VIA PRESS RELEASE | Licorice Pizza is back. The renowned SoCal independent record chain is now not only a record store, but also a record label and lifestyle brand. Late last year, Licorice Pizza opened its first new physical location in Studio City, CA. New owner, Kerry Brown states, “We’re living that old-school Licorice Pizza vibe every day! Former employees and customers from those early decades stop into the store all the time and retell their stories.”
Licorice Pizza is proud to announce as its first vinyl release a special reissue marking the 30th anniversary of L7’s seminal third album, Bricks Are Heavy. Originally debuting at #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, the album’s 11 tracks are digitally remastered by Howie Weinberg (Ramones, Pixies, Metallica). Produced by Butch Vig (Nirvana, Garbage, Smashing Pumpkins), this limited edition release will be available with luxurious packaging on both gold and black vinyl with rare artifacts from the archive.
More information and preorders are available here for the September 30, 2022 release date. In addition to the label paying homage with anniversary reissues, music and additional content from sister company Rolling Live Studios will be released as specialty records.
The Studio City store has local events, artist signings and performances, and is an official Record Store Day location. “Our goal is to bring back community,” says Brown. “We encourage all creatives—from music, comedy, TV, movies, and all entertainment—to join us as we support those independent artists who need it the most. Having a record store is a childhood dream come true!”
Licorice Pizza, is an independent label in Studio City, CA, helmed by Kerry Brown, an award-winning, RIAA multi-platinum certified music producer, artist manager, and event producer. His wide-ranging career spans more than three decades, encompassing performance, production, and marketing, with total worldwide sales of more than 50M records including works by such iconic superstars and legendary artists as Smashing Pumpkins, Miley Cyrus, Cheap Trick, Courtney Love, The Afghan Whigs, The Twilight Singers, and Ziggy Marley.
The boutique record store of the same name continues the legacy of the original, famed Southern California chain opened by James Greenwood in July 1969. New releases and vintage albums line the walls, while handpicked playlists—and free licorice—add to the atmosphere. Nurturing the local music and art community in Studio City, fashion designers and craft vendors sell their art during monthly Flea Markets. At weekly Licorice Pizza Party in-store events, local artist showcases feature our staff and their friends, many of whom grew up hearing about their rockstar parents and how cool the original Licorice Pizza was in the 1970s and ’80s.
Expanding to more than 34 area locations by 1986, the chain was an integral part of Southern California’s influential rock scene, featured prominently in 1982’s Fast Times at Ridgemont High and later giving title to Paul Thomas Anderson’s critically acclaimed, Academy Award-nominated 2021 film. It was more than just a record store; it served as a meeting place and haven for fans of all ages, a club house where music obsessives—including a teenaged Kerry Brown—could hang out and discover a spectacular range of new and classic music, from punk and glam to hard rock, metal, and more. A new generation is rediscovering vinyl for the first time. It’s the tastiest music in town, where you get it nicer.
ABOUT L7 | With an effortless blend of punk ethos, heavy grunge, socio-political anthems and humor, L7 is often associated with Seattle Grunge, even though they are from Los Angeles. On this reissue officially sanctioned by the band, fans can expect never-before-seen content and over-the-top packaging. L7’s vocalist/guitarist Donita Sparks says, “We are going to pull out all the stops for this release. Together with Licorice Pizza, this is going to be one tasty treat.”
L7’s heavy, but catchy guitar riffs are especially highlighted on the songs “Wargasm,” “Slide,” and “Everglade.” The group emphasized their feminist and Riot Grrrl side with “This Ain’t Pleasure” and “Diet Pill.” Fan favorite “Shitlist” was famously featured in Natural Born Killers. Named by Rolling Stone as among the “Essential Recordings of the 1990s” and one of SPIN’s “300 Best Albums of the Past 30 Years (1985-2014),” Bricks Are Heavy is a landmark album of ’90s rock. Fans can preorder the release here.
