[2] Their first show, in the summer of 1985, was a 20-minute opening spot for the Meat Puppets, and inspired the band to find a new name, "Scrawl", that sounded a bit like Skull.
[4] When Rough Trade U.S. filed for bankruptcy in 1990, the band placed a successful bid to purchase back their master recordings during an auction held during the label's Chapter 11 proceedings.
The band was then signed their first major label deal with Elektra, for whom they released two albums, Travel On, Rider,[6] and Nature Film.
The Whigs also recorded a cover of "Ready" from Scrawl's He's Drunk with Mays sharing vocals with Greg Dulli.
The recording was released as a B-side on the Afghan Whigs' Debonair single, and later appeared on a promotional CD The B-Sides/The Conversation and on the remastered 'Gentlemen' At 21.