Future Legend Records was launched at the start of 1993. The label has had an active impact on the music industry and is acknowledged and respected for setting new music trends and inventing new genres of music.

FLR was started and run until 2003 by former DJ and record shop manager Russell C. Writer (aka Russell C. Brennan) who has been acknowledged as one of the most innovative record producers of his generation. His A&R skill was exceptional, resulting in the discovery of over 70 artists. For those who don't know what A&R is, it's discovering new talents and putting them together with the right material. Brought up in Brixton, London, Russell was a Mod, with a love of film soundtracks, pop, Motown, ska and alternative innovative music.

Russell decided to make the Cult Themes album the first release on his new Future Legend label. Rather than license and release the original tracks he decided to help break new artists by making new and exciting versions of the themes. This release helped new acts get a much bigger profile. Fans said that many of the new versions were much better than the originals. Also many including the composer were saying the Bond tracks were the best covers of these themes as well. The production and arrangements were innovative. But the key ingredient was the track listing. It was spot on.

Not only did the first album prove very popular it could well have started the 90's themes music and life style trend. Eventually six albums were released - three volumes of '60s themes, two of '70s themes and one of '80s themes, all with track listings packed with the best of the decades. TV and film theme club nights sprang up at famous London club Madam Jo Jo's and many other venues all around the UK. People started dressing up as their favourite characters like James Bond, Lady Penelope and Napoleon Solo and a lot of fun was had by all. Many other labels started to release themes albums. Eventually the trend ultimately developed into an easy listening scene and it ran its course.

FLR next released The Best Of Eleanor Rigby, a compilation of Eleanor Rigby's most loved tracks. When this first came out a DJ at London's famous Mod 'Blow Up' Club heard it and started playing it alongside many other Mod sounds. He coined the phrase Britpop to describe this music. (Mod Music still had a certain stigma attached to it whereas the term Britpop did not.) Britpop took a hold on radio airplay lists and in student bars and venues all over the UK. Acts Like Blur and Saint Ettiene sprang up, name checking Eleanor as an influence on their music.

Exciting new music came to FLR in the '90s with Russell's band Box Office Poison which developed a new music genre Pop Noir. The early Box Office Poison line-up included Russell, Debbie Detroit, Ron Rage & Jo Sharp. Later Debbie & Jo were replaced by Mouse and Misty Woods and this line up is considered the definitive one. (Photo to the left)

It took at least 5 years before bands like Goldfrapp and Mono caught on to Pop Noir. Artists like Portishead and Madonna were also influenced in certain parts of their careers by this dramatic music genre. More recent bands (eg The Blue Violets, Lowe, Blackroom, Pop Noir) have taken some Pop Noir influences either into their music (The Blue Violets, Lowe) or by name, (Blackroom's first album is entitled Pop Noir. A UK guitar duo broke the US market with the name Pop Noir).

FLR's band Ministry of Ska (to the right) also set a new genre in motion - that of Ska Surf. See Ministry Of Ska Page for further details.
Box Office Poison remained cutting edge artists over several years, releasing a number of innovative records (see Box Office Poison and BOP discography pages for more info).
After changing their name briefly to Pop Noir in 2001 they finally dissolved the band in 2002. New band Psykick Holiday has now taken up the Pop Noir baton on the FLR label.

As well as new trends and genres FLR kept things interesting with a series of Limited Edition releases & collectable vinyl, particularly of Eleanor Rigby, since fans were always interested in anything by this sexy Mod artist. Photos left to right: The Best of Eleanor Rigby Vol.2 vinyl picture disc, Eleanor Rigby vinyl single.
But although FLR sold releases well on mail order, distribution to the shops was ever a problem and after 10 years of constant difficulties with distributors like Sony/BMG and Universal and Russell wanting to concentrate on other artistic endeavors a decision was taken to stop releasing any new records on the FLR label.

Psykick Holiday was Russells new band. Inspired by the success of the Psykick Holiday Bond themes he set about writing his first original material for some years.
FLRs first Psykick Holiday release in 2008 was a download only dance single Sex On The Internet .

Finding the right lead singer was a problem, but after several changes during 2009 and 2010, October 2010 saw the release of Psykick Holiday's debut album Forever Pop Noir which was to be the labels first release in CD format for several years.

Two new artists came next, the first being the excellent Prisoner series-influenced Carmel Morris album Another Number which came out on CD format and download. (iTunes: Carmel Morris)
A fine Babysitars album My Two Minds Are Eight Miles High followed. Two very popular tracks from this album are Crazyhead and She Sells Dynamite.

Mod album Mod Tunes: Three Button Legacy was released in late 2010. This features a superb selection of the best and rarest FLR Mod tracks for collectors of this genre. That Instrumental Vibe  an album of the labels original instrumentals and an EP Bowie Zone with Bowie covers are also out now on download.

We at FLR look forward to continuing to find and present the best and most innovative music and artists for a long time to come, with the support of all our loyal fans past, present and future.