Matador Records Co-Founder House Fire

[buckhorn]

Fire in South Austin today whacked out an old home. $500,000 in damages. Belonged to Gerard Cosloy. I think he lost a cat, as well.

Cosloy, who most are probably wholly unaware of, is one of the co-founders of Matador Records, a label that has put out **** by Unsane, Interpol, Yo La Tengo, Pizzicato Five, and, most recently, Sonic Youth. Whole bunch of nearly major indie outfits. This guy also founded Homestead Records back in the mid 80s indie/college rock years. Big Black, Nice Strong Arm, Sonic Youth, Naked Raygun, and a whole slew of great bands now rendered obscure (The Proletariat, Breaking Circus, etc.).

He is currently playing in Air Traffic Controllers with King Coffey, the drummer from the Butthole Surfers. Has been in Austin for a while now.

Tough break. Glad he is still alive.

 

[goosehorn]

No one who has put out so much awesome stuff deserves to have their house burn down. Terrible about the cat too. I'll have to go check out Air Traffic Controllers.

 

[buckhorn]

His guitars and record collection are probably beyond the imagination of most.

Insurance will be able to right only part of this horrible situation.

 

[YoLaDu]

wow, Gerard is one of my musical heroes. He was instrumental in getting Dinosaur Jr's first album released when he ran Homestead Records before helping to form Matador Records.

Also other bands that Matador was instrumental in making semi-famous: Superchunk, Teenage FanClub, Belle and Sebastian, Spoon, New Pornographers, Guided By Voices and Pavement.

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