ABOUT PUNK OUTLAW RECORDS & PUNK OUTLAW PRODUCTIONS
Punk Outlaw Records and Punk Outlaw Productions are divisions of Artist and Idea Management, Ltd. (AIM TV Group) and was founded by media entrepreneur, punk music fanatic, journalist, writer, humanitarian, and avid traveler Robert G. Rose in 2010.
Rose founded the record and content production label after working on his first attempt at blogging and vlogging about the global punk scene for his Punk Outlaw Blog and the Punk Outlaw TV video channel which has much of the content featured on the blog such as a rare interview with punks in Havana, Cuba in 2009, original Punk Outlaw Production’s music videos and more.
Rose’s travels to far flung locales around the world and hanging with punk and underground musicians along with Rose’s independent DIY (Do It Yourself), socially conscious, travel and filming style eventually morphed into Raw Travel TV, the long-running syndicated television show. Punk Outlaw Records’ artists provided much of the musical backdrop for the show as Rose stepped in front of the camera to interview various musicians from a variety of genres worldwide and make the connection between culture and music worldwide.
Today Punk Outlaw Records is no longer signing new artist but keeps a keen eye out for new talent to amplify, while maintaining relationships with the record label’s core group of artists.
The digital record label and publishing company now focuses exclusively on licensing music for various TV and film projects, including AIM TV's current media projects such as Raw Travel TV and My Summer in Ukraine and producing punk music related content under the banner of Punk Outlaw Productions.
To find out more about Punk Outlaw Records and Punk Outlaw Productions, peruse the page or contact Robert Rose.
THE ARTISTS
Los Suziox (The Dirty): Medellin, Colombia
Los Suziox (The Dirty) is a uniquely talented punk band hailing from the hilly streets of the working class barrios of Medellin, Colombia. Los Suziox (LSZX) is the epitome of Do It Yourself (DIY) punk, having independently recorded several tracks and self-managed an extensive touring schedule, despite lacking resources that many North American musicians take for granted.
Make no mistake. LSZX is not just another hard working and popular Latin rock band. This quartet of musicians are first rate artists, with a large repertoire of songs that has garnered them legions of loyal fans in their native Colombia and throughout much of Central and South America. Los Suziox has established themselves as one of the finest bands to come out of Colombia this century, a country with a rich musical legacy.
The instrumental version of the Los Suziox song “Armas Silenciosas” (Silent Arms) from the Punk Outlaw Records Release “El Fin Justifica Los Medios” (The End Justifies the Means) provides the theme song for Raw Travel TV, and the band and lead singer Andres O Campo have been featured on the show several times.
LISTEN TO “EL FIN JUSTIFICA LOS MEDIO” FROM LOS SUZIOX
Half Price: Cape Town, South Africa
Hailing from musical hot spot of Cape Town, South Africa, Half Price has been rocking the South African music scene for decades. The band has toured extensively locally but heretofore U.S. audiences have been clueless to their potent sound and African punk music in general. Which is kind of nuts because when thinking of punk music, one automatically thinks of Africa.
Featuring powerful rock hooks channeling Ozzy, AC-DC, NOFX, Rancid, Offspring and a bunch of other bands you’ve never heard of, Half Price adds just a touch of Ska and Reggae for songs that have razor sharp lyrics ranging from bitingly serious (corruption, inequality, H.I.V., etc.) to fall down funny (people borrowing and ruining your stuff, partying with friends and family, etc.).
Half Price’s Cape Town, South Africa based members are: Homo Pete on main vocals and guitar, Emo Mawk playing guitar & providing backing vocals; The DFG playing bass guitar and backing vocals and Kyle “The Machine” on drums, with some other crazy Africans featuring on some tracks. The distinct backgrounds underlying the Half Price social movement has resulted in a truly unique style of music which is both rocking and catchy.
Watch their music video for "Break Out" filmed during Rob and Raw Travel's visit to Cape Town in 2017.
LISTEN TO “STRAIGHT OUTTA SOUTH AFRICA” FROM HALF PRICE
Various Artists “Punktology Vol. 1 - Free Cuba Now!” Compilation
Punktology Volume 1 – Free Cuba Now! was an outgrowth of Rose’s travel to Cuba in 2009 and his rare interview with Cuban punks sometimes called “los Freakies,” in local parlance. While interviewing many of the punks, the Cuban police arrested some of the participants simply for being on camera, showcasing Cuba’s repressive government at the time. This left a lasting impression on Rose, the result was his viral video and blog of the incident “Cuban Punks Speak Out” and “Punktology Volume 1: Free Cuba Now!” was born as a way to raise awareness and support for oppressed Cuban youth.
The compilation features independent punk and hardcore music from Latin America and the Caribbean. The collection strived to showcase a variety of punk music from Latin America and the Caribbean to North American and European audiences. The title “Free Cuba Now” was chosen to help bring attention to the fact that Cuban punks, as well as many other subcultures on the island nation of Cuba, still suffer from suppression of their freedom of expression at the hands of the Cuban government.
Participating artists for the project hail from a variety of countries including, Los Suziox (Colombia), Rudos Wild (Uruguay), Anti-Everything (Trinidad), DMTR (Ecuador), El Terrible Y Los Mongoloides (Peru), Lokekeda (Colombia), Warning (Guatemala) and Fertil Miseria (Colombia).
