Guitarist/vocalist John Lee formed the indie-punk band aMiniature in San Diego in the late '80s; the lineup gradually gelled with guitarist Mark Monteith, bassist Colin Watson and drummer Johnny Schier. The band signed with Restless in 1990 and delivered the debut album Plexiwatt the following year. Depthfiveratesix followed in 1994, and after appearing on the Tom Petty tribute You Got Lucky and touring with Seaweed and the Bay City Rollers, aMiniature released Murk Time Cruiser in 1996.