The Fullerton Burger Records independent label was dissolved following multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse against its staff and the bands signed on the imprint.
The allegations, which are mostly, but not entirely anonymous, emerged via the lured_by_burger_records Instagram account, and quickly spread throughout the indie-rock community. For several tumultuous days this week, Burger co-founder Lee Rickard resigned and got rid of the label, and its president, Sean Bohrman, wrote that the label would implement changes, including modifying its name (to the vowel not much different ) minus BRGR RCRDS) and bring in a new president, Jessa Zapor-Gray. “We also deeply regret the role Burger has played in perpetuating a culture of toxic masculinity. We are sorry that we did not actively monitor this behavior well enough to make Burger’s music scene safer for you, “the label said in a statement Tuesday.
However, just a day later, Zapor-Gray announced that he would not be taking the job. Zapor-Gray did not immediately respond to email or phone messages, but wrote in a statement: “When I was asked to assume this position, I expected a reversal in my decision to accept, but I believed that the opportunity to have a role in Making a real and lasting positive change within the burger and indie music scenes was worth the risk. Upon further review, I informed Burger Records that I no longer believe that I can achieve my intended goals by assuming the leadership role at Burger in the current climate. Therefore, I have decided to move completely away from the label to focus on my other projects. “
Bohrman then announced that the entire operation was ending for a Pitchfork reporter, closing that conversation with a Porky Pig GIF. He said the label will remove its catalog from streaming services and that the bands could re-release their albums elsewhere. Since then, the label’s entire social and online presence has also been removed, and concert promoter Total Trash Productions, which produced the annual Burger Boogaloo festival, said it had cut all ties to the label.
Bohrman did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Times.
Burger, founded in 2007, was a small but influential label focused on cassettes of limited duration. The label also launched popular festivals such as Burgerama of Santa Ana and Burger Boogaloo of Oakland. The label aesthetic, which often affected a naive, throwback attitude towards punk and garage rock, attracted a base of young and devoted fans for acts like Black Lips, FIDLAR, Growlers, King Tuff and Peach Kelli Pop , and acts as big as Weezer. and Iggy Pop performed at their festivals.
Among this week’s accusations, Lamenta singer Lydia Night accused SWMRS drummer Joey Armstrong, son of Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, of “emotional abuse and sexual coercion by someone in a position of power over me” when was a minor. SWMRS was signed with Burger before the label was dissolved. Joey Armstrong responded to the allegations in a post on his band’s Instagram account, saying, “While I disagree with some of the things he said about me … I was selfish and didn’t treat her the way she deserves.” having been treated both during our relationship and in the two years since we broke up. “
The Growlers, the Orange County band that released music on the Burger and produces their own popular Beach Goth festival, responded to several anonymous allegations of sexual misconduct in an Instagram post. Growlers singer Brooks Nielsen said that while the band denied the claims, “we take them seriously and want to get to the bottom of them.”
Shortly after the publication, keyboardist Adam Wolcott Smith resigned from the band and said “I am not innocent in abuse” regarding an incident of alleged sexual misconduct in 2017.
