Sellout

The Major-Label Feeding Frenzy That Swept Punk, Emo, and Hardcore (1994–2007)

By: Dan Ozzi

Narrated by: Chris Abell

NATIONAL BESTSELLER
AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

"Ozzi's reporting is strong, balanced and well told...a worthy successor to its obvious inspiration, Michael Azerrad's 2001 examination of the '80s indie underground, 'Our Band Could Be Your Life.'"--New York Times Book Review

A raucous history of punk, emo, and hardcore’s growing pains during the commercial boom of the early 90s and mid-aughts, following eleven bands as they “sell out” and find mainstream fame, or break beneath the weight of it all

Punk rock found itself at a crossroads in the mid-90’s. After indie favorite Nirvana catapulted into the mainstream with its unexpected phenomenon, Nevermind, rebellion was suddenly en vogue. Looking to replicate the band’s success, major record labels set their sights on the underground, and began courting punk’s rising stars. But the DIY punk scene, which had long prided itself on its trademark authenticity and anti-establishment ethos, wasn’t quite ready to let their homegrown acts go without a fight. The result was a schism: those who accepted the cash flow of the majors, and those who defiantly clung to their indie cred.

In Sellout, seasoned music writer Dan Ozzi chronicles this embattled era in punk. Focusing on eleven prominent bands who made the jump from indie to major, Sellout charts the twists and turns of the last “gold rush” of the music industry, where some groups “sold out” and rose to surprise super stardom, while others buckled under mounting pressures. Sellout is both a gripping history of the music industry’s evolution, and a punk rock lover’s guide to the chaotic darlings of the post-grunge era, featuring original interviews and personal stories from members of modern punk’s most (in)famous bands:

• Green Day
• Jawbreaker
• Jimmy Eat World
• Blink-182
• At the Drive-In
• The Donnas
• Thursday
• The Distillers
• My Chemical Romance
• Rise Against
• Against Me!

Really interesting

Beautifully told story. Captured great insights of all the bands covered. Read well. I was quite a big fan of this book, and I will be recommending it.

I wish there was one only about Jimmy Eat World

I love this type of music and think Jimmy Eat World is one of the greatest bands of the 21st century I think their story is the most interesting and I want to dive deeper into it. How they got signed and how they got dropped and how the became who they are now.

Great listen!

Really enjoyed learning the backstories to some of my favorite bands, and being introduced to some I’ve never known.

accurate nostalgia at its best!

man, what a great book! every story range true with my love of punk and hardcore. it really made me appreciate the love and energy put into the music. It even made me re-think music I once threw off because it didn't fit my mold of "punk". I look forward to going back and giving At the Drive In and Distillers a second listen with new ears. This is one I would but a hard copy and read over and over again.

a storied history of modern punk

Dan ozzi writes a fascinating history of nineties and early two thousands punk, emo and hardcore by deep diving into the various bands that made major record label debuts in the era.