From a tiny office in Parkstone local lad Mark Rigler runs the
successful Indie label 25 Records. Mark is currently working on
the new release entitled Off The Hook due out in July, and is being
kept busy by his recent signing with diverse local band Dan T's
Inferno.
Danny Tweedy, head honcho for Dan T's Inferno said: "Mark is a
man you can take at his word. He has a lot of clout and kudos. You
phone up somewhere and mention 25 Records and the companies are
willing to listen." But the success doesn't stop there. In the past
month the 25 Records website has had more than 85,000 hits [May
00] and interest is higher than it has ever been.
Since
its meagre beginnings back in 1994, when Mark set up the label to
promote his own material with Red Ash and the Love Commandos, it
has gone on to help in the promotion of a number of bands, (some
of whom have since been signed by major labels), and released 15
compilation albums that have received regular airplay across the
world.
John Peel has dedicated a fair few hours on the airwaves to the
material that has appeared on 25 Records. Mark said: "My band Red
Ash had a lot of material released on other labels. We wanted to
feature more songs but we needed a record label; that's how it all
came about. From there it spiralled out of control, like a wild
beast."
Mark finds most days are taken up wading through the mass of demos
sent to him, updating the website and working on forthcoming releases,
as well as holding down a job as a youth worker.
"We
gain immense recognition from the underground music press across
the world. Abroad we're seen as a hip little independent label from
Britain." Mark is sorting through the final few bands to appear
on the forthcoming release. "We get sent hundreds of demos. We choose
40 and then phone the bands up and explain the situation.
One in three bands go for it. You find if the band is serious they
realise the time and cost involved and are willing to chip in, others
just filter through. "We ask the band to sign a contract to allow
us to use that particular song, for legal reasons. Then bands can
use the finished product to promote themselves. Dan T's Inferno
is one of my only signings."
The
time and effort spent on creating a professional product is extremely
important to Mark. "I aim to create something that wouldn't look
out of place in a High Street music store. I get a lot of hassle
from the bands about the covers I choose. I go for very striking
images.
The last few albums have been body parts, I'm running out of them
now!" From onion deodorant to a seeping pierced belly button, it's
hard to deny the images are very eye-catching, if not disturbing.
But running a record label isn't all fun and games. "I sometimes
wonder whether I should get a job at Sainsbury's and be able to
afford to go out at the weekend. You can get disheartened, but then
something comes along and gives you a push to carry on."
Since
its meagre beginnings back in 1994, when Mark set up the label to
promote his own material with Red Ash and the Love Commandos, it
has gone on to help in the promotion of a number of bands, (some
of whom have since been signed by major labels), and released 15
compilation albums that have received regular airplay across the
world. 
"We
gain immense recognition from the underground music press across
the world. Abroad we're seen as a hip little independent label from
Britain." Mark is sorting through the final few bands to appear
on the forthcoming release. "We get sent hundreds of demos. We choose
40 and then phone the bands up and explain the situation. 
The
time and effort spent on creating a professional product is extremely
important to Mark. "I aim to create something that wouldn't look
out of place in a High Street music store. I get a lot of hassle
from the bands about the covers I choose. I go for very striking
images. 