Garage punk band the Makers came together in Spokane, Washington, during 1991, bringing together vocalist Mike Maker, his brother Don Maker on bass, guitarists Tim Maker and John Maker, plus drummer Jay Maker. Known equally for chaotic performances and their habit of arriving at gigs in a 1965 Pontiac hearse, the group landed on Sympathy for the Record Industry and put out their first release, the 10-inch Hip-Notic. John Maker’s departure aligned with a shift to Estrus, which issued the full-length follow-up Howl! in 1993. Before the Makers delivered their next album, All Night Riot, in 1994, they released the instrumental EP The Devil’s Nine Questions. Their third, self-titled LP adopted a rawer, heavier distortion, and Tim Maker was replaced by guitarist Jamie Maker ahead of 1997’s Hunger. After supporting vocalist April March on April March Sings the Songs, the Makers returned in 1998 with Psychopathia Sexualis, embracing a retro-glam style and new stage identities: Michael Machine, Don Virgo, Jay Amerika, and Jamie Jack Frost. The band made its first appearance on Sub Pop with the 2000 release Rock Star God, then issued Strangest Parade two years later. Jay Maker exited in 2002, Jimmy Chandler took the drum chair, and the group ended its association with Sub Pop. They soon joined Kill Rock Stars and, in 2004, delivered Stripped, a set of re-recorded tracks originally issued on Estrus between 1991 and 1998. Tim Maker, now using the name Timothy Killingsworth, rejoined on guitar, turning the lineup into a five-piece. The same configuration produced Everybody Rise! in autumn 2005.
