Wax Trax began as a simple record store in Denver, Colorado in the late 70's. When the owners, Jim Nash and Dannie Flesher, relocated to Chicago in 1980, they began releasing singles for local bands. By the mid-1980's, they began issuing domestic releases of records that would normally be available in the US as import-only. Eventually, Wax Trax built its roster with bands, mostly in the industrial genre, making it the largest and most influential industrial label at the time. In its heyday, Wax Trax was home to many ground-breaking bands including Ministry (and their various side-projects), Front 242, KMFDM, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, Psychic TV and Coil, among others. Many of these would go on to see success, both on Wax Trax and on the major labels who released their later output.

Unfortuanately, financial hard times hit the label, and in 1993 the label was forced into being acquired by TVT Records. After the buyout, Jim and Dannie retained creative influence for a time, but by Jim's untimely passing in 1995, most of the creative vision of Wax Trax had been pushed aside in favor of the more corporate, traditional label attitude of TVT. The releases continued on Wax Trax until 2000, when the label quietly ceased to be.

More to come...