Patrick Wolf Enlisting Tribe Members

Non UK-residents can now join the Battle by becoming members of Tribe Wolf InterNational (TWIN). For each £10 paid to TWIN, TWIN will buy one "Bandstock" in Patrick Wolf's forthcoming album, Battle. The money invested will then be used to fund the recording and marketing of the album and in return, each shareholder will receive a variety of privileges. These will include the opportunity to attend TWIN-only special events, to buy limited edition singles, and be offered concert tickets before they go on general sale.

As previously announced, Wolf has chosen to abandon the major label route in order to regain full creative control by releasing through his own label, Bloody Chamber Music, funded via Bandstocks.com. This revolutionary funding vehicle allows fans, indeed anyone, to take a stake in an album's success through buying stocks at £10 a time.

In what can only be described as an invigorating and inspiring move in today's musical climate, Patrick had this to say about his exciting new venture:

"My roots in the music industry have always been firmly placed in independent music. As a teenager I was inspired by visionary labels such as Digital Hardcore, Fierce Panda, Planet Mu, and Tigerbeat 6. As an 18 year old, I was given full creative space by the small label Faith and Industry to grow and to make the records and sounds I had to. After two independent releases I decided to experiment to see what would happen when a major label and my third album collided. It was very beneficial and a great learning curve for me, but I am very happy to be back in the creative, free world of independent music; on my own label, Bloody Chamber Music (A bloody chamber being a heart, a tribute to the book "The Bloody Chamber" by Angela Carter), started earlier this year.

So, here I am. Album four with my own record label. With the old world recording industry a rapidly sinking ship; recording studios closing weekly, free downloads daily, more musicians hitting the long road than ever before to feed themselves, I am happy to have come across a new intimate system of audience and artist participation called Bandstocks. This will be funding Bloody Chamber Music, and the international physical and digital release of my fourth album, Battle, and its collective singles. It's an exciting game we can play together; you get to be an investor and stakeholder in the album. You will get special editions, first copies of the album, private privileges and mixes... and we get to conquer the world together and show that independence and self-sufficiency are the two ways forward and out of the mess the industry is in.

When I pressed my first EP we made one thousand vinyl copies. We sold these at friends' shops across the UK, and with the money made we funded the mix of Lycanthropy. The music industry needn't be so complicated or Wizard of Oz. It's time to drop the curtain and stop relying on a stale patriarchy. I'm excited, I hope you are too. Welcome to the future!"

Bandstocks' founder, Andrew Lewis, joins Wolf in his enthusiasm and hails the addition of a critically-acclaimed, major label artist as a bold step forward.

"Patrick is an original and genuine talent, destined for great things. I have been a huge fan since I was first introduced to his music four years ago and am extremely excited and honored by his decision to work with Bandstocks. Bandstocks was designed for artists like Patrick: artists who want to control their own destinies and aren't afraid to take the road less travelled to get there."

As Battle prepares to be unleashed, it has also been announced that award-winning actress, Tilda Swinton will feature as the narrative ‘voice of hope' throughout the album.

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