How did Alternative Tentacles Records start?
Alternative Tentacles was originally founded by Dead Kennedys and put into operation by East Bay Ray to work for the band and other artists. Ray produced and financed the first Dead Kennedys single, and he and their first drummer, Ted, sold the first 6,000 copies from the back of their cars to local record stores. Ray also sold them from his house. When the band started putting out records of other artists in 1981, Ray set up the more formal ATR label and structured the deals – deals designed to put the artists’ interests first. In 1986, with Richard F. Stott’s assistance, Biafra took over sole ownership of the label from the band.
