The Ancient Greeks: History

The Ancient Greeks formed in Chicago in the spring of 1998. Guitarist Nathaniel Braddock and saxophonist Chris Warland had been playing free-jazz duets together for some time when Braddock suggested they form a rock band with Warland as vocalist.

Warland recruited Andy Rench, a bassist with whom he'd played improvised dance music in the band Company of Big Beats. Braddock contacted Tim Stevens of the math-rock outfit Table, who had worked with Braddock in the Table spin-off Virginia.

Soon after, they gathered at Braddock's rehearsal studio on Lake Street and wrote their first song, which was about donuts.