Chicago-native Plastic Crimewave aka Steven Krakow is known for being a "psychedelic guru" of sorts, and is the creator of the Galactic Zoo Dossier, a hand-drawn magazine published by Drag City since 2001. Crimewave also: runs the Galactic Zoo Disk reissue label imprint that is manufactured/distributed by Drag City and roving label Galactic Archives, draws/writes the bi-weekly Secret History of Chicago Music comics for the Chicago Reader for over a decade, books/founded the avant/psych festival Million Tongues featuring international musicians, has exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary art, and has drawn countless comics, posters, album covers, and branding art for Lush Cosmetics and Jones Soda.

From 2001-2011, PCW headed up Plastic Crimewave Sound, legendary space-punk ensemble that recorded 5 LPs, toured nationally with Acid Mothers temple, Comets on Fire and The Ponys, and whom Julian Cope described as "outtasite." PCW currently leads Plastic Crimewave Syndicate (who have opened for Hawkwind, Keiji Haino, Chrome, Loop, Josefus, Purling Hiss, and Woods and have released 4 albums on UK labels); conducts the Plastic Crimewave Vision Celestial Guitarkestra of up to 70 guitarists (performed in NY, Hyde Park Arts Center, and yearly at the Hideout block party), plays in the spacey duo Spiral Galaxy, and has DJ-ed all over the world--from London to Tokyo.