The rise and fall of Some Bizzare--the label that introduced the world
to Soft Cell, Depeche Mode, and The The--is the great untold story of
alternative music.
Along with Factory, Mute, and Creation, Some Bizzare was the vanguard of
outsider music in the 1980s. The label's debut release reads like a
who's who of electronic music, featuring early tracks from Soft Cell,
Depeche Mode, Blancmange, and The The, while over the next decade its
roster would include artists such as Marc Almond, Cabaret Voltaire,
Einstürzende Neubauten, Foetus, Swans, Coil, and Psychic TV.
For a time, Some Bizzare was the most exciting independent record label
in the world, but the music is only half of the story. Self-styled label
boss Stevo Pearce's unconventional dealings with the industry are
legendary. Sometimes they were playful (sending teddy bears to meetings
in his place), other times less so (he and Marc Almond destroyed offices
at Phonogram and terrorised staff). Despite this, he was a force to be
reckoned with. His preternatural ability to spot talent meant his label
was responsible for releasing some of the decade's most
forward-thinking, transgressive, and influential music.
The Some Bizzare story spans the globe: from ecstasy parties in early
80s New York to video shoots in the Peruvian jungle, from events in
disused tube stations to seedy sex shows in Soho. There were
million-selling singles, run-ins with the Vice Squad, destruction at the
ICA, death threats, meltdowns, and, of course, sex dwarves. For a time,
Stevo had the music industry in the palm of his hands, only for it all
to slip through his fingers. But he and Some Bizzare left a legacy of
incredible music that still has an influence and impact today.
