A Fat Wreck: The Punk-U-mentary
Available in different editions from Vinegar Syndrome

This pick in The 2024 PopCult Gift Guide is a bit specialized. It’s for the aging punk rocker who still loves physical media on your holiday shopping list. I’m sure you have one or two on there.

Vinegar Syndrome, the cult Blu Ray and DVD distributor, has cut a deal with ETR Media, which is the brand new film distribution arm of Enjoy the Ride Records, a Long Island based record label, specializing in cult following reissues through a variety of genres. ETR Media releases will adhere to the same quality standards as fans have come to associate with their lavish LP reissues. Their first release is a real winner, the 2016 “Punk-U-Mentary,” A Fat Wreck.

The subject is Fat Wreck Chords… The influential music label that’s proud to say they’ve spent 25 years “ruining punk rock”. A Fat Wreck tells the story of founders Fat Mike (of the legendary punk band NOFX) and his ex-wife Erin Kelly-Burkett, spanning the birth, growth, struggles, and survival of the Fat Wreck Chords label.

Half inspirational story of chosen family and community, half debauchery and occasionally involuntary drug use… A Fat Wreck blazes exciting new ground in the cinematic genre of puppet-driven punk rock music documentary filmmaking. As they say on the back cover, “If you only see one film featuring a dominatrix spanking a puppet in your lifetime… Make it A Fat Wreck!’

The film is directed by: Shaun Michael Colón and stars “FAT MIKE” Mike Burkett, Erin Burkett, Chris Shiflett, Joe Sib, Ryan Greene Joey Cape, Laura Jane Grace, Tim McIlrath, Trever Keith, Chris Hannah, Jim Lindberg, Jay Bentley, Mike Herrera, Axel Kurth, and Kevin Lyman, who at times are seen in puppet form.

In addition to the feature-length documentary, the bonuses on this region-free Blu Ray include several short features, unedited versions of the interviews seen in the movie, extended and deleted scenes of the puppets, loads of music and more.

If you know somebody who loves NOFX or Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, or any of the legendary 90s West Coast punk bands…and they don’t already have this (which isn’t too likely since it just came out a couple of months ago), then A Fat Wreck: The Punk-U-Mentary is the perfect gift. Order it directly from Vinegar Syndrome.

Check out the not-safe-for-work trailer…