Fueled by Ramen Records biography

Since its official inception in 1996, Fueled By Ramen Records has been less of a record label than it has been a brand for the ever- growing community that has embraced what the label stands for. With president/co-founder John Janick at the helm, the label has become the nucleus for today’s best and brightest punk-inspired rock/pop bands. Janick initially conceptualized the label while attending high school, but it wasn’t until he enrolled at University of Florida in Gainesville and teamed up with Less Than Jake drummer/lyricist Vinnie Fiorello that Fueled By Ramen became a reality. “We were really passionate about the independent rock scene, but record labels didn't really seem to be taking notice of what was happening in it.” Janick explains. “We said, ‘We like these bands, these bands all work hard, why not try and get this music out to people?’” Kicking off with the now highly sought-after Chinese take- out sampler cassette compilation, Fueled By Ramen began unleashing a series of limited edition 7-inch singles as well as full- lengths from indie combos like The Hippos and The Impossibles. Headquartered in Janick’s dorm room, the label spread the word in classic grassroots fashion: via hard-working bands and mail-order sales. In 1998, Fueled By Ramen released a self-titled EP from Jimmy Eat World, a five-song collection that proved a breakthrough for both the label and the Arizona-based band.