The Imports entertained local audiences with their dark minimalism, playing in alternative dance clubs including Ann Arkees, Tuts, Ruts, Waves, Gaspar's, Huey's, Jamie's Elsewhere, and the Lucky Number.
consisted of Steve Shields (vocals), Lynn Canfield (keyboards), Henry Frayne (guitar), Joe Strell (bass), and Brendan Gamble (drums).
In 1986, while still playing bass for ¡Ack-Ack!, Strell established Dansbane Eländet Studios, and adopted the name of Split Heavens, which he used in many of his solo and collaborative efforts over the next two decades.
broke up in the winter of 1986, bassist Strell and drummer Brendan Gamble worked together on a studio project they called Sylvia Darling, culminating in the release of the album-length cassette Sand Dancing (1988) on Office Records.
alumni Henry Frayne, Lynn Canfield and Brendan Gamble formed The Moon Seven Times (M7X), whose debut CD release on Third Mind Records featured Joe Strell on bass on the track "Rise", as well as a credit for "train sounds and glasses".