Wax Trax! Films presents “INDUSTRIΛL ΛCCIDENT: The Story Of Wax Trax! Records”, the story behind the independent record store and label. Tracing the bizarre journey of two music-obsessed men from the bible belt to Chicago, this film travels through the underground culture of music and art as these two men expose emerging music and artists to fans from around the world for the first time.
Originally launched in Denver in 1975, founders Jim Nash & Dannie Flesher moved their small independent record shop, Wax Trax! Records, to Chicago in the fall of 1978. Within a year, the new location at 2449 North Lincoln Avenue became a nucleus for the underground culture that was emerging in the late 70’s and early 80’s. From the beginning, Jim & Dannie’s ability to combine obscure and fringe music with underground culture created a language that set Wax Trax! apart from traditional US record stores.
Technical Information:
Genre: Documentary
Production Year: 2017
Country of Origin: USA
Language: English
Run Time: 94 minutes
Format: DCP
The core of the Wax Trax! retail store focused on importing music and design that was currently emerging in Europe. Early seminal post-punk and experimental bands such as Joy Division, Throbbing Gristle and Cabaret Voltaire were first exposed to Chicago through the Wax Trax! store. A combination of Jim & Dannie’s infectious personalities coupled with their passion for counter culture, quickly gained national notoriety as Wax Trax! became a Mecca for fans looking for international New Wave, Punk Rock and Experimental music scenes that were being brought into the US for the first time. Throughout the 80’s, Wax Trax! became the meeting place for ideas and a primary home for many kids that lived outside mainstream culture.
