Wax Trax Records

Wax Trax Records Official home of Chicago's underground record store and independent label.

BREAKFAST SCREAMS:Hey Chicago Punks!Who Likes Naked Raygun?…Who likes the original Wax Trax! Record store?…Who likes Dar...
09/17/2025

BREAKFAST SCREAMS:
Hey Chicago Punks!
Who Likes Naked Raygun?…Who likes the original Wax Trax! Record store?…Who likes Dark Matter coffee?…Who likes breakfast?
If yes to any…Well, we have an event just for you.

Join us at the
DARK MATTER COFFEE WAREHOUSE at 475 N. Campbell, Chicago from 9A-NOON this SEPT. 19,20 & 21 before heading Riot Fest (or stop by even if you’re not going to the fest).

Each morning, there will be RIOT FEST ticket giveaways…Limited DMC, Naked Raygun coffee, tattoos, tacos, special limited merch ONLY AVAILABLE AT EVENT, and of course some (very limited) NAKED RAYGUN FREE S**T!

Please note: A portion of NAKED RAYGUN COFFEE and LIMITED APPAREL proceeds during this 3-day event will go directly to the Pierre Kezdy estate.

As if that isn’t enough to get you out of bed, each morning, a group of guest DJs will be playing deep cuts and classics to get the day started.

For our part, WAX TRAX! will be playing an all vinyl set of selections from the original Lincoln Ave. store, FRIDAY SEPT. 19.

Oh…And don’t forget to get tickets to see a very special NAKED RAYGUN show as they officially close out Riot Fest, SUNDAY SEPT. 21 at METRO.

Remember - this event is only from 9a-12noon, this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. We hope to see you there!

Well, what do you know…Looks like the new anniversary reissue of FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY’s Caustic Grip came in a month earl...
08/21/2025

Well, what do you know…Looks like the new anniversary reissue of FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY’s Caustic Grip came in a month early.

All orders will start shipping immediately to WAX TRAX! customers and wholesale accounts.

If you pre-ordered the RESIST BUNDLE, hold tight!
This bundle has a lot of moving pieces, and we are waiting on one more bundle item before we can ship. These should all go out in the first week of Sept.
STILL ahead of schedule…STILL awesome.

For those who haven’t grabbed one of these beauties, well, now is your chance at waxtrax.com

-You’re welcome!

06/17/2025

Hey Front 242 fans - Here is a sneak peek into making the latest NO COMMENT reissue.

These beauties are being assembled right now and heading out very soon to all you pre-order commandos!

We still have a few bundles with the limited live 7”, as well as the "Belgian Ale" edition. All at waxtrax.com

A huge thanks to Smashed Plastic for this behind the scenes video!

With all your help, the WAX TRAX! BUILDING at 2449 N. Lincoln Ave was officially designated a CHICAGO LANDMARK with a un...
05/22/2025

With all your help, the WAX TRAX! BUILDING at 2449 N. Lincoln Ave was officially designated a CHICAGO LANDMARK with a unanimous "YES" vote by Chicago's Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards on MAY 20th, 2025.

We could not have done this without all the amazing support and input from fans and people who cared to preserve this piece of music history.

In a special twist of fate, the designation was approved yesterday on co-founder DANNIE FLESHER'S birthday.

We want to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts.

WHO IN SO-CAL WANT A FLASHBACK.Tonight - Hear all things regarding MINISTRY'S - THE LAND OF R**E AND HONEY, as Jason Pet...
05/15/2025

WHO IN SO-CAL WANT A FLASHBACK.

Tonight - Hear all things regarding MINISTRY'S - THE LAND OF R**E AND HONEY, as Jason Pettigrew and a special panel of guests dig deep into the ground breaking album.

Tonight only at STORIES BOOKS & CAFE. 7:30P
1716 W Sunset Blvd, LA 90026

Don't forget to stop by tomorrow as WAX TRAX! kicks off the official pre-show party...
And then the main event on Saturday at CLUB DOOM during the Cruel World Festival in Pasadena CA!

See you soon!

Attention West Coasters - If you're going to Cruel World Fest this weekend (or even if you're not), join us for the offi...
05/12/2025

Attention West Coasters - If you're going to Cruel World Fest this weekend (or even if you're not), join us for the official CRUEL WORLD PRE-PARTY KICK-OFF this Friday May 16 at Zebulon Café Concert for a WAX TRAX! throw down. Tons of music from the label and some of our favorites from the original store.
Admission=FREE

Don't forget - On Saturday, May 17, stop by Club Doom as WAX TRAX! once again takes over the festival dance floor.
Club Doom runs all day - WAX TRAX! set starts at 4p.
Hope to see you there!

Happy birthday, Robert Smith...Remember that time before Wax Trax! Records was a "legit" label, and the Chicago store wo...
04/21/2025

Happy birthday, Robert Smith...
Remember that time before Wax Trax! Records was a "legit" label, and the Chicago store would make bootlegs to sell in the shop?
Well, we do...Here is one from the WT! vault. This recording has been bootlegged many times over the years, but most people don't realize that this live recording was originally an early Wax Trax release. 

This release was recorded May 31st, 1980, in Germany

birthdaymrsmith

**IMPORTANT LANDMARK UPDATE**The Chicago City Council has moved the Wax Trax! Landmarking vote to their May meeting agen...
04/14/2025

**IMPORTANT LANDMARK UPDATE**
The Chicago City Council has moved the Wax Trax! Landmarking vote to their May meeting agenda on 5/20/25.

For anyone who was planning on supporting this in person - We WILL NOT be attending the April council meeting tomorrow.

We will keep everyone posted regarding landmark status for the 2449 N. Lincoln Ave. building after the final vote at the MAY 20th meeting. Thanks again for all the amazing support!

THIS IS A WARNING!!Pre-orders are now open at waxtrax.com for the 40th anniversary reissue of the classic Front 242 rele...
04/14/2025

THIS IS A WARNING!!

Pre-orders are now open at waxtrax.com for the 40th anniversary reissue of the classic Front 242 release - No Comment.

We have really taken our time with this one to do it right. Audio has been remastered from the original Wax Trax! archival tapes by Bob Weston from CMS. The sound is just incredible. If you care at all about audio, we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what Bob pulled from the original tapes.

All album artwork is also sourced from the original Wax Trax! production boards.

For the 242 collectors out there, we are offering a limited Belgian Ale edition, as well as a waxtrax.com exclusive pressing, sleeved a special gatefold jacket as a nod to the original Wax Trax! packeging. The gatefold variant is on a limited smoke bomb grey vinyl (BOOM!)

For the ultra-bad-ass-commando-collector…Well, we’ve got something for you too.

The Propaganda Bundle has the following:

-Limited Variant: Gatefold / Smoke Bomb 12”.
-Limited Variant: Smoke Bomb 7" .
-Limited Anniversary 2 sided T-Shirt.
-Front 242 limited retail promotional poster.
-Set of 5 limited postcard prints of rare 242 images.
ONLY 300 AVAILABLE!

Records ship on official release date of 6/27/25.

You know the links up in bio - Go get ‘em!

Wax Trax! Update
04/01/2025

Wax Trax! Update

Rest in peace Mr. Johansen
03/04/2025

Rest in peace Mr. Johansen

Address

1120 N. Ashland
Chicago, IL
60622

Website

https://waxtraxrecords.b2bwave.com/users/sign_in

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