Sugar Free Records

Started in 1996 by an escapee from the major label music prison, Sugar Free has made its reputation as a caring, ambitious independent that cultivates artists, not profit margins. Label founder Thaddeus Rudd was employed at Virgin Records in Los Angeles when he decided to quit, return to his adopted hometown of Chicago and make a positive contribution to the music industry.

Since its inception in 1996, Sugar Free has grown to a fully functioning, powerful label in the indie rock scene. Forgoing genre classifications for true artistry, many of Sugar Free's artists are hard to categorize. In its first year, the upstart label signed Chris Mills, Blazing Rains, birddog and Wheat. Following years added Jon Langford, Family of God, Beulah, and Diane Izzo to the Sugar Free catalog. The label's unique sound and vision even inspired a book of photographs by indie rock/film artist Michael Galinsky.