The Units were notable for their use of synthesizers in place of guitars, and multimedia performances featuring multiple projections of satirical, instructional films critical of conformity and consumerism.
The Units was one of the most popular bands of the San Francisco punk and performance art scene during the late 1970s and early 1980s, headlining at the Mabuhay Gardens (aka The Fab Mab), The Savoy Tivoli, The Berkeley Square, The Deaf Club, Valencia Tool & Die, Geary Theater and other punk clubs.
After the success of "The Right Man", the Units signed with Epic/CBS Records and produced a music video for "A Girl Like You" that went into medium rotation on early MTV.
[7] In 1984, after recording the sound and music for the artist Tony Oursler’s film EVOL, Ryser and Webber moved to New York, putting an effective end to the Units.
[14] In June that year, a 12" single of "High Pressure Days" was released on the German label Relish with remixes alongside the original version.
[15] In February 2010, a 12" EP was released on the UK label Hungry Beat Recordings including Rory Phillips remix of "High Pressure Days".
[18] In April 2011, The Dark Entries music label from San Francisco released Bart - Bay Area Retrograde (Vol.
[19] An EP was released on the French label Robsoul Recordings, which included two remixes of "High Pressure Days" by Phil Weeks.
[26] In 2015, Futurismo Records from London, re-released the UNITS original album from 1980, "Digital Stimulation" on vinyl and CD, including a live set at Mabuhay Gardens.
[30] In 2022, Futurismo once again re-released Digital Stimulation in a newly-designed package which included all of the remastered original album tracks along with a 12-page art booklet containing rare imagery and new liner notes, and a CD of the 2020 remix.
Other various members that played live shows and toured with The Units included Brad Saunders, Tim Ennis, Ron Lantz, Richard Driskell, Lx Rudis, Seth Miller, Jon Parker, David Allen Jr., Jabari Allen, Marc Henry, James Reynolds, Raymond Froehlich, D.C. Carter and their projectionist, Rick Prelinger.