Foundations Forum
Foundations Forum was the first exclusively heavy metal music industry convention, held annually from 1988 to 1997 in Los Angeles. The convention was set up by Concrete Marketing who had in January 1988 created the first industry trade magazine for the heavy metal world – Foundations. Realizing there was little or no attention or focus on this growing market, and having seen the far reaching distribution of the trade magazine, they decided to put together an annual meeting, bringing together key industry personnel, vendors and artists offering advice on surviving the industry, discussing the changing climate of the scene and business, and allowing people to network.
Executive Director Bob Chiappardi summed up the purpose of the Forum,
"The way heavy metal is growing, we want to be careful not to have it blow out. By sitting down and talking about the genre, the good and the bad points, having the indies interacting with the majors, it makes for a healthy industry in general."
The forums usually invited a keynote speaker who would open the event and touch on important themes for the weekend ahead. There would be panels and workshops made up of industry personnel particular to the theme who would discuss contemporary issues and answer questions.
There were also plenty of performances all weekend of the best signed and unsigned talent the heavy metal world had to offer, over the years including bands like Judas Priest, Pantera, Alice in Chains, Extreme, Ozzy Osbourne and Prong.
CD Samplers of signed and unsigned artists were distributed to each forum attendee
Foundations Forum '88
On September 30 – October 1 at the Sheraton Universal Hotel in Los Angeles, Concrete Marketing, Metal Blade Records and RIP Magazine joined forces to create the first annual Foundations Forum convention.The theme of FF88 was the credibility and respectability of metal within the music industry as a whole.
Attendance, etc.
The Keynote speaker for the event was Sharon Osbourne and it incorporated parties in honor of RIP Magazine's second anniversary and Concrete's fourth.
Panels & Moderators
| Panel | Moderator |
| Metal Marketing | Bob Chiappardi |
| Press & Publicity | Lonn Friend |
| Artist Development | Diarmuid Quinn |
| Retail & Distribution | Bill Berger |
| Metal Video | John Cannelli |
| Managers & Lawyers | Walter O'Brien |
| Metal Radio | Derek Simon |
| Record Producers | Mike Bone |
| Credibility & Respectability | Jim Cardillo |
| Record Company Forum | Brian Slagel |
| Clubs, Booking & Touring | Haoui Montaug Jennifer Perry |
| A&R in Heavy Metal | Ron Laffitte |
| Selling Metal: Retail, Touring & Press | Janie Hoffman Andy Somers |
| Artist Panel | Penelope Spheeris |
A two disc compilation cd was available free of charge to those attending the event, showcasing bands that Concrete was working with.
Disc 1:
| Artist | Song | Label |
| Keith Richards | Take It So Hard | Virgin |
| Winger | Hungry | Atlantic |
| Helloween | I Want Out | RCA |
| Bullet Boys | Smooth Up | Warner Bros. Records |
| Anvil | Blood On The Ice | Metal Blade |
| Queensrÿche | Revolution Calling | EMI-Manhattan |
| Warrant | 32 Pennies | Columbia |
| Drive | Kamikaze | Rampage/Rhino |
| S.A.D.O. | On The Races | Noise |
| Roughhouse | Tonight | Columbia |
| Alien | I've Been Waiting | Virgin |
| The Stand | If You See Kay | Pak'er/Carlyle |
Disc 2
| Artist | Song | Label |
| House of Lords | I Wanna Be Loved | Simmons/RCA |
| Majesty | Fortune In Lies | Mechanic |
| Kix | Cold Blood | Atlantic |
| Jetboy | Feel The Shake | MCA |
| Suicidal Tendencies | Surf & Slam | Epic |
| Dead End | Junk | Metal Blade |
| Hexx | Racial Slaughter | – |
| Devias | Desperate | – |
| Wild | Hot For Love | Columbia |
| Mallet-Head | Fight | Frontier |
| Washed | Alone | – |
Foundations Forum '89
Foundations Forum 89 took place from September 21–23 at the Sheraton Universal Hotel in Los Angeles. This was a week when three metal albums dominated Billboard's Top Pop Albums chart.The focus of this convention was shifted more towards the development of new artists within the metal scene, emphasizing the growth and nurturing of the style.
The convention's attendance more than doubled this year to accommodate more than 2500 people, around a quarter of which were musicians.
The Keynote speaker for the event was KISS bassist Gene Simmons.
Panels & Moderators
| Panel | Moderator |
| Metal Workshop | Jim Cardillo |
| Understanding Music Publishing | Andy Gould |
| Pay To Play – Controversy In The Clubs | Kenny Kerner |
| Retail | Lou Mann |
| Merchandising: Your Name Here | Walter O'Brien |
| Producers/A&R | Terry Lippman |
| Radio | Ray Gmeiner |
| Sponsorships – Is Metal Going To Madison Avenue? | John Brodie |
| Road Management: Don't Leave Home Without It | Ron Laffitte |
| International: The World, She Shrinks | Stephan Galfas |
| Video: $$$ Well Spent or Spend It Elsewhere? | Rick Krim |
| Press: Exposing Yourself | Ben Leimer |
| A Star Is Born: The Development Of a Career | Cliff O'Sullivan |
| Touring: Getting From The Clubs To The Arenas | Gary Bongiovanni |
| Geraldo Goes Metal: All Access, No B.S. | Marko Babineau |
| Equipment Endorsements | Paul Sackman |
| Metal Corps: The Sultans of Speed | Chris Williamson |
| Marketing | Bob Chiappardi |
| Artist Management: Can't Live Without 'Em & Can't Shoot 'Em | Mike Bone |
| Artist Panel | Lonn Friend |
The artist panel this year featured King Diamond, Robert Sweet, Robin McAuley, Steve Jones, Lita Ford, Vicki Peterson, Scott Ian, Taime Downe and Anthony Kiedis.
