Versatile and experimental noise / ambient band formed in Boston, 1978 (later re-locating to Massapequa, New York). Beginning as an instrumental rock band, a move into violent power electronics set the band on a course that would take them through industrial, ambient, free jazz, noise, dub, prog rock, sacred music, dark ambient, classical and musique concrète. To their detriment, the group was not concerned with generating or maintaining an audience, relying instead on spontaneous inspiration - often the cause of alienation amongst many of their listeners.

The band's only constant member is Paul Lemos, although early band members included Jack Salerno, Dave Southerland, Gary Pecorino and Tony Meola, a stable line-up was not attained until the early 1980s, with the addition of Joe Papa and Chris Moriarty. Although Moriarty left circa 1990, he and Lemos continued to work together on side-projects such as Joined At The Head, Skin Chamber and Fat Hacker, whilst Lemos and Papa pursued their sonic experiments with Controlled Bleeding, as well as releasing music under their own names.