House of Vans Chicago Press Conference for Record Store 2019 with Wax Trax! Records
Vans Presents on RSD a screening of “Industrial Accident: The Story of Wax Trax! Records”, along with a Panel Discussion followed by a Q&A, then Performances by Ministry & Cold Cave.
Thursday 2/28/19
House of Vans, West Loop Chicago

House of Vans Chicago hosted a press conference in conjunction with Record Store Day and Wax Trax! Records, to discuss the upcoming festivities taking place at House of Vans for Record Store Day on Saturday April 13th.
I know- that’s an oddball sentence to take all in. Nevertheless, it is what it is.
Here’s the deal: House of Vans will present on RSD April 13th a special screening of “Industrial Accident: The Story of Wax Trax! Records”, followed immediately with a panel discussion, and a Q&A, then performances by none other than Ministry and Cold Cave.
What an incredibly special day awaits at House of Vans and all things Wax Trax! Records!
Present at the Press Conference at House of Vans were Julia Nash of Wax Trax! Records, and creator of the Wax Trax! documentary, Rick Wojcik of Dusty Groove Records, Chris Connelly and also Paul Barker, both who played in Ministry respectively, among other various side projects with Wax Trax! as well.
The Wax Trax! documentary will be released on Record Store Day, along with its soundtrack, which will feature songs from the Wax Trax! era such as KMFDM, Front 242, Laibach, Chris Connelly, The Young Gods and My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult.
The backstory to the present day of all things Wax Trax! goes without saying, as the devoted faithful already know.
The incredible importance and influence that Wax Trax! has established in all things that are independent but also on the culture of the Industrial Music Scene in Chicago truly defines what it means to be an “Indie Record Store”, but also a place to consistently come back to simply to hang out and to be a part of.
It’s my opinion that there never has been a record store or a record label for that matter that has been quite like it in scope, in beauty, and so adored and loved.
Not one store comes close to it’s mythical vibe, those that remember fully well, and sing Wax Trax! praises to the present day.
It’s a story of artistic freedom, patrons of Wax Trax! freedom, abounding creativity and social acceptance, through all things underground and independent, and embracing all facets of music and that you are welcome, and that you are family, whether you were digging through the bins of Industrial or Hard Core or Goth or Synth Pop.
It didn’t matter at Wax Trax! in Lincoln Park back in its heyday.
Everyone was welcome.
Everyone stayed for hours on end.
Day after day after day – repeat.
So Record Store Day on April 13th 2019 at House of Vans Chicago will be a special day to celebrate and be as one again.
I personally can’t wait, and to praise all things Wax Trax! once again.
Cheers- Bobby Talamine – Music Photographer