The band originally consisted of vocalist and keyboardist Amos, guitarist Steve Caton, drummer Matt Sorum (later of Guns N' Roses), and bassist Brad Cobb.

The band's name comes from an incident in Amos's childhood where she was asked to leave the Peabody Conservatory because she refused to read sheet music.

[1] The band released one album, also called Y Kant Tori Read (1988), which was considered a dismal commercial failure.

The band worked with record producer Joe Chiccarelli and Kim Bullard, later of Kajagoogoo.

A music video for their song "The Big Picture" was made, but the only member of the band featured was Amos, since by then, unable to withstand pressure from Atlantic Records, she had jettisoned the rest of them with the exception of Steve Caton.