Rough Trade: Labels Unlimited

Established in 1976 in West London by Geoff Travis, as an anarchic, DIY alternative to the mainstream, Rough Trade grew to become a defining influence in the British music scene. Originally specialising in US and Jamaican imports, it became one of the leading outlets for the burgeoning punk scene, signing such bands as Metal Urbain, Stiff Little Fingers, The Raincoats, Scritty Politty, Robert Wyatt, The Fall, Linton Kwesi Johnson, and most famously, The Smiths. It was the signing of the Smiths that propelled Rough Trade from a cult post-punk label into the mainstream, as the Smiths became one of the biggest independent bands ever. Towards the end of the 80s, the empire had already started crumbling, and in 1991, the label went bankrupt. Travis continued to work in the industry, and by the mid-nineties had managed to revive the label. It has been riding the crest of a wave ever since, with bands, such as Arcade Fire, Antony and the Johnsons, Pulp and Babyshambles.