“Mike Patton Shocks Punk Scene by Renaming Fat Wreck Chords — Fans Left Stunned and Split”

• “Mike Patton Shocks Punk Scene by Renaming Fat Wreck Chords — Fans Left Stunned and Split”

In a bombshell announcement that’s already sending shockwaves through the punk community, genre-bending icon Mike Patton has officially renamed Fat Wreck Chords, ushering in a dramatic new chapter for the legendary independent label.

The decision was revealed during a cryptic video teaser posted on the label’s social media, featuring flickering images of classic album covers being shredded, overlaid with distorted audio and Patton’s unmistakable voice saying, “It’s time for a louder future.”

Patton, known for fronting Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, and numerous experimental projects, reportedly finalized the takeover after Fat Mike stepped away from daily operations earlier this year. The rebranding, while still keeping the original roster intact “for now,” signals a radical shift in direction — fusing punk, noise, metal, and experimental soundscapes.

“This label was built on rebellion,” Patton said in a brief but fiery press release. “But rebellion doesn’t sit still. This isn’t nostalgia. It’s disruption.”

Reactions have been intense and immediate. Longtime Fat Wreck fans took to forums and comment sections, voicing a mix of betrayal and excitement. “This is erasing history,” one user wrote. Another countered, “Fat Wreck needed a jolt — and nobody jolts like Patton.”

Artists currently on the roster, including Lagwagon and Bad Cop/Bad Cop, have remained mostly silent, though insiders say some bands are considering leaving over the change, while others are “curious but cautious.”

While the new name and full vision haven’t been entirely unveiled, Patton promised the first release under the revamped label will arrive this fall — and it will be “unlike anything the scene’s ever heard.”

Whether it’s chaos or genius, one thing’s certain: punk’s most unpredictable voice just lit a fire under its most beloved label.