Wiiija was started in 1988 by Pete, Nigel and Jude at the Rough Trade Shop. At the time there was tons of innovative stuff coming over from America - Butthole Surfers, Swans, Sonic Youth, Big Black, etc etc, and the aim was to reflect some of the new, inventive music being made by British artists with similar ideas and influences.



The first releases were by Terminal Cheesecake, Bastard Kestrel (who Peel played to death! - see right) and, of course Silverfish (above pic). Lesley from Silverfish (now of the mighty fine Ruby) was one of the first women in indie rock to give men as good as she got and acted as an inspiration for many girls forming bands (check out her lyrics on the Steve Albini produced Fat Axl album).

With the success of Silverfish, Wiiija became more of a full time concern, and we also put out records by Sun Carriage (see below) and the Loveblobs, regulars on the fast growing Camden circuit, and we’d hooked up with ex-Pussy Galore guitarist Julie Cafritz for her New York based Action Swingers. Then, through Lesley Silverfish, we got hold of a tape by Therapy, three punk lads from Belfast who loved Husker Du and other classic American punk. Their energy and songs were unrivalled by anyone in the U.K. at that time, and they made two amazing mini-albums for Wiiija.