Phil BUrr
Production Coordinator - Sub Pop Records, Sam Goody
Phill Burr came up within Seattle’s independent music infrastructure, working in production as Sub Pop grew from a scrappy local label into an international force. He was part of the team handling logistics, schedules, artist needs, and daily coordination, helping keep the label’s early operations running. His work placed him alongside the crews shaping Sub Pop’s identity during its most influential years.
Like many production coordinators, Burr’s contributions happened behind the scenes, from warehouses and photo shoots to pressing plant calls and constant logistical details. Sub Pop relied on people who could manage artists, deadlines, and its irreverent culture, and Burr was part of that network. His role reflects the reality of Seattle’s music industry in the late 80s and 90s, where many essential contributors remained largely uncredited.
Photo by Rosetta Greek at the corner of 1st and Virginia across from Sub Pop’s HQ
Transcript
Back in the '80s, when I was the manager at Discount Records on the Ave, I went to a bi-annual managers conference for Sam Goody Musicland Discount Records in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Every two years, the managers were flown to a week-long conference of speakers, workshops, vendor presentations, and live music, plus booze each night.
One year, I saw the Indigo Girls, Richard Simmons, Celine Dion, Kentucky Headhunters, Tin Machine with David Bowie, and Lita Ford, just to name a few. The night Lita Ford performed was a costumed event. I chose to wear a cheap lizard costume. I stuffed the tail with newspaper and put the costume on backwards.
Lita rocked the house, and I got a chance to meet her after the show.
Two weeks later, Lita was in Seattle doing a meet-and-greet at the showbox. I took my photo of Lita and I standing next to each other to get an autograph. When I walked up to Lita, she looked at me and said, "Hi, Phil. I remember you." I handed her my photo of us. She laughed and wrote, "To Phil, you've got the biggest ... tail I've ever seen."
I also have a photo of me in the costume with Celine Dion. She wasn't as impressed with my tale as Lita was.