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| Glitterhouse Records | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1984 |
| Founder | Reinhard Holstein, Rembert Stiewe |
| Distributor(s) | D: Indigo / A: Hoanzl / CH: Irrascible and various distributors in Europe and Asia |
| Genre | Indie rock, Folk, singer-songwriter, Rock, World music |
| Country of origin | Germany |
| Location | Beverungen, North Rhine-Westphalia |
| Official website | label |
Glitterhouse Records is a German independent record label and mail order company based in Beverungen, North Rhine-Westphalia. It was founded in the mid-1980s. From the late 1980s until the mid-1990s it was the European branch of the American label Sub Pop. Since 1997 the annual Orange Blossom Special Festival has been staged behind the Glitterhouse headquarters. Glitterhouse created the subsidiary Glitterbeat Records label (2012) and Stag-O-Lee Mailorder record shop.
The fanzine „The Glitterhouse", founded in 1981 by Reinhard Holstein [de] and Rembert Stiewe [de], laid the foundation for the Glitterhouse Records label. The magazine covered mainly 60s garage and psychedelia, extensions of punk, weirdo folk, and similar genres. After a vacation in Australia, Holstein imported a number of singles from Citadel Records, which were distributed through the company's mail order business. Glitterhouse's dirst own release was a cassette tape featuring German garage bands titled Battle of the Bands. In 1987 the 7"-single "Sound of The Young Soul" by The Hipsters and the compilationLPThe Declaration of Fuzz were Glitterhouse's first vinyl records. German artists followed, such as Surfin’ Dead [de], The Strangemen [de] and Shiny Gnomes [de]. By legal registration as a business in 1984, Glitterhouse Records was transformed from a simple hobby to an enterprise.
In 1987 Glitterhouse started European distribution of recordings on American label Sub Pop, of Seattle, Washington. Among other bands, Sub Pop had signed Nirvana and Soundgarden; later on it was named the trigger and forerunner for the success of grunge music. This cooperation provided Glitterhouse increased popularity and a better market position. Green River, Mudhoney, The Walkabouts, Tad, Supersuckers and Seaweed, later on also the Afghan Whigs, The Spinanes, Codeine, Big Chief, Pond and many other Sub Pop groups were marketed through Glitterhouse in Europe. The cooperative transatlantic corporation with Sub Pop lasted seven years, ending in 1995 by mutual agreement.
Parallel to Sub Pop, Glitterhouse also handled European distribution for the American noise rock label Amphetamine Reptile Records, including the bands Helmet, Cows, and God Bullies. Glitterhouse ended the Amphetamine Reptile distribution arrangement when it no longer liked the artistic products.[citation needed]
Simultaneously, Glitterhouse signed other bands directly, including The Real Gone Lovers of Canberra, Australia, in 1988; Monster Magnet; Sylvia Juncosa, Sister Double Happiness; and Bitch Magnet.
Starting in 1994, Glitterhouse shifted away from distributing other record companies' recordings. In addition to alternative rock and various American musicians, Glitterhouse signed many new bands of Scandinavian and English origin. Since then[when?] a broad variety of musical styles has been covered by Glitterhouse Records:
Glitterhouse Records was the first German indie label autonomously covering all inner-European and non-European export markets with exclusive deals.
Up to the present day,[when?] Glitterhouse has released about 750 records. Once a month a mail order catalogue containing approximately is released. Glitterhouse has 10 permanent employees, one apprentice and three interns. Currently [when?] the "Glitterhouse Projects GmbH & Co KG", a limited company, comprises
as well as its subsidiaries/partners
Glitterhouse is way more than the sum of its parts. We are family.
— Rembert Stiewe
51°40′18″N 9°22′56″E / 51.67167°N 9.38222°E / 51.67167; 9.38222
