The band was founded in Spring 1984 by former Mission of Burma and Molls drummer Peter Prescott, the only founding member of the Suns to remain until their break-up in 1991. Prescott had auditioned for the position of drummer with Disneyland, but took two of that band's members to form Volcano Suns; The other original members were Gary Waleik and Steve Michener who would leave after a few months, before the release of the first Suns album, to form Big Dipper. Prescott then added Jeff Weigand on bass guitar and Jon Williams on guitar. This second line-up created the band's debut albumThe Bright Orange Years, as well as its follow-up, All-Night Lotus Party, both released on the now-defunct Homestead Records. In 1987, Bob Weston and Chuck Hahn replaced Weigand and Williams respectively for Bumper Crop, the band's final release on Homestead. Other contributors included Roger Miller on piano and Gary Waleik on sitar. In 1988, the band moved to Greg Ginn'sSST Records for their 4th release, Farced. The line-up however was the same as on Bumper Crop, including Miller on piano and Waleik on sitar. 1989 brought their most experimental release, Thing of Beauty, also on SST, on which David Kleiler replaced Chuck Hahn on guitar. This would be the Volcano Suns' final line up. The band moved to Chicago-based indie labelQuarterstick Records for their final release, Career in Rock in 1991. The album was engineered by Steve Albini, who would later work with Bob Weston in their band Shellac.
Volcano Suns also doubled as the Din, the backing band for Dredd Foole. The Din are identified as Din Wanna, Bonus "The Bone Man" McGinty and Webb Finga, and The Kaiser on "Eat My Dust Cleanse My Soul". The follow-up album Take Off Your Skin is identified by Foole as the same line-up as the previous album. Their music is often compared to the works of bands like Hüsker Dü and Mudhoney.
Post-Suns and reunion
The band split up in 1991. In 1994, Prescott went on to form Kustomized. Prescott reformed Volcano Suns in 2005 with Weston and Kleiler for some reunion shows. The band's first two albums were reissued by Merge Records in 2009, remastered by Weston and including bonus material. Merge also released a live album in 2014, recorded at City Gardens in New Jersey during the summer of 1986 featuring the Bright Orange/Lotus lineup, entitled "Old Pain."
