Started in an informal setting between infamous engineer and guitarist Steve Albini (ex-Just Ducky, Big Black, Rapeman) and drummer Todd Trainer (ex-Riflesport, Brick Layer Cake) in 1992, Shellac came into full formation after Albini invited bassist Bob Weston (ex-Sorry, Volcano Suns) to move to Chicago and employed him as an engineer at his studio.

More likely to play Reykjavik than Detroit, and more likely to release songs on flexi-discs in Dutch comic books than provide MP3s on their website, Shellac of North America will always be known for doing it their way and doing it well. Being able to operate completely outside the typical machinations of music -- independent or otherwise, their press sheets typically exclaimed "no free lunch," referring to promo copies -- the trio carved out a sizeable niche in the sewage-infested gutters of underground rock & roll, churning out some excellent records along the way.