Material Issue was an American power pop trio from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1985. The group consisted of Jim Ellison on guitar and lead vocals, Ted Ansani on bass, and Mike Zelenko on drums. In 1987, the band released their eponymous EP, Material Issue, on their own record label, Big Block. Their early exposure came when their song "Sixteen Tambourines" (1988) appeared on CMJ New Music Report's compilation. The trio gained national prominence with their debut album, International Pop Overthrow (1991), which was produced by Jeff Murphy and featured the singles "Valerie Loves Me" (1991) and "Diane" (1991). Their follow-up albums were Destination Universe (1992) and Freak City Soundtrack (1994). The group parted ways with Mercury Records in early 1995, and Ellison died by suicide on June 20, 1996. The band's final recordings were released posthumously on the album Telecommando Americano (1997), and their legacy includes the International Pop Overthrow festival, which honors their contributions to power pop music.
