The Story -
What The Fuck Happened To Tapes? Records! was started in 2002, by a kid who was disgusted with the state of hardcore & punk rock. Back then, especially in Naples Florida, CDr's and CD's were all the rage. They were almost always hastily done, boring looking and to me just seemed so disposable. No heart...or effort, for that matter seemed to be put into them. Everyone seemed to think CD were so much easier, better-sounding and "more pro" than tapes. So he decided to stick to the basics and bring a youthful spirit back into HC/punk by releasing music on the raw-ist of all formats, tapes. I talked about the idea I told the idea to my friend, Nick, and he was just as excited as I was. He built up a website and we started planning releases.

Now, 6 years later, the label is still kicking. It's been up and down over that time, and some shit has changed (i have released CDr's and even vinyl), but HC/punk is still as exciting and all-encumbasing to me as it ever was. And even though the cassette tape format is kind of making a comeback, I still feel it's even more relevant in HC/punk now, than it ever has been before. Nick has since passed away, but he will always be a part of my life and this label.

Mission Statement -
So many of societies excess' have slimed there way into our scene through the way of tight pants, cell phones, Myspace and Hot fucking Topic, that all we're used to seeing is glossy, prim and proper scenesters that care more about the socialising than the music. Well, that shit is NOT welcome here.

Times are moving quickly and things that take time and heart, like printed zines and tapes, are being forgotten. HC/punk has always been about going against the mainstream and recognizing society and culture for what is really is. So releasing stuff on cassette tapes is just a given. It is, in itself, a form of protest. A big old 'Fuck You' to the ease of downloaded music, mix cd's, and internet-addicts. To make a mix tape you actually have to come in contact with your records/tapes/cd's. You have to look at the artwork and absorb it, instead of just cutting and pasting songs in some program. A tape forces you to look away from your computer screen (even for a second to switch sides), and that to me makes it worth it.

About -
WTFHTT?Records! is a small, mostly tape label. all tapes so far are not "pro-done" tapes, they are all dubbed in my room on a couple tape decks. tape releases do not have to be demos, and tapes are legitimate releases. release come out pretty spuratically...either when i have the money to release them, or if i'm super excited about certain release. Free mix tapes come out every so often and are dubbed onto recycled tapes that come from fine dudes/dudetts that donated them. The label is run by me, but i get help from a handful of great people who cut, fold, walk me through making this website as well as countless other tasks. They are as much a part of this label as anyone.

People who have helped over the years that deserve more than thanks: Felix "The Sour- Kraut" Lepa, Jessi Hughey, Nevin Marshall, John Fahy and of course, Nick Klimczak.

UGLY MUSIC (on an 'inconvienent' format) FOR UGLY TIMES!