Retrospect Records

If I may respond.... "2. Sam has the ability to post here, so 80sMetalCollector, stop being his mouthpiece. I can think of 2 specific occurrences when you've said Retrospect was reissuing XXX in the "next few weeks" and have been wrong on both counts. Unless it is coming from Retrospect directly, I don't want you posting rumor." Fair enough , Sam told me that as far as he knew he was still banned from posting here , I'll let him know. I will refrain from posting certain things until factual. "When someone reportedly "in the know" associated with a label that has a "lively past" comes here and announces an iminent release when the band knows NOTHING about it, this is the result. An expected one at that. 80sMetalCollector, YOU have to take some responsibility in this, as you contributed directly to the situation at hand by incorrectly reporting the reissue as a done deal." Yes , it sounds like I goofed in making assumptions and I apologize. But , I don't feel that certain members here at HH should act like little schoolkids and tattletale on a legitimate company based upon 'their' assumptions either. I didn't have the facts and neither did they. "Like it or not, until Retrospect releases are factory pressed and are available through mainstream channels (not just on Ebay from Sam personally or only on his website), there is going to be suspicion and wariness. You can disagree with it, but that's the nature of the beast. Folks here have been bitten in the past and have long memories." Well , technically Dan , they are factory-pressed. "When Retrospect releases start showing up at NEH, AOR Heaven, etc. I'll buy them in spades, and so will most people here (I would surmise), but as long as the releases/reissues are done the way they have been, things are not going to change much. There's just too much potential for shadiness." Yes , unfortunately many consumers have been burned by 'fake' companies. Sam will never wholesale to American companies , but he already has done some deals overseas. The bands make quite a bit more $$ when purchased directly from the site and/or Ebay so it's really a question of supporting the bands so they can re-form and do another album. The success of Defcon has surprised the band and Sam and I think we should expect the same for bands like Mariah and Manila Thrills. Defcon and the other bands are seeing a nice cut of $15-$18 as opposed to a wholesale price of $6 , wouldn't you agree? "I wish Sam and Retrospect well, despite our differences of opinion in the past, and I've told him as much." That's cool and I respect your wishes Dan , I'm sure the press release will be in your mailbox within 7 days.

I have said ONCE that a cd was being re-issued by Retrospect so please get your facts correct. I thought it was common knowledge that a re-issue was happening - mistakes can happen , as you have just witnessed in your own statement. So yes , I'm sure the ebay police and retrospect-detractors were only too willing to point the finger and hurry as fast as they could to email Kevin about Retrospect. The only question now is who was first.....Stormspell , Koogles , Zachary or you?? Shall we do another poll?

I certainly did not START that rumor. It was going around for about 3 weeks prior within collectors circles.

Since a lot of people will read this thread I should say that , with Dan's permission , Sam will have a press release shortly of all January releases and signings plus big news about his corporation merging with a fairly well-known Japanese record company to form a Retrospect Records Japan.

Ok David , yes Sam has said that you and him were getting along now so I will relenquish my previous statement and remove it.

Y'know , I'm only trying to play devil's advocate here but if that comment above is in any way directed at Retrospect Records , which according to my sources that is who is getting the bum rap , I think that's a really crappy and almost slanderous statement. I have been friends with Sam for going on 5 years and EVERY release that is on Retrospect Records is 100% legitimate , the bands are being paid. Sam has told me implicitly that even though he has emailed Kevin once to ask about a licensing deal , he had NO intentions of 'bootlegging' Kid Wikkid or any other bands product. So I think the buck should stop here and the rumors and lies need to end. What's it going to take for the rumors to stop? For people to accept that Retrospect is a legit label paying their artists better royalties than any other? For people to accept that Sam is more passionate about our music than most? There are some things that Sam has said and done in the past that I have not agreed with, but to even suggest that he would bootleg Kid Wikkid's album without their knowledge is just insane. I am a major collector and a Hard Rock fan like most of you , I am proud to see Sam's corporation doing well , hell I wanted a lot of those titles on cd myself , so let's just support the scene instead of catering to backstabbers who cloak themselves in iniquity and impiety.

This should be fun (probably done before but what the hell). My vote went with Triumph. Many many great bands here but Triumph just earn a special place. I should have put Honeymoon Suite instead of Chilliwack but oh well.

I think the eBay police are getting their panties in a knot.

