Eric Friedl, also known by his stage name, Eric Oblivian, is a musician and the founder and owner of Goner Records, an independent music label and record store located in Memphis, Tennessee. He was a founding member of the Memphis garage-rock band Oblivians, and has also been a member of or performed with the Bad Times, The Dutch Masters, the True Sons of Thunder, and the New Memphis Legs.

Biography

Oblivians

Friedl was a founding member of the garage-rock outfit Oblivians. Like the other members, he sang, played drums, and provided guitar, switching instruments and vocal duties with the other members during performances. The Oblivians formed in 1993, releasing their first LP, Soul Food, in 1995. This was followed in 1996 by Sympathy Sessions, a compilation album featuring a collection of songs recorded with Doug Easley for the record label Sympathy for the Record Industry. The Oblivians released their second album, Popular Favorites, in 1996, and their third and final album, ...Play Nine Songs with Mr Quintron, in 1997.

Goner Records

Friedl started Goner in 1994, with the release of Japanese band Guitar Wolf's first LP, Guitar Rock!. Goner's second release was by The Oblivians, with their first LP, Soul Food. When Oblivians bandmate Greg Cartwright left his hometown of Memphis for Asheville, North Carolina, Goner records moved into Cartwright's Legba Records, setting up the Goner Records record store.

Personal life

Friedl grew up in Hawaii. He attended Pomona College, graduating in 1988.

Discography

With Oblivians

Singles Splits Albums

With the Bad Times

Albums

With the Dutch Masters

Singles