It is named after a brand of polyethylene film that United States Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge once recommended as a defense against bioterrorism.

[1] The band's original members were singer-songwriter-guitarist Rachel Flotard and drummer Ben Hooker, both formerly of Hafacat; Allan Ross (guitar; left in November 2001), and Kim Warnick, formerly of the Fastbacks.

Warnick retired at the end of 2004, but Muffs co-founder Ronnie Barnett signed on to play the bass during the band's 2005 tour.

Late in 2006, Bill Coury left the band and by spring 2007, Barrett Jones, producer (Foo Fighters, The presidents of the United States of America), joined Visqueen as bassist.

On November 28, 2016, after a five-year hiatus, Visqueen reunited as Flotard, Hooker, and Bautista for a live show at the Crocodile Lounge in Seattle as the opening act for X. Visqueen returned once again to play Tractor Tavern on November 17, SMOOCH Fest on December 3, a and The Vera Project on December 9, 2022.