The Sleepers came from Palo Alto, a quiet college town south of San Francisco. Hugely popular in San Francisco, they were among the key groups to emerge from the punk and new wave scene which centered around the Mabuhay Gardens (aka the Fab Mab), a former Filipino restaurant that became to SF what CBGBs was to New York. They were primarily noted for Ricky Williams' (who was Crime's original drummer, and later sang with Toiling Midgets) moody vocal style and twisted lyrics, riding on the neo-psychedelic guitar-work of Michael Belfer (also of Tuxedomoon).
The Sleepers original line-up was: Ricky Williams [Vocals], Tim Mooney [Drums], Paul Draper [Bass], and Michael Belfer [Guitar].