A double cassette named 'The Shape of Things to Come' featuring unsigned artists was given out this year along with the double disc compilation 'CD From Hell'. In a special issue of Metal Hammer, interviews were run with all the unsigned bands featured on the compilation.
CD From Hell – Disc 1
| Artist | Song | Label |
| D.A.D. | Rim of Hell | Warner Bros. Records |
| Cats In Boots | Shot Gun Sally | EMI Records |
| Toy Roz | Sexy Lil' Devil | BG Records |
| The Front | Pain | Columbia Records |
| Lord Tracy | She's a Bitch | UNI/MCA Records |
| Brighton Rock | Can't Stop The Earth From Shakin' | – |
| Defcon | Cold Hearted | DKP Productions |
| Alien | Tears Don't Put Out The Fire | Virgin Records |
| Babylon A.D. | Hammer Swings Down | Arista Records |
| Fates Warning | Through Different Eyes | Enigma Entertainment |
| Savatage | Gutter Ballet | – |
| Bad Brains | With the Quickness | Caroline Records |
| Sleeze Beez | Screwed, Blued 'N Tattooed | Sanctuary Music |
| Joy Thunder | Hard Love | – |
| The Stand | Love Is the Reason | Pak'er Carlyle Records |
| Potential Threat | Rich Bitch | – |
CD From Hell – Disc 2
| Artist | Song | Label |
| Faith No More | Falling to Pieces | Slash Records/Warner Bros. Records |
| Shotgun Messiah | Shout it Out | Relativity Records |
| MSG | Save Yourself | Capitol Records |
| King Diamond | Sleepless Nights | Roadracer Records |
| Damn Cheetah | Damn Cheetah | Total Music Management |
| Loudness | You Shook Me | Atco Records |
| Suicidal Tendencies | Master of No Mercy | Epic Records |
| Stage Dolls | Wings of Steel | Chrysalis Records |
| Faster Pussycat | Poison Ivy | Elektra Records |
| Rude Awakening | Live Life | Rude Awakening |
| Metal Church | Of Unsound Mind | Elektra Records |
| Mordred | State of Mind | Noise Records |
| Powermad | Nice Dreams | Warner Bros. Records |
| Dirty Blonde | Passion | Outpost Entertainment |
| Cherri Rokkett | Lonely | Cherri Rokkett |
Foundations Forum '90
Foundations Forum 90 took place at the Sheraton Plaza La Reina Hotel in Los Angeles from September 13–15, 1990. This was the first year the event was open to the public and there were over 4,000 registrants.The theme of this year's event was based loosely around metal's emerging social consciousness and responsibility :
Responsibility on the part of the industry to nurture new talent, the responsibility of the metal community to cultivate our increasing credibility within the industry, and the responsibility of us all to react to charges that our music is potentially or intrinsically dangerous with something other than mere hostility.
Tying in with this theme, a big topic of conversation at the forum was censorship and the keynote speaker for the event was Judas Priest frontman, Rob Halford. At the time, Judas Priest had just been involved in a civil action whereby it was alleged they were responsible for the suicide of one youth from Nevada and the attempted suicide of his best friend via subliminal messages placed on one of the songs from their album, 'Stained Class'.
Although the case had eventually been thrown out of court, it was not the first of its kind and the metal world was having to defend itself against an ever-increasing number of censors.
Ozzy Osbourne, who had also been to court following the death of a teenager who listened to his music, joined his wife Sharon Osbourne and former California Governor Jerry Brown on one of the forum's panels to discuss the issue of censorship, which was a popular topic; a theme which spilled into several other panels over the weekend.
1990's forum was self-contained within the hotel and featured listening parties from Slayer, Motörhead, Scorpions, Iron Maiden and Deep Purple. Not only was there major news/press coverage of the forum, but there were broadcasts directly from the convention by MTV, KNAC, Z-Rock and others, with some being syndicated all across the country. Many will have come to cover the 18 signed bands which played at night including Judas Priest, Pantera, Exodus, Extreme, Alice In Chains and the London Quireboys. Also, during the day, there were 18 unsigned bands performing including Radar, a New York band featuring lead singer Pamela Moore who sang the part of Sister Mary on Queensrÿche's ' album.
Two commercial video cassettes of FF90 highlights were released through Strand/VCI, although these were never to be released domestically.
Panels & Moderators
| Panel | Moderator |
| Metal Workshop | Jim Pitulski |
| International Panel | Derek Oliver |
| Music Contracts Panel | Joseph Lloyd Serling |
| Video Panel | Juliana Roberts |
| Publishing Panel | Jim Cardillo |
| Radio Panel | Kid Leo |
| A&R Panel | Jim Lewis |
| Endorsement Panel | Joe Bosso |
| Music From The Underground | Howie Abrams |
| Touring Panel | Jim Guerinot |
| Marketing Panel | Jay Krugman |
| Merchandising Panel | Steve Gertsman |
| Censorship Panel | Chris Morris |
| Biology of a Record Company | Brian Slagel |
| ASCAP Metal Songwriter Workshop | Andy Gould |
| Press Panel | Hanna Bolte |
| Sexism/Racism Panel | Mike Bone |
| Retail Panel | Fran Aliberte |
| Management Panel | Bill Elson |
| Artist Panel | Lonn Friend Riki Rachtman |
The Artist Panel included Jani Lane & Joey Allen, KK Downing & Glen Tipton, Vito Bratta, Dave Mustaine and Joe Leste.
As well as a cassette featuring unsigned bands, a 3CD sampler was given out at this Foundations Forum.
