IndieHQ / Article Detail

September 13th, 2006

Interview with Dr Strange Records

Dr Strange Records has for some time now been a label that I have had nothing but respect for. During the years I first got excited about Independent music, Dr Strange was putting out some of my favorite bands including Zoinks!, Rhythm Collision, Schleprock, Bollweevils, ManDingo, and more. While starting Suburban Home, I interviewed Dr Strange bands, I reviewed Dr Strange releases, and went to every show in town featuring a Dr Strange band. As the music industry continues to change so to have Dr Strange Records. In addition to running a record label, Dr Strange also runs a brick and mortar record store, and runs a very successful mailorder business. It was an honor to interview Bill, owner of Dr Strange Records and I hope you consider taking the time to read this interview. Thanks for your time Dr Strange and I hope you continue to have success in the many endeavors you take part in.

IndieHQ: Please tell me your name, how long you have been running Dr Strange, and how Dr Strange started.
Doc: I’m “Doc” and this month marks the 18th year of Dr. Strange Records. I started out doing a mailorder for rare records, just a one page catalog, working from my apartment. Since then I’ve started a label (110 releases) and I opened a “real” record store 8 years ago. The Mailorder catalog now consists of over 40,000 different items: Rare Records, cd’s, shirts, leather jackets, bondage pants, and many more… I have a huge website and the (printed) catalog is about 90 pages.

IndieHQ: How do you feel things have changed regarding marketing music and distribution? Tell me something great and something terrible that has resulted from the prevalence of file-sharing/peer to peer.
Doc: Well, I’d say it’s mostly bad due to downloading and cd burning especially. Over 1000 independent stores have gone out of business in the past three years alone. People walk into my store just about every day and as one of the customers picks up a cd his buddy says, “Don’t get it, I have it and will burn you a copy”. It happens all the time… I guess the ONLY “good” thing about downloading is that (maybe) more bands are getting exposed. But that’s at a heavy price, stores going under.

IndieHQ: Dr Strange is also a record store, how have things changed for the store as digital music sales continue to increase. Any pointers for things you think indie stores need to do in order to survive in today’s marketplace?
Doc: It’s next to impossible to actually make any money on a label now-a-days. In the past (8-10 years ago) it was pretty easy for the most part but since downloading and burning things have GREATLY changed. I really only do the label for fun. It’s a true labor of love. The advice I would give; Go into it knowing you’re going to lose money. If that’s okay with you, then go for it. It’s still a lot of fun.

IndieHQ: When I first started Suburban Home, Dr Strange could do no wrong. Dr Strange seemed to have their finger on the pulse of the national punk rock scene with releases by bands like Face to Face, Guttermouth, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Rhythm Collision, Zoinks!, Skankin Pickle, Schleprock, ManDingo, and Bollweevils. In a manner of what seemed like months nearly your entire roster of artists either left the label or broke up and it seems that completely changed the your outlook on the label. You started to sign older acts and seemed to stop working with new artists. Can you explain this time period and your thoughts on working with new artists.
Doc: Yes, that’s true. I’m very lucky to have the success I did have in the past. Pretty much whatever I did would sell. But people tend to “change”. Or if something is too “popular” (a label or band) sometimes people will no longer be into because they want to stand apart from the rest. I guess I can understand that. Now I’m mostly doing the bands I loved during high school: The Freeze, Threats, Partisans, Broken Bones, and Chiefs etc… Unless a band is willing to go on tour 6 months (or more) out of the year it’s next to impossible to even break even. But like I said, I still enjoy doing the label and I don’t have any false expectations. That’s not to say everything loses. There have been several releases that do break even and make a few bucks.

IndieHQ: While on this topic, what do you look for in a new artist?
Doc: Same as always really; I have to like their music, them as people and they have to be willing to work. That’s really about it.

IndieHQ: What is your best selling Dr Strange release? How many copies has it sold?
Doc: It has to be Voodoo Glow Skulls. I’ve lost count to tell you the truth but I’m sure it’s over 100,000 so far.

IndieHQ: Dr Strange has spent nearly all of its years with Mordam Distribution. How have things changed since Lumberjack merged with Mordam? Are you happy with the merger?
Doc: It was VERY sad to hear Ruth (Mordam owner) tell me she was selling Mordam. I’ve been with them for 17 years. I do like Lumberjack though. There are a couple things I would do differently (as I would have with Mordam as well) but overall I like them and I’m happy. It’s a new “relationship” and I wish them nothing but the best.

IndieHQ: What do you think of the “punk rock/hardcore” music scene these days? Any bands you love/hate?
Doc: I HATE bands that do that boring, crappy, Irish “Folk” whatever you call it like: Flogging Molly or The Pogues. Man, it just sucks! Like? My favorites are still: Stiff Little Fingers, The Dickies and tons more. But as far as “new” bands go, it’s tough to say, honestly. Some that comes to mind: The Sleazies, Smogtown. I still like that “old” Punk sound.

IndieHQ: What is in the future for Dr Strange?
Doc: LOTS!! No kiddin’ I haven’t been this busy in years. All I do is work, work, work… Things are busy with the store and website. As far as the label goes, I have a few lined up: Aggression cd “Tribute” w/ JFA, DI, MDC, Fang, Shattered Faith, CH3, Oppressed Logic and many more, the Threats cd/lp “God is Not With Us Today”, The Voids cd/lp, Black Market Baby cd (all unreleased stuff), Billy Bones & the Jacks 7″ep, and a few more I’m working on..

Written by Virgil Dickerson