The first incarnation of the band, later known as Psi Com, was initiated in 1981 by Duran, bassist Rich "Evac" Robinson (formerly of Afterimage), and Robinson's wife, keyboardist Mariska Leyssius.
By 1985, the group had realized that they needed a bass player to fill out the bottom end of their sound, and they recruiting their friend Wheeler, who moved into a house with Farrell near the University of Southern California.