After Chicago indie outfit Friends Of Betty dissolved in the early 1990s, frontman Tim Rutili, bassist Glynis Johnson, guitarist Glenn Girard, and drummer Ben Massarella recast themselves as Red Red Meat, with an increased emphasis on sludgier, slower textures similar to the minimalist punk-blues of bands like Royal Trux. After some early singles and the limited release of their 1992 self-titled debut, the group signed with Sub Pop Records. Tragically, Johnson died from AIDS in ’92, and was replaced with several fill-ins. Massarella was also replaced by Brian Deck, and the group continued to record through 1995, before splintering off into other projects like Califone.