Foundations Forum '90 CD Sampler – Disc 1
| Artist | Song | Label |
| Extreme | Get The Funk Out | A&M Records |
| Queensrÿche | Empire | EMI |
| Warrant | Uncle Tom's Cabin | Columbia |
| Vio-lence | Officer Nice | Megaforce/Atlantic |
| Cry Wolf | Face Down The Wishing Well | Grand Slamm |
| Every Mother's Nightmare | Listen Up | Arista |
| House Of Lords | Shoot | Simmons/RCA |
| Nevada Beach | Waiting for an Angel | Metal Blade |
| Black Sabbath | Anno Mundi | IRS Records |
| Two Bit Thief | Hard Times | Combat |
| Ministry | Thieves | |
| Devious | Carried Away | – |
| Washed | Turn It Around | – |
Foundations Forum '90 CD Sampler – Disc 2
| Artist | Song | Label |
| Megadeth | Holy Wars/Punishment Due | Capitol |
| Pantera | Primal Concrete Sledge | ATCO |
| 24-7 Spyz | Heaven or Hell | In-Effect |
| Vixen | Wrecking Ball | EMI |
| Trouble Tribe | Tattoo | Chrysalis |
| Sacred Reich | Who's To Blame | Enigma |
| Rhino Bucket | Blood On The Cross | Reprise |
| Uzi | Away From My Heart | – |
| Jet Boy | Stomp It | MCA |
| Valentine | Running On Luck Again | Giant |
| Mystic Force | Shipwrecked With The Wicked | – |
| Harlet | Individual We Stand | – |
| Antix | Jaw Dropping Beauty | – |
| Dorian Grey | South Side Man | – |
Foundations Forum '90 CD Sampler – Disc 3'''
| Artist | Song | Label |
| Anthrax | In My World | Megaforce/Island |
| Exodus | The Lunatic Parade | Capitol |
| Reverend | Scattered Wits | Charisma |
| Precious Metal | Downhill Dreamer | Chameleon |
| King of The Hill | Freak Show | SBK Records |
| Child's Play | Rat Race | Chrysalis |
| Disaster Area | This Claw | – |
| The Beautiful | Fine Science of Chaos | Giant Records |
| Scarecrow | Waiting | Cariola Records |
| Destruction | Cracked Brain | Noise Records |
| Randy Coven | Strange Cat | Guitar Recordings |
| David La Duke | Right From Wrong | SB Records |
| Joy Thunder | No Place To Skate | – |
| Tamer Lane | More Than A Miracle | – |
Foundations Forum '91
Foundations Forum 91 took place at the Airport Marriott Hotel in Los Angeles from October 3–5, 1991. This year the forum featured an industry only day as well as the first Foundations awards ceremony. Paid attendance was up 15% on the previous year and exhibit room, directory sales, advertising, merchandising and record company participation were all up 25%.Over half a million dollars was raised in aid of the TJ Martell Foundation, through ticket sales for the awards ceremony and at the casino night held as part of the convention.
Signed bands showcasing over the course of the three nights included Ozzy Osbourne, Soundgarden, Prong, Ugly Kid Joe, XYZ, Crimson Glory, The Almighty, Bang Tango, Claytown Troupe, Screaming Jets, Baby Animals, Lillian Axe and Asphalt Ballet.
A sponsor, Barq's Root Beer, also came on board for the first time at the convention. Noting that their target market was those aged between 12 and 24, and recognizing the growing popularity of the metal genre amongst this age group, they partnered with Foundation's Forum in order to reach their audience direct.
Panels & Moderators
| Panel | Moderator |
| Retail Marketing | Mark Reiter |
| Record Contracts | Donald Passman |
| Meet The Prez | Mike Bone |
| Touring & Developing a Show | Larry Smith |
| Sponsorships | Tom Hulett |
| Demos | Steve Sinclair |
| Press | Mike Gitter |
| Publishing 101 | Ira Jaffe |
| Radio & Promotion | Brad Hunt |
| Managers | Merck Mercuriadis |
| Crossover – Rap/Alternative/Metal | Tom Whalley |
| Biology of a Record Company | Mike Faley |
| Artist Panel | Lonn Friend |
| Career Opportunities & Self Defense in the Music Business | Jim Cardillo |
The artist panel this year included Mike Muir, Ricky Warwick, Chris Cornell, Jeff Ament, Phil Anselmo, Dweezil Zappa, and Harry James and Luke Morley.
Awards Ceremony
The first Foundations Awards ceremony was to recognize the significant contribution made by key artists to the heavy metal genre and the music industry as a whole. The proceeds were donated to the TJ Martell Foundation and the ceremony featured performances by Blind Melon, Temple of the Dog, Alice in Chains and Megadeth. The MC for the event was MTV's Riki Rachtman and awards presenters included Ronnie James Dio, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, Lemmy, Rick Rubin, Penelope Spheeris and Rikki Rokkett.
