Begun in 1979, I.R.S. Records was one of the great record labels of the 1980s, signing and promoting new, esoteric, alternative rock bands that would come to define much of what was fresh and exciting about early 80s music. Bands were often new and unknown, yet the I.R.S. symbol on an album sleeve alone--a shadowy figure in a black hat--meant for most fans of punk and alternative rock that the album inside was worth hearing. The music rarely disappointed.
Acts on I.R.S. included such phenomena as R.E.M., The Go-Gos, The Fleshtones, Black Sabbath, Oingo Boingo, The Buzzcocks, The Alarm, Wall of Voodoo, General Public, Camper Van Beethoven, Brian James, Lords of the New Church, The Cramps and many, many other great bands and artists. Though the I.R.S. label is no more, many of the bands orginally signed by I.R.S. have stayed together over the years and continue producing fresh, creative music.
I.R.S. was founded in the US in 1979 by Miles Copeland, Jay Boberg and Carl Grasso. I.R.S. also produced the MTV series The Cutting Edge, which aired on the last Sunday night of each month.
