ROADRUNNER RECORDS Announces New A&R Additions

Roadrunner Records has announced the addition of Dante Bonutto and Derek Oliver to their international A&R team.

In the last two years, Roadrunner Records has not only been signing bands in the U.S., but internationally, having recently picked up artists such as SATYRICON, SHADOWS FALL, DRAGONFORCE and WITHIN TEMPTATION for global and territory-specific deals. Derek and Dante join the team to expand that signing activity even further.

The pair, who will be based in Roadrunner's London office, are set to bring classic artists to the label — "heritage" rock acts with a loyal fanbase, a catalogue of respected releases and an established international profile. These acts will be signed to Roadrunner for both brand new studio recordings and DVDs.

Collectively and individually, Dante and Derek have a wealth of music industry experience, first as rock journalists in the 1980s and then on the marketing/A&R sides at record companies both here and in the USA, where they worked with artists such as LED ZEPPELIN, AC/DC, BAD COMPANY and YES. In 2003, the pair formed Rock Candy Records, enabling them to unearth, repackage and re-issue deleted or hard-to-find gems from the annals of rock at the same time, they launched the Grind That Axe label and publishing company, as a way of recording and licensing albums from contemporary rock acts.

Dante Bonutto has had his fingers in a myriad of rock pies. After a number of years in the upper ranks of the U.K.'s rock titles (Kerrang!, Metal Hammer, RAW) plus various stints presenting rock and metal shows for U.K. radio and television, Dante settled into an A&R role at East West Records in London. More recently, he has been working as an A&R and Marketing Consultant at Universal Music International, helping to expand the careers of bands such as RAMMSTEIN and ROB ZOMBIE. Dante also manages U.K. metalheads SIKTH and (along with Derek) producer Dan Turner.

"My activities at Universal have already brought me into close contact with the Roadrunner offices around the world and I'm now delighted to be expanding that relationship in the name of classic rock and metal!" Dante said. "In terms of developing rock acts from the ground up, Roadrunner have an infrastructure and an expertise that is second to none.'

Likewise, Derek Oliver began his career as a journalist for Melody Maker, before moving on to Kerrang! where he established the legendary "Wimpwire" column spotlighting brand new and developing talent. In 1988, he made the step into label-land via an A&R role at Atlantic Records (first in London, later in New York),where he signed artists like PANTERA, THE WILDHEARTS and DREAM THEATER, before rising to the rank of Senior VP at Elektra Records NY. In this capacity, he worked with the likes of METALLICA and MÖTLEY CRÜE, among many others. Derek states, "I had the pleasure of working with Roadrunner owner Cees Wessels a few years ago, as his organization was making the transition from a successful niche label into a fully rounded company that is now at the cutting edge of contemporary rock music. His determination and commitment are legendary, and it's with great pleasure and enthusiasm that I rejoin his team.'

Wally Van Middendorp, Roadrunner International's VP of Marketing and Acquisitions stated, "In recent years we have been developing Roadrunner's A&R activities in Europe and it is great to have two experienced A&R managers like Derek and Dante join our international A&R team enabling us to cover a broad range of musical styles and bring some great bands to the label."