AWARDS
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Ozzy Osbourne
- Best Debut Album: Alice in Chains
- Best Hard Rock Band: Queensrÿche
- Top Artist : Megadeth – Rust In Peace
- Top Artist : Megadeth – Hangar 18
- Top Artist : Queensrÿche – Empire
- Best Thrash Band: Megadeth
- Best Hard Alternative Band: Jane's Addiction
- Best Video : Slayer – Seasons in the Abyss/Janes Addiction – Been Caught Stealing
- Best Album Art: Jane's Addiction – Ritual de lo Habitual
- Top Independent Artist : Napalm Death – Harmony Corruption
- Top Home Video: Faith No More – Live at Brixton
- Top New Artist: Pantera
| Artist | Song | Label |
| War Babies | Blue Tomorrow | Columbia Records |
| Soundgarden | Jesus Christ Pose | A&M |
| Fates Warning | Point of View | Metal Blade/Reprise |
| McQueen Street | When I'm In The Mood | SBK Records |
| Screaming Jets | Needle | rooArt/Mercury |
| Voivod | Clouds In My House | Mechanic Records |
| Crimson Glory | The Chant | Atlantic |
| Lillian Axe | Body Double | Grand Slamm Records |
| Skatenigs | Loudspeaker | Wax Trax Records |
| Pasafire | Suck on This! | – |
| David LaDuke | Takin' My Chances | SB Records/Productions |
| Bernward | Rock'n'Roll Revolution | Inferno Music |
| Dead On | Lost At Sea | Dead On Records/Mausoleum |
| Skara Brae | Sweet Alibi | – |
Foundations Forum 91 Sampler CD – Disc 2
| Artist | Song | Label |
| Slick Toxik | Big Fuckin' Deal | Capitol Records |
| Scatterbrain | Big Fun | Elektra Entertainment |
| Claytown Troupe | Devil's Highway | EMI |
| The Bogeymen | Killing Ground | Delicious Vinyl |
| Naked Sun | Rite To Life | Noise Entertainment |
| Arcane Opera | Time Slips Away | – |
| Tourniquet | Psycho Surgery | Intense Records |
| Gunslingers | Rock-City | – |
| Scorcher | Still A Long Way From Home | – |
| Rude Awakening | The Bell | – |
| Annihilation | Fourth Reich | – |
| Eudoxis | Reach The Sun | – |
| Belfast | Make Up Your Mind | – |
Foundations Forum 91 Sampler CD – Disc 2
| Artist | Song | Label |
| The Almighty | Crucify | Polydor |
| The Scream | Tell Me Why | Hollywood Records |
| Lucy Brown | Colorblind | Megaforce/Atlantic |
| The Hard Corps | Hard Corps | Interscope |
| Baby Animals | Early Warning | Imago Recordings |
| Frontrunner! | Time To Say Goodbye | – |
| Voxen | Shadows of a Broken Heart | – |
| Criss Cross | Tears From Heaven | – |
| Amazone | Stop Talking | – |
| Moxy Lama | It Doesn't Matter | – |
| Heartless | Baby Jane | – |
| Gypsy Kyss | Somewhere With Somebody Else | – |
| Disaster Area | Reign of Chaos | – |
| Casino Drive | Groovin' Bomb | – |
This year a video cassette entitled 'A Weekend in Hell' was released through A&M Video. The video featured performances from bands like Megadeth, Soundgarden, Ugly Kid Joe, Prong, Screaming Jets and XYZ. Also featured were excerpts from panel discussions, awards acceptances and exhibits, serving as a taster for those who could not make it to the event itself.
Foundations Forum '92
Foundations Forum 92 took place at the Stouffer Concourse Hotel in Los Angeles from October 1–3, 1992. The theme of the convention on its fifth anniversary was the 'evolution of the genre' – exploring where they stood musically, and where they were likely headed.Foundations Forum 92 was the venue for the World premier screening of 'For Those About to Rock – Monsters in Moscow' featuring AC/DC, Metallica, Pantera and Black Crowes.
Having established the ceremony the previous year, on Saturday night the Concrete Foundations Awards took place as part of the events at the hotel.
AWARDS
- Top Retail Album: 'Metallica' – Metallica
- Top Radio Cut: 'Mouth For War' – Pantera
- Top Radio Album: 'Metallica' – Metallica
- Top Home Video: 'Rusted Pieces' – Megadeth
- Best Independent Artist: Sepultura
- Best Breakthrough Artist: Pearl Jam
- Best Hard Music Artist: Soundgarden
- The Hard Rockers' Hard Rocker Award: Aerosmith
Panels & Moderators
| Panel | Moderator |
| Radio Seminar | Don Kaye |
| Ragin Retail; How May We Help You? | Susan Greenwood Ed Bunker |
| Independent Labels; President's Conclave | Brian Slagel |
| Marketing And The New Technology | Mike Shalett |
| European Market | Harry Doherty |
| Platinum Case Studies | Diarmuid Quinn |
| Getting Your Foot in the Door | Jim Cardillo |
| Feedback From The Fans: A Panel in Reverse | Cheryl Valentine Dyana Kass |
| Hard Music: The Evolution of The Genre | Mike Gitter |
| Independent Labels: Surviving in Interesting Times | Mike Faley |
| Workshop: Artist Endorsements | Josh Rikelman |
| Legal Workshops | Joseph Serling |
| European Marketing: Press & Publicity | Harry Doherty |
| Press: Past, Present & Future | Kim Kaiman |
| Marketing Yourself | Marc Reiter |
| A&R Panel | Mike Bone |
| Get Into The Ring With Lonn Friend | Lonn Friend |
| Workshop: So You Wanna Be A Guitar Hero? | Jonathan Rheingold |
| The Artist Panel | Steve Isaacs |
Brian Slagel's Independent Labels Presidents Conclave was a significant meeting for those rock/metal labels which, despite a fair amount of individual success, were under represented at other industry conventions or rarely had their voices heard. This meeting covered significant topics like international distribution, domestic distribution, marketing, merchandising, touring and publicity, and gave the indies a chance to discuss the problems and concerns they shared.
