Independence Days

Drawing on more than 160 interviews with many of the most significant figures of the era, 'Independence Days' documents the UK independent record label boom from the late 1970s onwards. While many leading punk bands were co-opted by major labels, a new generation of independent spirits took the baton and revolutionised the course of popular music during a decade of artistic innovation and risk-taking... Even by the standards of Alex Ogg's previous work (The Hip Hop Years, No More Heroes), this is an exhaustive undertaking, providing a detailed overview of the history of independent labels in the UK, including Chiswick, Stiff, Rough Trade, Beggars Banquet, 4AD, Factory, Mute, Crass, Cherry Red and a myriad of smaller and boutique labels. Interviewees include Geoff Travis, Bill Drummond, Miles Copeland, Daniel Miller, Ivo Watts-Russell, Iain McNay, Dave Robinson, Ted Carroll, Roger Armstrong, Penny Rimbaud, Richard Boon, Martin Mills, Richard Scott, Mike Alway, Mike Stone, Bob Last, Terri Hooley, Bill Gilliam, Charlie Gillett, Seymour Stein, Geoff Davies and many more. From the budget DIY of Buzzcocks and the Desperate Bicycles to the chart dominance of Depeche Mode, New Order and the Smiths, all the key moments and the thoughts of its participants are documented through painstaking research, analysis and eyewitness accounts.

Alex Ogg is a London-based freelance author and journalist. He lives in Leytonstone with his partner Dawn and children Hugh and Laurence.