"[12] In the wake of The Black Republicans' breakup Dulli had decamped to Arizona, where he composed half the material for what would become The Afghan Whigs' debut album Big Top Halloween (1988), self-released on the band's own Ultrasuede label.

While only a thousand copies of Big Top Halloween would be pressed initially,[14] one of them managed to capture the attention of Jonathan Poneman,[15] the co-founder of influential Seattle-based indie label Sub Pop, which signed The Afghan Whigs in 1989.

Largely recorded by Nirvana producer Jack Endino and featuring the college-radio hit "Retarded," Up in It received a favorable reception with music critics upon release.

[15] To support the album's release, The Afghan Whigs went on a package tour with grunge originators Mudhoney and Boston underground band Bullet LaVolta.

With the 1992 album Congregation and covers EP, Uptown Avondale, the band developed what would become their signature sound, blending soul with psychedelic sprawl and punk abandon.

Videos for notable Congregation songs like "Conjure Me" and "Turn on the Water" would receive airplay on MTV, which began to regularly cover The Afghan Whigs as a new band to watch.

[23] For their major label debut, The Afghan Whigs ensconced themselves in Ardent Studios in Memphis, where Big Star, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, and ZZ Top had recorded.

The Afghan Whigs appeared in the film as a bar band and contributed two songs to the soundtrack: Frederick Knight's "Be For Real" and Barry White's "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe.

The band started writing demos in March 1995; the recording took place in both Seattle and Memphis-based studios featuring new drummer Paul Buchignani, who had replaced Steve Earle.

The album also received critical praise for capturing the power of the Whigs' live show in a studio recording;[36] its lush yet funky musicality garnered comparisons to the Rolling Stones in their 1970s-era prime and standing out once again from the day's more conventional alternative rock in its distinctive embrace of black-music idioms.

The unamicable parting resulted in Dulli being treated for depression, providing subject matter for songs like "Neglekted" which was featured on the band's next full-length effort.

[42][44][45][40] Influenced again by film noir, as well as the urban wordplay of rappers like Nas, 1965 received positive reviews in the press, praising, in particular, the band's continued flair for blending soul styles with rock.

[5] The band would not perform again until a December 7, 2011, press release from the promoters of All Tomorrow's Parties announced that The Afghan Whigs would reunite and play at their I'll Be Your Mirror events on May 27, 2012, in London, followed by an appearance at Pier 36 in New York City on September 22, 2012.

[55][56] Dulli clarified in interviews that playing The Afghan Whigs with Curley on a 2010 solo tour and meeting with McCollum anew during that period directly led to plans of reforming for live performance.

[7] On May 22, 2012, the reunited The Afghan Whigs (minus drummer Steve Earle) made their debut performance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, playing one new song, the soul cover "See and Don't See," and old favorite "I'm Her Slave" from Congregation.

[57] The reunited Whigs played their first full concert the next night at Manhattan venue The Bowery Ballroom, receiving critical accolades from the major media.

"[59] The Afghan Whigs' first new recording released during the 2012 reformation, "See and Don't See," also received considerable airplay on influential stations such as Sirius XMU, KEXP, XPN, and KCRW.

[61] On January 27, 2014, the band's official mailing list announced an April release date for the first album of new The Afghan Whigs material in 16 years, a return to the Sub Pop roster titled Do to the Beast.

The influence of The Afghan Whigs has been acknowledged by a number of musicians spanning genres and formats, including The National,[66][67] The Gaslight Anthem,[68] The Horrible Crowes,[69] Interpol,[70] The Hold Steady,[71] My Chemical Romance[72] and Jimmy Eat World.

[73] Also, Italian indie rock band Afterhours, who extensively toured the US between 2006 and 2011, under the auspice of Greg Dulli cites The Afghan Whigs as their influence[citation needed].

On June 23, 2009, a The Afghan Whigs tribute album was released, featuring contributions from Mark Lanegan, Joseph Arthur, and 11 other artists influenced by the band.