Foundations Forum '92 Sampler CD 1
| Artist | Song | Label |
| Cathedral | Autumn Twilight | Columbia Records |
| Extreme | Rest In Peace | A&M Records |
| Kyuss | Green Machine | Chameleon Records |
| Dead, White & Blue | Chills | MCA Records |
| Non-Fiction | Reason To Live | Grand Slamm Records |
| Cannibal Corpse | Hammer Smashed Face | Metal Blade Records |
| Copperhead | Busted | Mercury Records |
| David La Duke | Love My Baby | SB Records & Tapes |
| T-Ride | Fire It Up | Hollywood Records |
| Praxis | Crash Victim Crash Science Navigator | Axiom/Island/PLG |
| Blackjack | To Thine Own Self Be True | – |
| Tragic Romance | Love and Revolution | Mother America Records |
| Vertical After | Sellout | Undergrowth Records |
| Skeleton | Hit The Floor | – |
Foundations Forum '92 Sampler CD 2
| Artist | Song | Label |
| Circle of Soul | One Man's Poison | Hollywood Records |
| Animal Bag | Hate Street | Stardog/Mercury Records |
| Skew Siskin | If The Walls Could Talk | Giant Records |
| Exodus | A Good Day To Die | Capitol Records |
| Forte | Mein Madness | Massacre Records |
| Crystal Pistol | Heart of Stone | – |
| Condemned | Addictive | Sounds of Seattle records |
| Scorcher | That Look In Your Eyes | – |
| Abby Normal | Yard of Toys | – |
| Totem | Come Fly With Me | – |
| Eyewitness | Can't Stop | – |
| Lazarus | Intracranial Mass | – |
| False Face Society | Confessor | – |
| Repulsa | I Never Promised You a Rose Garden | – |
Foundations Forum '92 Sampler CD 3
| Artist | Song | Label |
| Pantera | Cowboys from Hell | Warner Home Video |
| Arcane Opera | Words That Heal | – |
| Emerald Zoo | What's It Gonna Do For You | – |
| Hard Knox | Run For The Money | – |
| Schnitt Acht | Rage | Cheetah Records |
| Cyperus | Sanity Management | Summit Records |
| Aragathor | Jury of Spyders | – |
| Rampage | Your Rules | – |
| Deadline | Do You Believe | – |
| Crash 9-teen | Sandra Scream | – |
| Scarred For Life | So Trashy | – |
| Yvette D'Luxe & The Ugly Bastards | Stripicide 1&2 | – |
Foundations Forum 93
Foundations Forum 93 took place from September 9, 1993 to September 11, 1993 at the Burbank Hilton and Convention Center in LA.Artists showcasing at this year's event included KISS, Scorpions, Schnitt Acht, Souls at Zero, My Sisters Machine, The Big F, Accept, Quicksand, La Salle, The Scream, I Mother Earth, Greta, Mind Bomb, Strip Mind, White Trash, Tad and Crowbar.
| Panel | Moderator |
| Rock Intensive Radio | Matt Pollack |
| College Radio | Toxic Tommy Delaney |
| Independent Distribution | Craig Minor |
| Youth Marketing; Getting a Piece of the Pie | Jim Cardillo |
| Do Your Own Press | Jodi Jacobsen |
| Understanding Soundscan | Mike Fine |
| The Changing Face of Retail | Lou Mann |
| Do Your Own Videos | Peter Spirer |
| Understanding BDS | George Chaltas |
| Kids Say The Darndest Things | Mike Fine |
| International Panel | Harry Doherty |
| College Radio 101 | Toxic Tommy Delaney |
| Media & Technology: Reshaping the Music Biz | David Santaniello |
| Women's Opportunities | Gerri Miller |
| Doing Your Own Demos | Ross Elliot |
| Ask Mr Slagel | Brian Slagel |
| Legal Workshops | Joseph Serling |
| War Stories: A View From The Trenches | Lonn Friend |
| Press Panel | Chris Morris |
| Booking Yourself | Dan DeVita |
| Merchandising | Felix Sebacious |
| The Politics of Pot: Music, Mores and Marijuana | Harry Crossfield |
| Takin It to the Streets; Marketing Hard Music in the 90s | Brad Pollak |
| Publishing | |
| Interactive Media | Scotty Page |
| A&R Panel | Danny Goldberg |
| Artist Panel | Michael McKean |
The artist panel this year featured Jerry Cantrell, Stevie Blaze, Jesse DuPree and Rob Zombie.
Foundations Forum 93 CD Sampler Disc 1
| Artist | Song | Label |
| Shootyz Groove | The Crave | Mercury Records |
| Damn the Machine | I Will | A&M Records |
| The Big F | Wicked Thing | Chrysalis/ERG |
| Souls at Zero | Grey World | Energy Records |
| Prong | Snap Your Fingers | Epic Records/Concrete Management |
| Mercyful Fate | Is That You Melissa | Metal Blade |
| David La Duke | Rock and Roll Fever | SB Records & Tapes |
| Iron Maiden | Hallowed Be Thy Name | Capitol Records |
| Schnitt Acht | The War Has Begun | CDG Records |
| Galactic Cowboys | Ranch on Mars | Geffen Records/Concrete Management |
| Spiders and Sankes | 2000 Rock and Roll | – |
| Nasty Licks | Silence Man | – |
| Bullzai | Stay | – |
| Ivory Tower | Hit and Run | – |
| Cold Ethyl | Hammerdown | – |
Foundations Forum 93 CD Sampler Disc 2
| Artist | Song | Label |
| The Scream | Kool World | Hollywood Records |
| Flotsam & Jetsam | News To Me | MCA Records |
| Haze & Shuffle | Whatch Ya Do With Me | Arista |
| Love/Hate | Spinning Wheel | – |
| Paradise Lost | True Belief | Metal Blade |
| Lonn Friend & Dave 'Snake' Sabo | I Dismember You | – |
| Kyuss | Demon Cleaner | Chameleon Records |
| Angels in Exile | Time For a Killing | – |
| Clockhammer | Losing A Thousand Days | – |
| Mutha's Day out | Locked | Chrysalis |
| Ikki Crane | Time and Again | – |
| Mary Suicide | Taste Me | – |
| Muzza Chunka | Float | Arista Records |
Foundations Forum 93 CD Sampler Disc 3
| Artist | Song | Label |
| Stick | Grind | Arista Records |
| The Almighty | Powertrippin' | Polydor records |
| I Mother Earth | Not Quite Sonic | Capitol Records |
| Sugar Tooth | Black Queen | Revolution/Capitol Records |
| Tad | Greasebox | Mechanic/Giant |
| White Trash | Minor Happiness | Elektra |
| Dogma | Crying Souls For The Damned | – |
| Vertical After | Crime Pays | Undergrowth records |
| Soulgrind | Lost and Found | – |
| School Boy Crush | To Your Knees | – |
| Untaymd | Desperately Delirious | – |
| Double Action | No Man's Land | – |
Foundations Forum '94
Foundations Forum '94 took place at the Burbank Hilton Hotel in LA from September 7–9, 1994. The special address was given by Ted Nugent and Mercury Records provided a launch party at the Palace in Hollywood featuring performances by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Animal Bag, Shootyz Groove, Downset and Kerbdog.Bands showcasing this year included Bile, Biohazard, Bruce Dickinson, Downset, Dream Theater, Drown, Fates Warning, Korn, Machine Head, Yngwie Malmsteen, Monster Voodoo Machine, My Head, Overkill, Wickerman, Wool, Dead Orchestra, Engines of Aggression, Juster, Wood, Paradise Lost, Planet Hate, Po' Boy Swing, Pushmonkey, Raven, Blackthorne and Vertical After.
