Poster Children are an American indie rock band formed in 1987 by students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Based in Champaign, Illinois, the group developed a distinctive sound that combined punk energy, post-hardcore intensity, angular guitar work, strong bass lines, intricate drumming, and sharp pop instincts. The band has often described its music as "post-wave," a phrase that reflects its blend of new wave, art rock, punk, and alternative rock.
The original core of Poster Children was guitarist and vocalist Rick Valentin and bassist and vocalist Rose Marshack, who had met at the university and played together in several groups before forming the band with drummer Shannon Drew. Poster Children began by performing in Midwestern clubs and distributing their early music independently. Their first album, Toreador Squat, appeared in 1988, followed by Flower Plower in 1989. The latter included recordings made with producer Steve Albini, whose association with the band continued into the next decade.
Poster Children's early releases established both their sound and their working methods. Their songs were often fast and forceful, but they also featured unusual rhythmic structures, melodic hooks, and lyrics that could be witty, personal, or indirectly political. Unlike many bands that emerged from the American alternative scene, Poster Children retained a strong sense of independence even after signing with major-label affiliates. The group's do-it-yourself approach included designing its own artwork and T-shirts, managing much of its touring, and maintaining control over its recordings through its own label activities.
Daisychain Reaction, recorded with Albini and released in 1991, became one of the band's defining albums. Its combination of abrasive guitars, tightly arranged rhythms, and memorable songwriting helped establish Poster Children as an important Midwest indie act. The album also produced "If You See Kay," the band's first music video and a song that received exposure through the alternative music program 120 Minutes. Guitarist Jeff Dimpsey appeared on the album, while Rick's brother Jim Valentin joined the group in 1991 and became a permanent member.
The band's 1993 album Tool of the Man and subsequent releases Junior Citizen, RTFM, New World Record, and DDD expanded their musical range without abandoning their directness. Poster Children appeared on the second stage of Lollapalooza in 1995 and toured extensively in the United States and Europe. Their output during the 1990s earned them a loyal college-rock following, although their commercial success remained modest.
Poster Children also became early adopters of digital communication and performance technology. They experimented with enhanced CDs, webcasts, blogs, and other forms of online interaction at a time when such tools were still unusual for recording artists. Several members also recorded electronic music as Salaryman, a related project that released albums including Salaryman, Karoshi, and The Electric Forest.
After No More Songs About Sleep and Fire in 2004, the band returned with Grand Bargain! in 2018, its first full-length studio album in 14 years. Produced by Steve Albini, the record connected the group's established guitar-driven style with contemporary political and social concerns. Through decades of lineup changes, changing record contracts, and shifts in the music industry, Poster Children have remained known for energetic performances, melodic but unconventional songwriting, and an unusually durable commitment to independent music-making.
