Au Go Go Records

Au Go Go Recordsis the name of aMelbourne,Australiabasedindependent record label. It was founded byBruce Milneand Philip Morland from a house inBrunswick Street,Fitzroyin1979and was later operated by Greta Moon.

Au Go Go Records
Founded	1979
Founder	Bruce Milne Philip Morland
Distributor(s)	Festival Records MGM Distribution Shock Records
Genre	Various
Country of origin	Australia
Location	Melbourne,Victoria
Official website	Au Go Go Records

The label started releasing bands on theMelbournepunk andnew wavescene. Its first release was in 1979 with theEPOvernightby Two Way Garden. The label's first 25 releases included debut recordings of some seminal Australian acts such as Crackajacks, Marching Girls, Clint Small, Scapa Flow, Little Murders, the Zorros, Dorian Gray and Plays With Marionettes (later The Wreckery, featuring Hugo Race). Philip Morland left and Greta Moon joined in 1982.

By 1982 the label had started to increase its profile due to the local and overseas success of bands likeThe Moodists(featuringDave GraneyandMick Turnerlater ofDirty Three). Notable releases includedthe Scientists' "Swampland" (actually the b-side of the single "This Is My Happy Hour" ) andGod's "My Pal",one of the label's most popular releases, as well as titles byOllie Olsen's bandNo,Harem Scarem,various compilations such as theAsleep at the Wheelcollection of (mostly unsigned)Melbournebands, and the well-receivedHard To Beat,a double album tribute tothe Stooges,featuring many Australian acts. In April 1989, the label released the debut single by theCandy Harlots,entitledRed Hot Rocket,with the initial 500 copies pressed on red vinyl and wrapped in a pair of women's knickers printed with the band name.

The label also branched out into international releases, issuing albums (under license) by overseas bands such asSonic Youth,Mudhoney,Dinosaur Jr.,Big BlackandThe 5.6.7.8's.Au Go Go was also instrumental in helping these bands tour Australia. in 1989 Bruce Milne started an offshoot label, Giant Claw Records, to issue7 "singles.

The Au-Go-Go record label continued throughout the 1990s, issuing early releases from such Australian acts asSpiderbait,The MeaniesandMagic Dirt,the latter becoming one of the label's top attractions. Magic Dirt left Au Go Go in 1999, and the label never fully recovered.

Many of Au Go Go's releases are now out of print and are fast becoming collector's items.

Au Go Go Records shop

In 1987, with the success of their mail-order and distribution services, Au Go Go opened a record shop at a retail space in Little Collins St in Melbourne's CBD, also taking over the lease of Gaslight's suburban Malvern store. Later the business moved to its best-known location of 349 Little Bourke St on the corner of Somerset Place, then in June 2000 to a smaller space in Somerset Place. The retail aspect closed in late 2003and elements of the business were absorbed into the operations of Shock Records. The Au Go Go website was last updated Tue 3 Feb 2009.

In the 2000s Bruce Milne was involved in running Melbourne pub/rock venueThe Tote HotelinCollingwood,as well as a new label,In-Fidelity Recordings.He continues to be a sought-after DJ and radio presenter, co-hosting Melbourne Music Bus Tours which is associated with the Arts Centre Melbourne's Australian Music Vault.

See also

• Lists of record labels

External links

• Infidelity Records
• Au Go Go(Everett True,Tangents)