| Panel | Moderator |
| Commercial Radio | Sue Naramore |
| College Radio | Sharon Joffe |
| Independent Labels | Tom Lipsky |
| International 'Europe: Independent Route to Success' | Andy Black |
| Management Workshop | Jim Pitulski |
| Grammy Professional Forum | National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences |
| Retail Focus Group | Bob Cahill |
| 'Is There Life After Death?' | Frank Dancsecs |
| Publishing Workshop | Dexter Moore |
| Maximising Video Exposure | Souxsie Crawford |
| Guitar Clinic | Yngwie Malmsteen |
| College Radio 101 | Chainsaw |
| Consumer focus Group | Dyana Kass Linnea Nann |
| More War Stories | Dee Snider |
| Free Legal Advice | Joseph Serling |
| Marketing | Jayne Simon |
| Press | Katherine Turman |
| Emerging Radio Technologies | Susan Greenwood |
| Pick Brian's Brain | Brian Slagel |
| Women's Opportunities | Gerri Miller |
| Touring | Andy Gould |
| Underground Press | Jerry Rutherford |
| Engineering Workshop | Freddie Piro |
| A&R Panel | Brian Slagel |
| Legal Workshop | Joseph Serling |
| Artist Panel | Vanessa Warwick |
Foundations Forum '94 CD Sampler – CD 1
| Artist | Song | Label |
| White Zombie | Children of the Grave | Columbia Records |
| Fates Warning | Outside Looking In | Metal Blade Records |
| Monster Magnet | Negasonic Teenage Warhead | A&M Records |
| C.O.C | Broken Man | Columbia Records |
| Gilby Clarke | Cure Me... Or Kill Me | Virgin Records |
| Machine Head | Davidian | Roadrunner Records |
| David La Duke | Satisfaction | SB Discs and Tapes |
| Silence | Sound of the Rain | CEG Records |
| Joey Vera | Laughing in the Light | Metal Blade Records |
| Mobius | Filling My Shoes | – |
| Mary's Magnet | Number Nine | – |
| Paradise Lost | True Belief | Music For Nations |
| Hate Face | Skin | – |
Foundations Forum '94 CD Sampler – CD 2
| Artist | Song | Label |
| Animal Bag | Spirits of Grass | Mercury Records |
| Wool | Kill The Crow | London Records |
| Carcass | Embodiment | Earache/Columbia Records |
| Drown | Transparent | Elektra Records |
| Bourbon Lies | Love Me One More Time | – |
| Reason Being | The Vibe | – |
| Metal Sky Craz | Hot Girl Tonight | – |
| Vertical After | Stab the Cheese | Undergrowth Records |
| Bullets 4 Breakfast | Extreme Hostile Intent | Coldwar Records |
| Arsinal | The Window | – |
| Mystic Force | Divinity Within | – |
| Ramrod | Listen... As I Die | – |
Foundations Forum '94 CD Sampler – CD 3
| Artist | Song | Label |
| Arcade | Angry | Epic Records |
| Testament | Low | Atlantic Records |
| LAROXX | Suicide | – |
| Frontline | Heaven Knows | Signo Records |
| Talon | Cold Hard Ground | – |
| Blister'd Toad | Lost Child | – |
| Swamp Candles | The Philadelphia Song | – |
| Dirty Dealin | Remember | – |
| Bad Angels | Borderline | Skull Train Records |
| Alien Strange | Final Exit | – |
| Illegal | The Opponent | – |
| Cinnamon | Stanley | – |
Foundations Forum '94 CD Sampler – CD 4
| Artist | Song | Album |
| My Head | Carnasaur | Imago Records |
| Dream Theater | Lie | Eastwest Records |
| Atomic Opera | Joyride | Collision Arts/Giant |
| Wicker Man | Shitkicker | Imago Records |
| Aerosol | Death of a TV Junkie | Stone Lizard Records |
| Rising Sun | Gypsy Arabian Caravan | – |
| Bad Biscuit | Masturbation | Cathedral Records |
| Fat Bastid | Soldier | – |
| Snydley Whiplash | Dizzy Space | Hard As A Rock Productions |
| Brood | Lack of Motivation | – |
| Vicious Rumours | No Fate | GTM Management |
| Ultra Violet Vinny | PNB | – |
| Peace Sanctuary | No Pain | Hard as a Rock Productions |
Foundations Forum '95
Foundations Forum '95 was hosted from Thursday September 7 – Saturday September 9, 1995 by the Burbank Hilton in Los Angeles, California. It was to be the last forum of its kind, with plans for a new format taking shape for future meets.| Panel | Moderator |
| Active Rock Radio: An Alternative to What? | John Fagot |
| The College Metal Radio Gameshow | Smitty |
| Independent Distribution | Lou Gerard Musumeci |
| Europe: Melting The Metal | Carsten Stricker |
| Underground Video | Beth Lasch |
| Demo Critique | Marc Ferrari |
| Retail Panel | Ray Godas |
| Canada: Northern Exposure | Lyle Chausse |
| Underground Press | Mike Diana |
| College Radio 101: Building The Better Metal Show | Jill Castellano |
| HArd Rock In The 90s | Gerri Miller |
| The Japanese Market | Kuni Takeuchi |
| Publishing Workshop | Ron Sobel |
| Even More War Stories | Peter Criss |
| Publicity: The Anatomy of a Good Interview | Don Kaye |
| Marketing: Doing More With Less | Jim Cardillo |
| Pick Brian's Brain | Brian Slagel |
