Kelleystein Recordings

Company History

Founded in 1995 by Abysmal Crucifix frontman Girth McDürchstein, Kelleystein Recordings took the Southern California underground metal scene by storm by providing an artistic shelter for those musicians and songwriters who wanted to take heavy metal into new, bold directions. With a line-up of artists including acid jazz metalers Walter Head Experience, freewheeling genre-benders Raygun, and Fenton, it's no surprise that such a small business has grown into such a rousing success.

It all started with a man with a dream. After submitting demo reels to every record company in town, all of which summarily dismissed and rejected his music based on a supposed "outdated sound" and "incoherent but still somehow disgusting lyrics," Girth considered starting his own label. By self-releasing his own material and selling it at shows, nobody could stop him from getting his own artistic message out through the medium of obscenity-laced deathcore. The only thing that stood in his way was financing.

Spending his life savings and the bulk of a generous Sheldon-Lacy Financial small-business loan, Girth purchased the catalog of friends Redstain Attack!, who had recently been dumped by Milwaukee-based Mildew Records. Their first four albums helped to generate cash flow in this struggling business, allowing Girth to finance three albums: his own Star Sex, Fenton's self-titled debut, and Redstain Attack!'s latest venture, The Greenstone Sex Academy. The only trouble now was, where would these albums be recorded and who would produce them?

On the recommendation of friend and Chief Financial Officer D.J. Koko, Girth took a meeting with local engineer Carlos Ueberschaer. He agreed to allow Carlos to produce Star Sex at a studio, The Paint Shaker, owned by colleague Karen Hofstadt (who eventually sold the studio to Kelleystein Recordings and joined the team as A&R VP). Impressed by Carlos's production technique and ability to quickly mix and master material, Girth hired Carlos on full-time and insisted he produce and mix the other two initial albums. Carlos agreed, and all three albums were simultaneously released in December of 1995 to critical acclaim and relative commercial success. The rest is history.

Kelleystein hit a minor snag in 1998 when founder, President, and CEO Girth McDürchstein was arrested and eventually convicted of double homicide in Missoula, Montana. In 2001, Girth was released when new evidence showed that Girth did not actually commit these heinous crimes; he merely spent nine hours in a motel room with the corpses before reporting it. During the time of his incarceration, all corporate duties were handled by his right-hand woman, D.J. Koko.

Since 1995, Kelleystein Recordings has released 50 albums and three CD-singles, some of which are critically acclaimed. Unfortunately, mismanagement and imprudent spending have led to the label's demise, effective Friday, January 5th, 2007.