Maybe he is a vendor and all those are the new Restrospect Releases 80esmetalcolelctor hasd been raving about recently <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Ironically , Sam is currently in negotiations with a number of those bands... He will be announcing a monstrous 27 releases within 2 weeks. Some real gems including Mariah , Manila Thrills and tons more. I think a lot of collectors and H.H. regulars are going to crap their pants. I know I did. I find it amazing that he will have released over 110 titles in 5 months. Who else is doing that? As far as this thread goes , I'd be very wary of anyone selling apparent originals of all those discs with 0 feedback. I won't be bidding.

Actually....and I've said this to PJ...to Koogles and to everyone else who implicate people in shit that they don't...or can't...back up, that you need to 'put up or shut up'.....it's really that simple. Otherwise you're wasting your time....and ours....and, to be honest....what have you contributed to the community here??? I would seriously think that the only reason you come here is to stir the pot..... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Jim , I just said that Michael is a cool guy and you're right , I should've never thrown my 2 cents in unless I was willing to back it up , so I apologize for possibly starting something that Staryder could have finished. Point taken , I bow out quietly and humbly. PEACE.

Ok so now I am supposed to document actual shady dealings? That may implicate a few other members at this site so I think I better shut up. Michael , you are a good guy , let's just leave it at that.

That is completely false. I have been his friend for a few years but I am not him.

You never really screwed ME per se Michael , but us collectors talk y'know so many things are somewhat common knowledge. I am not ragging on you , I just think you have done some shady things in the past and I don't see you denying it.

Zachary I am not insulting anyone. I have many friends here at HH but there are some truths that should be revealed. Isn't that what the Good and Bad traders section is for? To expose any shady sellers/buyers?? Or am I not allowed to do that because I am not liked by the select few?

Oh , and I should mention one other piece of news. It doesn't matter if you paid $300 or $1000 for Kidd Wikkid , it won't be worth much when the re-issue comes out in about 3 weeks.

Nobody wants my 2 cents but here it is... Michael you are a cool guy most of the time but your selling/trading habits are shady at best. From claiming to have 2 or 3 copies left of a cd to suddenly accumulating 30 is an extremely dubious way to do biz. Not to mention the little trading ring between you , Delbert and Surrf and how you guys have this 'deal' going on. And you know exactly what I'm talking about. And should we mention the times you bought stuff for $5 or $10 off CDBaby and then claimed it was an extremely rare piece and hocked it for $200++?? Like I said , Michael you are a cool guy most of the time with good intentions , but don't try to smell like a rose when you just took a healthy shit.

Nice attitude T-Bone. If you have something to say take it to the flamefest and stop polluting legit threads with your overwhelming God-like presence (like we should all bow down to your supreme divinity). This is getting really old , really fast.

Yes , I noticed it's always the same arrogant people who just can't take it when someone disagrees with them or don't fit in with their agenda... Koogles T-Bone Chocularok Stormspell It seems it is ALWAYS these four. Why is that? I don't see anyone else jumping to their defense.

Looks like my 'self-indulgent rhetoric' comment was right on the money. Thanks T-Bone.

some people have said the same about you and PJ

I've offered whatever I could here T-Bone , just because it doesn't fit into your agenda you have a problem with it. If you have something to say take it to the flamefest.

T-Bone , I think there's probably about 2 people at this board that actually like you. You are negative , unhelpful and a worthless opinionated individual who does nothing but stir the proverbial pot with your self-indulgent rhetoric. How's about you take the hike eh?

This is the typical response I would expect from you Tony. I'd almost believe it except the simple fact that the Friction disc continues to sell week after week for $30+ I guess there's A LOT of suckers born a minute , eh Canuck?

Many of the regulars at melodicrock.com think Wounded Bird really sucks. I don't visit there enough to know exactly WHY , but thats the general consensus over there. Whether or not people think Sam's releases suck doesn't really matter , they are still going for big bucks on ebay so I guess your SOL.

Kind of like the way MANY of us feel about your buddy PJ's pathetic overpriced buy-it-nows - talk about needing GREEN. And as far as your comment goes , I'll reply with this... $40 for silver discs you can purchase anywhere from anyone because there were 1,000+ made or $40 for an extremely rare indie that was printed in limited quantities. If you want to pay $500+ for the original go right ahead , I haven't got that kind of money to blow thanks.