Emerging from Chicago's vibrant Wicker Park music community, multi-instrumentalist Weasel Walter established the free jazz group the Flying Luttenbachers in 1990. His background in local punk outfits and admiration for avant-saxophonist Hal Russell motivated this endeavor. Walter collaborated with bassist Bill Pisarri and additional musicians to create the Sound Improvisation Collective. For their initial show on March 8, 1991, promotional material characterized the ensemble as "the eczema of dada, Ornette, no wave, Partch, punk, Ayler, Company, and Beefheart." The collective ceased activities following a second appearance. During that summer, Walter encountered Russell and commenced saxophone studies under his guidance. Their connection formed rapidly, leading to the 1991 formation of the Flying Luttenbachers alongside saxophonist Chad Organ.
Material from a performance broadcast on Northwestern University's radio station supplied the content for the band's first album, Live at WNUR 2-6-92, released via Walter's ugEXPLODE imprint. As Russell devoted increasing effort to the NRG Ensemble, Walter enlisted saxophonist Ken Vandermark in his place. The 546 Seconds of Noise EP was captured in mid-1992 absent any preparatory sessions. Russell passed away the subsequent September, yet the ensemble persisted, issuing the 1389 Seconds of Noise EP in 1993 that signaled a shift toward a punk-jazz aesthetic. Bassist Jeb Bishop came aboard shortly thereafter, with guitarist Dylan Posa following soon after; work on Constructive Destruction began toward the end of 1993.
Vandermark departed in April 1994 but returned temporarily to contribute to Destroy All Music. Following an East Coast tour, Walter declared the band's dissolution during the journey home, citing the others' lack of creative drive. Subsequent singles appeared under the Flying Luttenbachers name with Walter performing alone until he enlisted longtime associate Bill Pisarri along with guitarist Chuck Falzone, whom he had known since kindergarten. This trio produced Revenge of the Flying Luttenbachers in 1996 and the conceptual Gods of Chaos later that year, which delved into themes of humanity's potential annihilation. Retrospektiw III, compiling previously unavailable singles material and unreleased recordings, surfaced in 1998. Maintaining Walter as its sole consistent member amid frequent personnel shifts, the Flying Luttenbachers issued annual albums such as 1999's The Truth Is a Fucking Lie, 2002's Infection and Decline, 2004's The Void, and 2006's Cataclysm.
