The Thing That Ate Larry Livermore

Okay, here's a quick summary of what's going on: as many of you know, I used to put out records back in the 1980s and 90s.  Some of those records were compilations, where I'd get a song or two each from a whole bunch of bands, many of whom were unheard of or barely heard of, but who I thought needed to be heard.

One of those records (and to be fair, I shouldn't be taking full credit for it; half or probably more of the work was done by my onetime partner at Lookout Records, David Hayes) was a double LP called The Thing That Ate Floyd.  If you're curious about the name, it came about because David was originally doing a single LP compilation called Floyd.  I was planning my own compilation at the same time, and when we decided to merge the two into one, effectively doubling the size of the project, it became "the thing that ate Floyd."

One of the kids listening to The Thing That Ate Floyd back in 1988 was a 16 year old named Billie Joe Armstrong, who was just starting to play shows with his new band.  Through it he got introduced to bands from all over Northern California, one of them being the Lookouts, whose 16 year old drummer Tre Cool would himself end up playing a significant role in Billie's musical future.

Fast forward to the 21st century, and now Billie's got a 16 year old kid of his own, Joey, who's playing shows with his first band.  In the summer of 2011, Joey's band goes out on tour and plays shows with a bunch of bands up and down the West and East Coasts, and Joey comes home full of excitement for all the great stuff that's happening out there.  He talks it over with his dad, and the next thing I know, I'm getting a call from Billie Joe: "Hey Larry, would you be interested in putting together a compilation of your favorite current bands for Adeline Records?"

This sounds like a really excellent thing to do, but at the same time I'm in the middle of trying to finish a book (Spy Rock Memories).  I think and I think - can I do the record and the book and do justice to both? - and finally I realize this is too much of an opportunity to pass up, not just for me, but for all the great bands out there who deserve to be heard, and I say, "Hell yes, let's do it."  

Thus was born Adeline Records Presents: The Thing That Ate Larry Livermore, featuring 16 bands from the USA and Canada, some of whom you'll have heard of, others not, but all of whom I promise you are awesome and represent some (but by no means all) of the best music being made today.  We're about halfway through picking the bands right now.  Many if not most of them will be recording brand new songs or previously unheard songs, and I've signed on the inimitable Patrick Hynes, creator of so much classic Lookout art (you might also have seen his work on the lyric booklet for Dookie) to do the cover.

We were hoping for a release at the beginning of 2012, but it might have to be pushed back a month or two to make sure we have time to get the best recordings and the best bands.  However long it takes, I promise you it will be worth the wait.  This is the first time I'll have been involved with releasing a record (oh, it'll be in vinyl LP and digital form, possibly CD if there's enough demand) since the 1990s, and I'm very excited about it.  Hope you will be too!