Cell track. In 2006, the label signed new acts and released *Redefining the Prologue* for its 25th anniversary, alongside an exhibition at the Horse Hospital in Bloomsbury. Further signings in 2007 included Pedro INF and Kontour, and a 2008 double album featured artists discovered on Myspace.

Einstürzende Neubauten has actively discouraged purchasing their releases from Some Bizzare or its American licensee Thirsty Ear, stating they have not received royalties. In 2023, the book *Conform to Deform* by Wesley Doyle was released. On October 15, 2025, the label relaunched as the Some Bizzare Network, a digital platform with projects including an autobiography, documentary, and new albums. The label's back catalogue became available online at somebizzare.com.

Reader's Guide

Some Bizzare Records occupies a distinctive place in British independent music history, bridging early 1980s synth-pop and later industrial and experimental scenes. Its founder, Stevo Pearce, operated with a deliberate eccentricity—spelling the label's name 'Bizzare' to defy expectations—and a confrontational business style, as seen in the triple-licensing of The The's *Soul Mining*. The label's roster included influential acts such as Soft Cell, whose 'Tainted Love' became a global hit, and later experimental groups like Coil and Einstürzende Neubauten. Despite minimal output in the early 2000s, the label revived through digital platforms and new signings in the late 2000s. Its legacy is marked by both commercial success and controversy, including royalty disputes with Einstürzende Neubauten. The 2025 relaunch as the Some Bizzare Network signals an ongoing attempt to adapt to the digital music landscape while preserving its archival catalog.

Did You Know?

• The label's name is deliberately misspelled 'Bizzare' rather than 'Bizarre'.
• Stevo Pearce licensed The The's *Soul Mining* to Warner Bros. Records and CBS before its 1983 release.
• The 2008 compilation *Some Bizzare Double Album* featured artists discovered on Myspace.
• Einstürzende Neubauten has publicly discouraged buying their releases from Some Bizzare due to unpaid royalties.