So what have we been sent this week? It looks like both the music-industry dirtbags on The Velvet Rope and the Rumor section of hitsdailydouble.com are reporting this : In an unprecedented move, Warner Bros. chief Tom Whalley has partnered with Epitaph/Burning Heart to purchase the current and upcoming records by buzzin' garage punk-rockers The Hives. Whalley and Epitaph head Brett Gurewitz reportedly flew to Sweden last week to meet with the band. Doug Mark is the legal point man for the labels. The Hives hit the U.K. album charts with a compilation of their first two records, including Veni Vidi Vicious, put out here on Burning Heart/Epitaph last year and recently re-released. Their track "Hate to Say I Told You So" was added to KROQ L.A. this week. As usual, none of this stuff has been confirmed one way or another. In fact this all may be false and we'd be glad to post any updates from the bands or labels that clear anything up.
UPDATE: Just so you know, when Epitaph Records was asked for a statement they said "no comment." Take that for what you will… - Scott