See the famous Punk Outlaw Cuban Punks Interview from 2009 that started it all.
LISTEN TO “FREE CUBA NOW!” FROM VARIOUS ARTISTS
Phil Rocker and the Dorados Rockabilly Trio
Phil Rocker (aka Felipe Ossa) and Robert met in Phil’s hometown of Medellin, Colombia in South America when Phil’s band “Dorados Rockabilly Trio” was carrying the torch of underground rockabilly in this South American enclave more known for reggaeton than classic rockabilly.
Phil’s source of inspiration comes from Americana 1950’s rock “n” roll, jump blues, rockabilly, and his academic study of music at Colombia’s Instituto de Bellas Artes (Institute of the Beautiful Arts). Other influences include music heard on the streets of Medellin ranging from tangos, boleros, salsa, pasillos, and tropical music. Artists he regularly listens to include Carlos Santana, Nick Curran, Mike Ness, and Ronnie Dawson.
Rocker currently lives in the Austin, Texas and has represented his homeland on major international tours and festivals including Rock Calavera (Mexico), Rockabilly On The Route, and Viva Las Vegas in the United States. As the first non-U.S. recipient, Rocker has been inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee.
Punk Outlaw Records put out The Dorados Rockabilly Trio debut release, “Conflicto de Espacio Blanco” (The White Space Conflict). The release features six original tracks with Spanish and English lyrics, “Conflicto de Espacio Blanco” has that unmistakable rockabilly rhythm, beat and sway.
Punk Outlaw Productions produced the music video Bettie Page to highlight the debut song and to honor the legendary pin up queen.
Phil was featured on Raw Travel TV twice, once in 2016 when filming in Albuquerque, New Mexico and again in 2019 in Phil's new city, Austin, Tx.
LISTEN TO “CONFLICTO DE EPSACIO BLANCO” FROM DORADOS
Tarakany! (Dmitry Spirin)
Dmitry
Spirin is one of the leading figures of punk in Russia, a genre that
exploded in the 90s after the fall of the Soviet Union. His band
Tarakany! (Cockroaches!) spearheaded a new movement in which young
people, with greater individual freedoms, took to the streets to
celebrate with rock music that spoke of fun, parties, and alcohol.
Rob met the
legendary lead singer on Rose’s one and only visit to Moscow in the
fall of 2010. They met in an early morning at a Moscow metro station,
where Spirin took Rose to sit on one of Tarakany’s rehearsals and
Rose interviewed the band for his vlog.
Spirin gave
Rob a stack of Tarakany! CDs and as Rob worked his way through the
catalog, recognized the talent and musicality of Tarakany and in 2013
offered to put out their first ever fully English release, “Russian
Democrazy” which went on to be Punk Outlaw Records best-selling
physical release.
But as a
leading figure in Russian punk rock, Dima’s protest music and
fervent criticism of the Russian government and the war against
Ukraine forced him to leave and in early 2022, Dima went into exile
in Argentina where he was eventually labeled “an enemy of the
state,” by Putin’s government, meaning he can never return to
Russia or any country that has friendly relations with the Russian
government.
As an avid advocate for Ukraine, Rob has been documenting Dima’s journey as an exiled musician and hopes to release a documentary film or segment on Dima’s extraordinary and courageous journey soon. In the meantime, both Dima’s and Rob’s stories are still unfolding.
See Rob's original 2010 interview with Dmitry and Tarakany! in Moscow HERE.
And see Tarakany! performing Social Distortion's "Cold Feelings" in Moscow in 2010 HERE.
LISTEN TO “RUSSIAN DEMOCRAZY” FROM TARAKANY!
Normandie Blue (Alex Blue) - Rest in Peace
To produce Normandie Blue’s debut release, Alex Blue secured the services of legendary producer and musician, John Avila (Oingo Boingo, Quetzal, Reel Big Fish, etc.). There were no half-measures. The band submerged themselves into six months of pre-production to insure they were at the top of their game when it came time to lay down tracks.
Recording the album was no easy task. Alex was forced to sell his car to help finance a project that was also draining him emotionally. He occasionally had to walk part of the 25 mile route to the studio but looking back considers this a small price to pay when he was finally able to hear the release… a release that for so long was just a dream, but is now a reality.
Alex began Normandie Blue for all the right reasons, not for fame or money but to write honest music others can relate to. You will be hard pressed to find anyone who won’t be inspired and moved while also thinking, “but for the grace of God, there go I” when hearing this release.
When Robert lived in Los Angeles, Rob and Alex's friendship flourished as he was able to film several music performances , interviews, and music videos with Alex and Normandie Blue.
Robert and Raw Travel filmed with Alex in his beloved Mexico City in 2013 during the first season of Raw Travel. The pair visited the famed El Chopo Market (aka Rock-n-roll flea market) and unwittingly gave Raw Travel the aesthetic of going where few travel shows would go before.
Alex's music, like other Punk Outlaw Records artists, contributes to the sound track of the show and is at least partly responsible for it's unique sound.
Sadly, Alex passed away in the fall of 2022, but "It is What It Is" stands as a testament to Alex's talent and Rob and Alex's friendship. Rest in Peace, my friend.
LISTEN TO “IT IS WHAT IT IS” FROM NORMANDIE BLUE (ALEX BLUE)
CONTACT ROB
If you have a question or comment for Rob, please contact him HERE.
