Tackhead started as an experimental collaboration between producer Adrian Sherwood and musicians Skip McDonald (guitars), Doug Wimbish (bass), and Keith LeBlanc(drums). In the early 1980's Wimbish, McDonald, and Leblanc were the Sugarhill Records house band, providing backing for, amongst others, the Sugarhill Gang , Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel. After the demise of Sugarhill the three musicians continued to work on various projects including recordings for Tom Silverman's Tommy Boy label.