Free Shipping Now until Dec. 31 2010

“Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes (Turn and face the strain) Ch-ch-Change Oh, look out you rock 'n rollers…” So it goes in David Bowie’s song Changes. Speaking of changes, here at Gearhead Records, we've gone through plenty since you read our most recent newsletter.... way back in April!! And that’s mostly because there have been so many changes; we've just been keeping up and adapting. Between closing the store and moving the Gearhead Headquarters to Davis, CA, to navigating the changing landscape of the music industry, a less flexible label might have folded.

Yes, it was tempting at times to throw in the towel, but there is still that “something” that keeps us going. Now with the holidays almost here, in this time of giving gifts and merriment, of looking back at the passing year, and looking forward to a new year…well, all we can say is Gearhead Records is still here to serve you, changing with the times, trying new things, and letting other things go. Time moves on, life changes, so why not businesses?

In this final edition for 2010 of the Gearhead Records Newsletter, you’ll find the following:
*Free Shipping on all orders Worldwide until Dec. 31st 2010
*Cds that are going out of print
*Demo Submission Update
*Changes in our business focus
*Clothing and T Shirts that are going out of print

WORLDWIDE FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS ‘TIL DEC 31st 2010
The holiday season brings out the competition even in the best of businesses. And while we can’t compete (and have no desire to) with the lure of a new I-phone or a Wii video game, we still have a lot to offer the shopper who has a love of new music few people on their Christmas list might even be aware of.

To help make the most of your holiday budget, we are once again offering our annual WORLD WIDE FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS deal! Which is basically a nifty way of saying, “Hey, buy some cool Cds for your friends and family or a gift for yourself and we’ll ship it to you for free, anywhere in the world. Or if you want the succinct version, it’s this:

Now, until December 31st, place your order on line for ANYTHING in our web store and we’ll cover the cost of shipping it to you, any where in the world. So give it a try: just click on any item in the Gearhead Records web store and put it in your shopping cart. EVERYTHING, including posters, shot glasses, stickers shirts, hoodies and music all ship for free! When you check out, you’ll notice you aren’t charged the cost of shipping, no matter where you live World Wide! Cool huh? Please note there may be a small charge that appears in the shipping section for using your credit card. We can’t stop that charge! Happy Holidays!

GOING GOING GONE: WHEN THESE CDS ARE GONE, THAT’S IT!
Those of you who have been around with us a while are probably pretty familiar with our extensive catalog. It’s a lot to keep on top of, and so in the spirit of streamlining we’ve decided to let many of our Cds titles go out of print. This may be your last chance to buy some of these titles as the actual physical CD. When they’re gone, that’s it. You’ll only be able to find them as digital downloads on Itunes or in our MP3 Store! So while you’re perusing the selections to purchase for your Free Shipping special, maybe grab one of these babies, while supplies last! Cause when they’re gone, they’re gone daddy gone:

V/A “Gearfest” CD
V/A “Runnin’ On Fumes” CD
V/A “Smash Up Derby” CD
V/A “Thingmaker” CD
The Hypnomen “Trip With Satan” CD
NRA “New Recovery” CD
Mensen “Delusions of Grandeur” CD
Riverboat Gamblers “Something to Crow About” CD
Puffball “Super Commando” CD
Gito Gito Hustler “Gito Galore” CD
Electric Eel Shock “Beat Me” CD
Lords of Altamont “Lords Have Mercy” CD/LP
Lords of Altamont “Altamont Sin” CD
The White Barons “Up All Night” CD/LP
Hellbound Glory “Scumbag Country” CD
Hellbound Glory “Old Highs & New Lows” CDs

GEARHEAD RECORDS AND LICENSING:SORRY, BUT NO WE DON’T ACCEPT DEMOS!
Every day, I get numerous emails from bands wanting to know if Gearhead Records is accepting demo submissions. While it seems counter-intuitive for a record label to say NO! that is precisely the answer we give them. As the music industry continues to shift and tries to figure out how people are buying new music, it’s become obvious that the old model of finding bands and putting out their Cds just doesn’t really work any more. With the rise of Facebook, Myspace and Itunes, computer saavy young musicians have multiple ways of creating, promoting and selling their own music. While an established record label is still important to the big picture and life of a band, our role has shifted.

