Blink-182 split from major label Interscope, now unsigned

Record label comes under criticism - again

Grace Carroll
16:40 24th October 2012

Blink-182 have announced their split from their label Interscope, through a tweet on guitarist Tom Delonge's Twitter account.

Delonge used the social media site to share the news, writing: "Freedom!! Blink as of today, is now an independent Artist!!!!!" He added a still from the movie Braveheart alongside the message.

The band have only been signed to Interscope for the release of one album, Neighbourhoods' and before that were signed to label Geffen. Judging by the exclamation marks, they seem more than happy to be free of their recording contract.

Last year, there was a disagreement with the label after Interscope said that Blink had gone over their recording time allowance with nothing to show for it. The band were given a strict deadline, and managed to produce the new album.

'Freedom!': the post to announce Blink-182's label departure.

Blink-182 aren't the first artist to express disappointment with the way they've been handled by Interscope. Pop-punk band All Time Low split from the label after releasing just one album with them - Dirty Work. (Is there a pattern here?)

All Time Low had no problem speaking out about the issues they faced with Interscope. Guitarist and vocalist Alex Gaskarth told Alternative Press, "This time around [with Dirty Work], there was a lot more A&R involvement and a lot of people wanting to stop by the studio to give their two cents. It is what it is.

"In that major-label world, you totally see where it would work; it’s how you imagine a hip-hop record being made, these people stopping in all the time and saying, “That joint’s sick,” or whatever.

But with us, you just end up having these dudes standing in the back of the room, and they’re air-drumming the shit out of these songs, but they have no idea how to play drums. It’s one of those situations that makes for the wrong atmosphere."

He also told AbsolutePunk that the band did not feel like a priority, as the album was constantly being pushed back and did not get enough promotion.

Alex added: "It was just one of those textbook situations where we signed, we had the record done, and then one thing led to another. First they had to gear up for a [Lady] Gaga release, so we got pushed back, and then they had like a whole firing and re-staffing moment, so we didn’t want to release without a team behind it, so it got pushed back again."

And rapper 50 Cent had a similar disagreement with the label. In late 2011, he stated: "Not everyone is not committed to releasing my new album." The album, titled Street King Immortal, is still yet to be released.

Watch the video for Blink-182's 'Wishing Well':

Marina's 'ugly' label rant: the stars who bite back

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