Material Issue

(born:1964, died: June 20, 1996)

Long before the Smashing Pumpkins became Chicago’s most famous export, Material Issue was doing its part to put the Windy City on the musical map. Signed to Mercury Records in 1990, vocalist-guitarist-songwriter Jim Ellison, bassist Ted Ansani and drummer Mike Zelenko seemed destined for rock stardom.~By Jae-Ha Kim   Sadly, Ellison committed suicide on June 20, 1996, suffocating himself in his garage with carbon monoxide fumes from his moped. — Steve Huey