| How to Get a Record Deal | Joseph L. Serling |
| London to Longbeach: Generations of Punks | Bill Stevenson |
| Developing Technologies: The Future of Marketing | Fred Ehrlich |
| Management Workshop | Marc Reiter |
| Free Legal Advice | Joseph L. Serling |
| Touring | Nick Light |
| Introduction to the Internet | Alarik Skarstrom |
| Profile of the Hard Music Audience | Mike Shalett |
| Grammy Hard Music Forum A&R Panel | Mike Bone |
| Artist Panel | - |
Foundations Forum '95 Sampler CD – Disc 1
| Artist | Song |
| Season to Risk | Bloodugly |
| Monster Magnet | Look To Your Orbs For The Warning |
| Down | Stone The Crow |
| Mr Mirainga | Double Martini |
| GZR | The Invisible |
| Skold | PAMF |
| David La Duke | Psychedelic Sandwich |
| Sea of Souls | Water |
| Shrine | Sadistic Love |
| Movida | Against It All |
| Spine | Lotion |
| Mortal Remains | Welcome |
Foundations Forum '95 Sampler CD – Disc 2
| Artist | Song |
| Excel | Unenslaved |
| Super Junky Monkey | Buckin The Bolts |
| Six Feet Under | Silent Violence |
| Mindride | Boot |
| Metal Sky Craz | Exotating |
| United | Revenger |
| Endless Distrust | Trauma |
| Supafuzz | Bushhog |
| Stonehenge | Until |
| Tamisry | Wasted Time |
| Odyssey | And Justice For Some |
| Mindset | Curse |
| Kill Culture | The Hate |
Foundations Forum '95 Sampler CD – Disc 3
| Artist | Song |
| Testament | The Legacy |
| Dimestore Hoods | Life In The Asylum |
| Sly | Shut Up & Buy |
| Big Fear | Someday |
| The Art of Zapping | SOS |
| Royal Hunt | Wasted Time |
| 1000 Mona Lisas | Girlfriendy |
| Vertical After | Summoned to Swill |
| Dragon Aerogator Band feat. Agent 3 | You Were The One I Hated |
| World Bang | Skin |
| Dark Truth | Garden of Stone |
| Amethyst | Hardwear |
| Chapter Seven | The Question |
Foundations Forum '95 Sampler CD – Disc 4
| Artist | Song |
| Paw | Death to Traitors |
| Sullen | Mr Mister |
| Godhead | The Answer |
| Souls at Zero | Strip |
| Cybicus | The Truth of The Game |
| Strain | Bite |
| Rahowa | The Snow Fell |
| Love Lode | Butterhorn |
| Sufferbus | Metamorphine |
| Sonipath | Brace Yourself |
| Stanley | Low Maintenance Man |
| GMS | The Beginning |
F MusicFest '96
As indicated the previous year, the event took on a different format for the meeting in 1996. The organizers decided this year to return to their roots and rather than doing another convention under one roof, they chose instead to branch out. Rather than feature 30 bands under one roof, they presented over 200 of them across 16 clubs from in and around the Hollywood and West Hollywood area. The name also changed from Foundations Forum, to F Musicfest, and the line up changed to become more varied in terms of genre than in previous years. Key elements remained from conventions past including the many panels and a focus issue – this year, drugs.Concrete/Foundations presented the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award to Van Halen during the event.
Panels this year included:
| Panel | Moderator |
| The NARAS Panel: Sex, Death & Rock n Roll | Mike Green |
| College Radio: Buying Indie Street Cred | Kim Burke |
| Retail: Life in The Cash Lane | Dutch Cranblitt |
| Tour Marketing | Jennifer Perry |
| Press/Publicity: About Face | Roy Trakin |
| New Technology: What Does This Button Do? | Rob Lord |
| War Stories: 10 Years After | Rudy Sarzo |
| Soundtracks: The Big Score | John McHugh |
| Music Biz 101 | Jess Taylor |
| Publishing: The Other A&R Folks | Jim Cardillo |
| Radio: Good Morning... You're Fired. | Mike Halloran |
| The Velvet Rope: Vital Music Industry Pipeline or Record Business National Enquirer? | Julie Gordon |
| Management: The Babysitters Club | Paul V |
| Indie: Is The Dream Alive? | John Szuch |
| Radio: All Stations Created Equal, But Some More Equal Than Others | Roland West |
| A&R Demo Critique: Reality Check | Hugo Burnham |
| Artist Panel: The Great Attender | - |
Venues and Showcases
Moguls:
The Melvins, Knapsack, The Lemons, Jimmy Eat World, 3 Penny Needle, Three Mile Pilot.
Teaszer A:
Coal Chamber, Downset, Abscess, Strife, Bloodlet, A.O.A., Nothingface, Ramp, I.4.N.I., The Back Alley Gators, the MF Pitbulls, Sexpod, NEar death Experience, The Violet Burning, Dead Birds, Padded Cell, Cynical, Tribe 8.
Smalls:
Copperpot, Sunset Heights, Ms. 45, Punkinucle, Stone, Suncatcher, Chopper One, Frank Lloyd Vynl, Volebeats, Haynes Boys, Jackie On Acid, Tongue, The Black Watch, Ether.
The Viper Room:
Revolux, 9 Iron, Likehell, Cellophane, Epperly, Choreboy, Brand New Unit, Coal, Placebo, Slightly Stoopid, Metal Molly, Les Claypool, Holy Mackerel, The Underbellys, The Ziggens.