So, we’re holding off adding new bands to the roster for the time being; instead we’ve shifted our focus to supplying film and TV with music for the various projects they’re always coming to us for. Yes, we’ll still continue to sell Cds as long as we have them, and we’ll continue to focus on the ever-expanding market for digital music.But we're expanding the emphasis on licensing our extensive catalog.

So if you are a Music Supervisor, or an independent filmmaker, work at an advertising company, or are in need of music for a project you’re working on, drop us a line, or call us direct at 530-750-7900. It’s been really fun to match music up with various projects, like MTV’s Fantasy Factory or the CW Network’s Hellcats.

We still have such a backlog of demos to get through still that it will likely be a while before we open the door up to demo submissions again. But, hey, we really appreciate all the creativity that's cooking out there, and we're definitely looking forward to the time when we will accept demos again.


DOESN’T GEARHEAD MAKE NEW T SHIRTS ANYMORE?
As many of you have probably noticed, another change here at Gearhead HQ is the fact that many of our shirts have either sold out, or are down to just one or two sizes. And while the t-shirts, stickers, patches and all the other merchandise has been really fun to make, at the present time, it’s just not where our focus lies.

So while supplies last, the shirts, hoodies, and other merchandise you see will still be for sale, but as they sell out, we’re not going to reprint any of it. They will be gone forever, only to live on you or in your closet. It's time to let it all go! So really, this is your last chance to get many of our most popular shirts, hoodies, patches, accessories, stickers and other merchandise by bands such as The Hellacopters, Wildhearts, Electric Eel Shock, “Demons”, the Sugar Skull and Wrench Logo. And what better time to pick up one of these limited edition items but now, while there’s a FREE SHIPPING sale going on?! We’re clearing it all out to make room for 2011, and the possibility of something new!

Thanks to all of you who have hung in there with us for these last 10 years! We’ve been through many changes over the years, and can’t wait to see what opportunities the New Year will bring us. We're in the process of updating our email program. If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, there should be an "unsubscribe" button somewhere in this email, but if not, just drop us a friendly email with Please Remove in the subject line. Happy Holidays, and a very happy 2011 to you all!

Your Friends at Gearhead Records

PO Box 2234 Davis, CA 95617-2234 530-750-7900

GEARHEAD RECORDS CELEBRATES TEN YEARS IN BUSINESS

As I was saying, April 11 will mark the official Ten Year Anniversary of Gearhead Records very first CD. To celebrate, we're throwing a party, and not just any party. This party will feature performances by Exene Cervenka, the former singer from X, (who as anyone who knows me can tell you, is my favorite punk band bar none) and Hellbound Glory. Exene is out on the road promoting her new release Somewhere

Gone on Bloodshot Records (available in our retail store).

X had melody, and a girl and a guy singer on equal footing that weren't afraid to mix fast guitars with of-kilter country-inspired harmonies, all elements that captured my attention the first time I heard them back in 1982. Exene, like her former partner John Doe, has moved on and her new record is a sweet slightly melancholy blend of folk and Americana, which still rings with the off-kilter harmonies she became so well known for. Thus, I was thrilled when she asked if she could stop by my store to play. Way appropriate considering she was one of the few strong confident female role models I had when I started getting into punk rock those many years ago.

Instead of celebrating Record Store Day like everyone else that previous Saturday we'll celebrate on Tuesday April 20, 2010. Events will start rolling at 5 pm with a behind-the-scenes tour of the Gearhead Records Warehouse, and Hellbound Glory will kick the music off at 6 pm for this free, all ages, alcohol-free public event with Exene going on at 7pm. The party will be catered by the local seasonal cuisine restaurant Monticello Bistro, featuring delectable noshes made with ingredients grown locally here in Yolo County. Over the next month, I'll be writing daily posts in my personal blog unveiling the story of Gearhead Records and my personal trek into the music business more than 25 years ago.

The entire month of April, we'll celebrate the artists that have shared this wacky world with us by putting the entire catalog on sale. So please, save the date, Tuesday April 20th, 2010, and come celebrate 10 years of kick ass punk 'n' roll with us.