The Biograph and Wax Trax made this neighborhood a destination visit from the suburbs for us. It made me fall in love with the neighborhood so much so, I eventually bought a condo there. Don’t let this building be McDonaldized.
P
Paul Pettigrew
4 years ago
I was from the far south-east side of the city. We had a decent record store (Rex Records) and one very good record store (Hegewisch Records), but my discovery of Wax Trax records back in 1982 changed not just my musical life, but my social life as well. Along with my discovery of Wax Trax and the bands on their label, I met other customers who turned me on to music clubs such as Medusa's when I was too young to legally drink alchohol and Smart Bar, The Vic, Riviera, & Metro all of which introduced me to new bands whose albums I'd inevitably buy at Wax Trax. My first apartment after college was just down the street from Wax Trax and each week after depositing my paycheck, I would go to Wax Trax to treat myself to a new album that I'd inevitably listen to non-stop the entire weekend. I miss record stores generally as the social hubs they inevitably became, but I especially miss Wax Trax as it was there for me during those all important years between the age of 17-29. Best of Luck Wax Trax!
S
Samantha K Zidek-Zvonar
4 years ago
Designate 2449 N. Lincoln Ave as a Chicago landmark, please.
A
Arvin Clay
4 years ago
This is a no-brainer
J
John Boland
4 years ago
Wax Trax is the only American record label that ever meant anything to me, and was a staple of my radio show for many years. While I never got to visit the store in person (I lived 6 hours away), it's significance cannot be understated!
I never had the chance to visit the store but growing up wax trax had a huge influence on my life. As a teenager in the early 90’s before the interwebs I relied on friends and mix tapes for new music, shopping at local stores the wax trax logo on an album by an artist I never heard of was a stamp of approval and an instant non regrettable purchase. What wax trax did for the industrial music scene was huge, they brought it to the forefront- an outsider music form became hugely popular and many big acts had humble beginnings at wax trax . Wax trax left a significant mark in music and deserves to be recognized.
Wax trax left us fans far too soon.
Gone but never forgotten
Still loved and cherished
A part of my life forever
A
Anonymous
4 years ago
Wax Trax has been an extremely formative experience since the 80’s when I bought my first Front 242 record. Definitely altered my musical horizons for the better!
D
Don Mahanna
4 years ago
How else can we help?!
XOXO
R
Ray Seale
4 years ago
This is so important. Hoping this gets traction!
J
Jon Sall
4 years ago
I'm a former Chicago Sun-Times photographer; spent a lot of time between assignments in the store over the years!
L
Logan
4 years ago
Wax Trac! is the best!!!
J
João Gil
4 years ago
Definitely a place I would like to see if visiting Chicago.
A
Adam Etheridge
4 years ago
Wax Trax Records has been extremely important to me. Through a love of their music I met the most wonderful people and enjoyed the most incredible experiences. Their contribution to art and culture has been felt across the world and continues to be felt all these years later.
S
Sean Duffy
4 years ago
They sold my fanzines (Last Rites), my compilation cassettes and tickets to my show. Old girlfriend ran the babel for first couple years! Drank a few beers in the back.
R
Rick Henderson
4 years ago
Wax Trax's original location at 2449 N. Lincoln should be an official historic landmark. It was the birthplace for much of the punk and new wave music in America. Artists and musicians who are popular now owe, in many cases, some of their success to Wax Trax and their promotion of new artists and music. Chicago was fortunate to have this incubator for new artists, and the building should be designated as a landmark. Thank you for reading this
S
Sandy Greenberg
4 years ago
Featured
Wax Trax was the epicenter of the underground music scene in Chicago. It was a mecca and a magnet. It brought suburban kids like me into the city to meet and hang with others in the scene. It's a HUGELY significant place and cultural landmark.
T
Todd Vesely
4 years ago
Wax Trax! defined 80s alternative music!!!
P
Paul Wood
4 years ago
Wax Trax! influence on the city of Chicago as well as throughout the world is indisputable and its legacy needs to be preserved as part of Chicago's history.
The Biograph and Wax Trax made this neighborhood a destination visit from the suburbs for us. It made me fall in love with the neighborhood so much so, I eventually bought a condo there. Don’t let this building be McDonaldized.
I was from the far south-east side of the city. We had a decent record store (Rex Records) and one very good record store (Hegewisch Records), but my discovery of Wax Trax records back in 1982 changed not just my musical life, but my social life as well. Along with my discovery of Wax Trax and the bands on their label, I met other customers who turned me on to music clubs such as Medusa's when I was too young to legally drink alchohol and Smart Bar, The Vic, Riviera, & Metro all of which introduced me to new bands whose albums I'd inevitably buy at Wax Trax. My first apartment after college was just down the street from Wax Trax and each week after depositing my paycheck, I would go to Wax Trax to treat myself to a new album that I'd inevitably listen to non-stop the entire weekend. I miss record stores generally as the social hubs they inevitably became, but I especially miss Wax Trax as it was there for me during those all important years between the age of 17-29. Best of Luck Wax Trax!
Designate 2449 N. Lincoln Ave as a Chicago landmark, please.
This is a no-brainer
Wax Trax is the only American record label that ever meant anything to me, and was a staple of my radio show for many years. While I never got to visit the store in person (I lived 6 hours away), it's significance cannot be understated!
save our history from the honkies
NostalgiaWaxGroovyHeydayRevoltingPlayitagainMinistryTraxKMFDM-nevertrademychicagoyouthdays-LSDinthefountaininjanuary-climbingthegatetoshutdownnavypier-Gracelandcemetaryatmidnight-WaxTraxonLincolnAve!!
I never had the chance to visit the store but growing up wax trax had a huge influence on my life. As a teenager in the early 90’s before the interwebs I relied on friends and mix tapes for new music, shopping at local stores the wax trax logo on an album by an artist I never heard of was a stamp of approval and an instant non regrettable purchase. What wax trax did for the industrial music scene was huge, they brought it to the forefront- an outsider music form became hugely popular and many big acts had humble beginnings at wax trax . Wax trax left a significant mark in music and deserves to be recognized. Wax trax left us fans far too soon. Gone but never forgotten Still loved and cherished A part of my life forever
Wax Trax has been an extremely formative experience since the 80’s when I bought my first Front 242 record. Definitely altered my musical horizons for the better!
How else can we help?! XOXO
This is so important. Hoping this gets traction!
I'm a former Chicago Sun-Times photographer; spent a lot of time between assignments in the store over the years!
Wax Trac! is the best!!!
Definitely a place I would like to see if visiting Chicago.
Wax Trax Records has been extremely important to me. Through a love of their music I met the most wonderful people and enjoyed the most incredible experiences. Their contribution to art and culture has been felt across the world and continues to be felt all these years later.
They sold my fanzines (Last Rites), my compilation cassettes and tickets to my show. Old girlfriend ran the babel for first couple years! Drank a few beers in the back.
Wax Trax's original location at 2449 N. Lincoln should be an official historic landmark. It was the birthplace for much of the punk and new wave music in America. Artists and musicians who are popular now owe, in many cases, some of their success to Wax Trax and their promotion of new artists and music. Chicago was fortunate to have this incubator for new artists, and the building should be designated as a landmark. Thank you for reading this
Wax Trax was the epicenter of the underground music scene in Chicago. It was a mecca and a magnet. It brought suburban kids like me into the city to meet and hang with others in the scene. It's a HUGELY significant place and cultural landmark.
Wax Trax! defined 80s alternative music!!!
Wax Trax! influence on the city of Chicago as well as throughout the world is indisputable and its legacy needs to be preserved as part of Chicago's history.