The Vertebrats

The Vertebrats  are a musical group formed in the twin cities of Champaign-Urbana (CU), Illinois, initially active from 1979 until 1982.  They are credited with being one of the originators of a local CU DIY music scene that still exists.  The Vertebrats gained notoriety due to their energetic live performances, on-stage chemistry, numerous original compositions, a fiercely loyal local fan base, and, as time went on, other bands covering their songs.  Their song “Left in the Dark” was included on Greg Shaw’s Voxx Records anthology called Battle of the Garages, released in 1981.  As a result, “Left in the Dark” was covered later by The Replacements, Uncle Tupelo, The Screaming Tribesmen (from Australia), and Courtney Love, among others.  (More from Wikipedia)