Funeral For a Friend Launch Label

17th April 2008 | by Aidan Williamson

Funeral for a Friend have confirmed speculation that they are to go independent for all of their future releases. The Welsh band have now set up their very own personal record label.

The deal will allow the five-piece total control over their musical output and business decisions. The label, dubbed Join Us will be distributed through Play It Again Sam. The boys cited the main benefits of the deal as having control over the copyright of their work and increased financial benefits from touring.

Guitarist Kris Coombes-Roberts explained: "When you record an album of songs for a major label they own those recordings. From now on we own our songs and the recordings, so we can do whatever we want with them! [Also], live revenue is often the only way you really see money as a band, through touring and merchandise. That's what you pay yourself with. The fact that so many bands are losing big percentages of that money seems completely unjustified. It's the bands that do the majority of the work, but it's the bands that see the lowest return. We won't have that anymore."

The Welsh lads have so far recorded four songs for their first indie release. They are presently titled; "Waterfront Dance Club", "Beneath the Burning Tree", "Someday the Fire" and "Kicking and Screaming".

"Now if we believe in something, we can decide to do it", says lead vocalist Matt Davies-Kreye. "Whether it makes money or not. Our pockets may be empty... but we have a warm glow inside!"

Funeral for a Friend - June/July Thirst 2008 Tour Dates

June 30 - Manchester @ Manchester University
July 02 - London @ KCLSU
July 04 - Newport @ TJ's