Frontman Brian Tighe originally pursued a career in the visual arts.
While working as an artist's assistant in New York City, Tighe began writing music, and eventually abandoned visual arts in favor of music, returning home to Minneapolis to attend the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.
There, in 1987, he met Jeff Kearns and Stephen Ittner, and the three later formed the original Hang Ups.
Soon after, guitarist John Crozier joined them, after criticizing the band's sound.
The band was later signed to the local Minneapolis label Clean Records, which the band would stay with for the release of the debut EP Comin' Through and their first full studio album, He's After Me.
 Restless Records released The Hang Ups' follow-up So We Go in 1996, as well as their 1999 record Second Story, which was recorded with Don Dixon and Mitch Easter.
 2003 saw the release of their self-titled album on Pete Yorn's Trampoline Records.
 The Hang Ups became available as a digital download for the first time in 2013 on the Korda Records label.

Although the band never officially broke up, by 2011 most of its members had moved on to other projects, with occasional reunions.

The band has been honored with a star on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue, recognizing performers that have played sold-out shows or have otherwise demonstrated a major contribution to the culture at the iconic venue.
Receiving a star "might be the most prestigious public honor an artist can receive in Minneapolis," according to journalist Steve Marsh.
Frontman Brian Tighe originally pursued a career in the visual arts. While working as an artist's assistant in New York City, Tighe began writing music, and eventually abandoned visual arts in favor of music, returning home to Minneapolis to attend the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. There, in 1987, he met Jeff Kearns and Stephen Ittner, and the three later formed the original Hang Ups. Soon after, guitarist John Crozier joined them, after criticizing the band's sound. The band was later signed to the local Minneapolis label Clean Records, which the band would stay with for the release of the debut EP Comin' Through and their first full studio album, He's After Me.  Restless Records released The Hang Ups' follow-up So We Go in 1996, as well as their 1999 record Second Story, which was recorded with Don Dixon and Mitch Easter.  2003 saw the release of their self-titled album on Pete Yorn's Trampoline Records.  The Hang Ups became available as a digital download for the first time in 2013 on the Korda Records label.
Although the band never officially broke up, by 2011 most of its members had moved on to other projects, with occasional reunions.
The band has been honored with a star on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue, recognizing performers that have played sold-out shows or have otherwise demonstrated a major contribution to the culture at the iconic venue. Receiving a star "might be the most prestigious public honor an artist can receive in Minneapolis," according to journalist Steve Marsh.
The Hang Ups