OUR story

Founded in 1993, Manifesto is the successor to indie labels dating back to 1968, beginning as Bizarre Records (and its companion label, Straight Records). Over the next several years, Bizarre signed artists such as Alice Cooper, Tim Buckley, Captain Beefheart, Ted Nugent, Wild Man Fischer, and others. Later, a third label, Discreet, was added, and the labels released albums until 1975. Starting in 1988, the reactivated Bizarre/Straight reissued albums by Tim Buckley, Alice Cooper, The GTOs, Lord Buckley, Captain Beefheart, and others.

In 1994, in addition to the core albums by Tom Waits (his earliest recordings, released as The Early Years Volumes 1 and 2), and six albums from Tim Buckley, Manifesto began to release new albums and re-issues, including albums by The Wedding Present, and, later, Cinerama, and other British bands like Sing-Sing featuring Emma Anderson from Lush, ballboy, tribute albums to Tom Waits and Tim Buckley, and the reunion album of Concrete Blonde, Lilys and The Cranes.

In 2005, The Wedding Present re-formed and Manifesto released the well-received Take Fountain, and later, El Rey.

In 2001, Manifesto re-issued one of the most important catalogs in punk rock history — five albums by Dead Kennedys. Later, another live album was released, and in 2005 Manifesto also released Dead Kennedys’ first album, Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables, in both an original version and a new package with a new documentary DVD entitled Fresh Fruit for Rotting Eyeballs. With these last releases, the entire Dead Kennedys catalog was now on Manifesto, where it remains to this day. In 2014, Manifesto released a box set of 7’ vinyl singles, all in the original packaging.

In 2009, Manifesto became the home of the imprint for The Turtles, called FloEdCo. We have released The Turtles’ Save The Turtles: The Turtles’ Greatest Hits; vinyl re-issues of It Ain’t Me Babe and Happy Together; and three albums by Flo & Eddie. In 2014, we released a box set of eight 7” vinyl singles.

In 2015 Manifesto Records has returned with several new signings, including Cellars, Band Aparte, Puro Instinct, Drinking Flowers, and Pale Dian with release dates set for 2016.

Manifesto is distributed by AMPED in the US, Proper Music in the UK, H’Art in Europe, Ultra Vybe in Japan, and Rocket in Australia.