Independent since 1998.

Steve Fernie founded East Central One in 1998 after selling his share in Grapevine Label and Grapevine Distribution.

The label’s first release was Ian Dury & The Blockheads’ first album in 17 years, ‘Mr Love Pants’. It was followed by records from Marc Almond, Dr Robert, Plainsong, Colin Vearncombe, Kate Jacobs, Anna-Lena Winter, Neil Innes, Messenger, BJ Cole, Paul Williams and Davy Graham.

After Ian Dury’s death in 2000, the label compiled a tribute to ‘New Boots & Panties’, featuring Paul McCartney, Robbie Williams, Sinéad O’Connor, Madness, Billy Bragg and others.

Steve began his music-business career at EMI in the 1970s and later worked at BMG. He co-founded Creature Music with Manfred Mann in 1990 to release the catalogue of Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, and Umbrella Music for Manfred Mann’s 1960s work.

In 2017, East Central One acquired the rights to Manfred Mann’s 1960s EMI recordings, alongside six albums by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band previously owned by Warner in the US.