The Martini Lounge:
Super Junky Monkey, Crowbar, Hed, Drill, Dimestore Hoods, Killing Culture, Mind Heavy Mustard, Foreskin 500, Spahn Ranch, Headcrash, The Notwist, Skold, 16Volt.
Hell's Gate:
Hollow, Mindrot, Flambooky, December, Torment, Shoegazer, The Phoids, Stanley, Jud, Scraggly Jane, Cradle of Thorns, The Drugs, Wingnut Supreme.
Roxy:
Sugartooth, Snot, Powerman 5000, Flood, Man Will Surrender, Salmon, Expanding Man, Agnes Gooch, Silverjet, Plexi, Ednaswap, triplefastaction, Beer Nuts, Humble Gods, Lidsville, Frontside.
Palace:
Ugly Kid Joe, Motörhead, W.A.S.P., Supersuckers, House of Pain, Unwritten Law, 22 Jacks, Save Ferris, B-FAM, LA Guns, Warrant, Body Count, Stuck Mojo.
Troubadour:
Maids of Gravity, Remy Zero, Haynes Boys, Perfect, Thermadore, Horny Toad!, Buck O Nine, Nerf Rider, Meal Ticket, The Grabbers, Mensclub, Johnny Bravo, Dakota Wildflowers, Sludge Nation.
Opium Den:
Lo Preshur, Tories, Dashboard Prophets, Reejers, Fat Army, Lawsuit, Godplow, Don Knotts Overdrive, Battershell, FroSTed, Pennydreadful, haynuckle.
Whiskey:
Kilgore Smudge, Man Is The Bastard, Brutal Juice, Neurosis, Red Dye No. 5, Wardog, Galactic Cowboys, Sacred Reich, Flotsam & Jetsam, Dogma, Molly Maguire, Far, Samiam, Crawlspace, Lit, Extra Fancy.
Jack's Sugar Shack:
Smart Brown Handbag, Neverlast, Her Majesty The Baby, Inflatable Soul, Zoe, Kevin Hunter, Tribe of Gypsies, The Bill White Acre.
Luna Park 1: Radar Bros, Negro Problem, Black Moon Graffiti, Sparkler, Love Jones.
Billboard Live: Palomar, Five-Eight, Sweet Vine, Haynes Boys, Fountains of Wayne, Super 8, The Verve Pipe, Sufferbus.
Jack's: Customers, Blues Saraceno, Belltower, Bigelf.
F MusicFest '97
Panels this year included:| Panel | Moderator |
| Tour Marketing | Larry Weintraub |
| Lifestyle Marketing: Sports Marketing & The Music Industry | John Boyle |
| Music Industry 101: Learn From The Pros | Elliot Cahn |
| Artist Development | Alan Brown |
| Retail | Jason Whittington, Geffen Records |
| Merchandising | David Johnson |
| Music Publishing | Ira Jaffe |
| Press/Publicity | Roy Trakin |
| War Stories: The Truth Is Out There | Tommy Nast |
| Anatomy of a Record Contract | Paul Menes |
| Internet Marketing | Todd Steinman |
| Management | Dave Frey |
| Getting Signed: The Next Day | Tony Ferguson |
| A&R Demo Critique | Hugo Burnham |
| Radio: College, Young Guns In Radio, Metal Radio Evolution | - |
| Artist Panel | - |
Venues & Showcases
Hollywood Palladium:
Offspring, L7
Opium Den:
Other Star People, The Four Postmen, Farmer, DJ Sean Perry, Fluorescein, Amnesia, Sparkler, Tomorrowpeople, Wild Colonials, Dogstar, Mr Mirainga, Triple Fast action.
The Risk Records Showcase was also held here and featured the Autumns, Go! Dog! Go!, Jack Off Jill and Ozomatli.
Alligator Lounge:
Mineral, Crumb, Knapsack, Slush, Pink Noise Test, Number One Cup and Regatta 69
Whisky A Go-Go:
Nebula, Lit, Salmon, Slo Burn, Killingculture, Anthrax, Sevendust, Crushed. Camel also presented a night here featuring Silverjet and aMiniature.
Billboard Live:
The Uninvited, Long Beach Dub Stars and Big Elf.
Coconut Teazer:
Swamp Boogie Queen, Mother Superior, Blake Morgan, Rat Bat Blue, Lucid, System of a Down, Flambookey, Manhole, Aunt Betty, Monet, Tree of Love, Lilyvolt, No.9.
Highland Grounds:
Elmore Lang, Clear, Nick St Nicholas, Michael Monarch.
The Palace:
Sly, Quiet Riot, Raven, Green Jelly, Strapping Young Lad, Exodus and Testament.
Jack's Sugar Shack:
Michelle Lewis, Jason Faulkner, Brent Fraser, Phil Cody, Tim Burlingame, Crown Jewels, Honky, The Piersons, The Hutchinson, Maria Fatal, The Love Revival, Coal and Marshall Coleman.
Martini Lounge:
Dubwar, Sparkmarker, Cast Iron Hike, Voodoo, Rubberneck, Near Death Experience, Hollow, Def Con Sound System, Skrew, Mess, the Drugs, Flood, Loungefly and Fat Amy.
Moguls:
Plastiscene, Gorgeous, Vitapup, Yortiose, Los Cincos, Plimpton and Clawhammer.
Roxy:
Events at the Roxy kicked off with the Geffen Records showcase featuring Extra Fancy, Human Waste Project and Total Chaos. BAM Magazine also held a party here with performances from Sexpod, Powerman 5000, Incubus, Spank and Hed PE. Other bands performing here as part of the festival included The Aquabats, Amen, Vitamin L, Dial 7 and Backside.
Viper Room:
The Cunninghams, Issa Joone, Daddy Longhead, Beer Nuts
The Garage:
Stillsuit, Will Haven, Ignite, Strife and Snapcase
Atlas:
Liquid Soul