Shock Rock Records wasn't so much a bonafide record label as a quick 'cash in attempt' by the Outlet Recording Company (formed in 1968), as the Belfast punk scene became flavour of the month with the national press. The label, formed in 1980, was the brainchild of Cel (pronounced 'sell') Fay who had joined Outlet as sound engineer after having played with Phil Coulter and his Gleemen. He engineered most of the sessions for the label and was ably assisted by Noel Rafferty. Noel subsequently went on to engineer and produce Pop Will Eat Itself in the mid 1980’s and still works in this field to this day. The label featured non punk artists such as late 70’s rock combo Light, who featured ex Them member Jim Armstrong, Lurgan heavy metal quartet Ezy Meat, and Flash. The punk and New Wave bands that did record for the label found it a memorable experience!

John Cullen of The Ex Producers recalls Cel Fay producing both their tracks which appeared on the Shock Rock compilation album Belfast 'He was more used to country and western bands and generally sat with an incredulous grin when these spiky teenagers asked for more distortion etc. Check out the snare sound on 'Behind The Door' and 'System', we didn't know any better, he thought we might like it.”

Information is scant on this label as Cel Fay passed away in the mid 1990’s and Outlet Records kept no records from that era, but Fletch of Stage B has similar memories of recording for Shock Rock. 'Engineers Cel Fay and Crawford Bell were two very nice people, but very much fish out of water. They were more used to the Colum and The Sunsetters variety of Northern Irish 'Country' music than Punk Rock. We were their introduction to that genre. I remember Cel chain-smoking and scratching his head but he rose to the challenge with enthusiasm. The studio where we made the recordings was in a little alleyway leading from Royal Avenue to Chapel Lane, facing where Kelly's Cellars is today.”