Conform To Deform: The Weird And Wonderful World Of Some Bizzare

Along with Factory, Mute, and Creation, Some Bizzare stood at the vanguard of outsider music in the 1980s. The label's debut release reads like a 'who's who' of electronic music, featuring early tracks from Soft Cell, Depeche Mode, Blancmange, and The The. Over the next decade, its roster would expand to include artists such as Marc Almond, Cabaret Voltaire, Einstürzende Neubauten, Foetus, Swans, Coil, and Psychic TV. For a time, Some Bizzare was arguably the most exciting independent record label in the world, yet the music is only half the story.

Self-styled label boss Stevo Pearce's unconventional dealings with the industry are legendary. Sometimes they were playful, such as sending teddy bears to meetings in his place, and other times less so – he and Marc Almond famously destroyed offices at Phonogram and terrorised staff. Despite this, he was a force to be reckoned with. His preternatural ability to spot talent meant his label was responsible for releasing some of the decade's most forward-thinking, transgressive, and influential music.

The Some Bizzare story spans the globe: from ecstasy parties in early 80s New York to video shoots in the Peruvian jungle, from events in disused tube stations to seedy sex shows in Soho. There were million-selling singles, run-ins with the Vice Squad, destruction at the ICA, death threats, meltdowns, and, of course, sex dwarves. For a time, Stevo held the music industry in the palm of his hands, only for it all to slip through his fingers. However, he and Some Bizzare left a legacy of incredible music that continues to influence and impact today.