| ugEXPLODE was originally a graphic design for a logo created by musician Weasel Walter as a teenager in 1988. Weasel's early musical interests focused on the raw, nihilistic aesthetics of extreme rock forms and free jazz: Albert Ayler, Captain Beefheart, Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, The Residents, Deicide, Cecil Taylor, Whitehouse, Iannis Xenakis and Black Flag were all equal pieces in a formative puzzle. Remaining true to this spirit of iconoclasm and energy, ugEXPLODE remains staunchly committed to the promotion of uncompromising, non-commercial music of an unusual caliber. The label was officially established in 1991 as a vehicle for the output of long-running Punk Jazz/No Wave/Brutal Prog group The Flying Luttenbachers but eventually expanded its scope to document uncommonly intense performances by notable underground music icons like Marshall Allen, Henry Kaiser, Jim O'Rourke, Vinny Golia, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Mick Barr, Hal Russell, Marc Edwards, Ken Vandermark, Kevin Drumm and Gianni Gebbia, as well as rising figures in the improvised music scene such as Peter Evans, Mary Halvorson, Forbes Graham, Greg Kelley, Damon Smith and James Fei and intriguing fringe figures pushing towards uncategorizable new realms including Toy Killers, Nondor Nevai and To Live and Shave in L.A. 2. The ugEXPLODE mail order outlet is the definitive source for the label's titles as well as carrying a select number of distributed items by Weasel Walter related projects like Burmese, Lake Of Dracula, Hatewave and XBXRX as well as the work of various associates and colleagues. |