Vermis Records was started in Italy in late 2017 scheduling three inaugural releases for 2018. Sadly, few months later the Peninsula was hit by torrential rain and gale-force winds, devastating our country and causing the worst flooding in at least a decade.
When the water overflowed we were two working in the office. Located in a basement, the Vermis headquarters have been submerged by water in a matter of seconds. The water level reached one and a half meters and we had to immediately leave the building. Records, computers, music instruments, personal belongings: everything inside has been swept away by the flood.
We got back 48 hours later, after the building was secured. The basement was buried under 40 centimeters of slimy mud and everything inside was irreparably damaged. We’ve been able to save only very few belongings. And ironically, few days later we found out the building insurance policy didn’t cover losses due to water damage from flood.
This loss impacted both financially and emotionally. Financially, Vermis Records went broke before even releasing one single record. Emotionally, as an old punks in my 40s, I personally lost so many memories (hundreds of records I bought when I was a kid, pictures, old flyers, ‘zines, posters, my own band’s recordings, etc.) I will hardly or never replace.
Just flat out, Vermis Records was fucking dead on arrival.
APRIL 2020 UPDATE
While in virus lockdown I decided to give Vermis Records a second life. Fuck you Gaia.