Forming in the early '90s in Athens, Georgia's Harvey Milk named themselves after the martyred openly homosexual politician. With an approach that combined the volcanic sludge metal of the Melvins, a fierce experimental bent, passages of gentle indie rock, and classic rock riffage, the trio--guitarist Creston Spiers, bassist Steven Tanner, and drummer Pauly Trudeau--provided a powerful palette cleanser for the city's famed indie scene. While the band toured with fellow ear-drum abusers such as Shellac and GodheadSilo and released a spate of seven inches, EPs, and full-lengths, their first incarnation registered hardly a commercial dent before disbanding in 1996. Later versions of the band included Joe Preston and Kyle Spence.