Favorite Independent Record Labels #7 - Beggars Banquet

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We're at #7 in my Favorite Independent Record Labels series, and that distinction belongs to Beggars Banquet. Inspired by the burgeoning punk movement, Brits Martin Mills and Nick Austin formed Beggars Banquet in 1977 (I read an article in The Guardian that said Beggars Banquet started as a record store.) Over the years, Beggars Banquet put out some fantastic music. Artists such as Bauhaus, Fields of the Nephilim, Gary Numan (both solo and with Tubeway Army,) The Cult, Bowery Electric, and the Charlatans (known as Charlatans UK in the States) have had records released by the label. Those names are big enough to make Beggars Banquet seem like a big label instead of an independent. However, Beggars Banquet has merged with 4AD and are now part of the Beggars Group. We shall see what happens. (Info verified by Wikipedia)