Photo: myspace

Label 56 has released a statement distancing itself from Wade Michael Page - the man accused of killing six people in a shooting at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin on Saturday, was formerly the lead singer of hardcore white-power band, End Apathy.

The Southern Poverty Law Centre has reported that Page started the band in 2005, and in an interview said he did so "to figure out what it would take to actually accomplish positive results in society and what is holding us back."

"A lot of what I realized at the time was that if we could figure out how to end people's apathetic ways it would be the start towards moving forward, of course after that it requires discipline, strict discipline, to stay the course in our sick society."

According to the Milwaukee Journal Central, supposedly racist music label 'Label 56' were selling End Apathy's merchandise and music as recently as July 2012.

Label 56 subsequently published this official statement:

"Label 56 is very sorry to hear about the tragedy in Wisconsin and our thoughts are with the families and friends of those who are affected. We have worked hard over the years to promote a positive image and have posted many articles encouraging people to take a positive path in life, to abstain from drugs, alcohol, and just general behavior that can affect ones life negatively. Likewise we have never sought attention by using 'shock value'/ symbols and ideology that are generally labeled as such.

"With that being said, all images and products related to End Apathy have been removed from our site. We do not wish to profit from this tragedy financially or with publicity. In closing please do not take what Wade did as honorable or respectable and please do not think we are all like that."

Wade shot and injured a police officer at the scene of the incident, and was subsequently shot and killed by another officer.