Hailing from the Detroit metro area, the trio known collectively as Slot (bassist/vocalist Sue Lott, her husband Billy Rivkin on guitar, and drummer Eddie Alterman) first came together in the winter of 1991. Soon after, Slot began their recording career with a single for the Sympathy for the Record Industry record company, as well as a full-length debut for the German label Repulsion. Some time was taken off by the band to write and record, but beginning in 1992, the band found time to record two singles and an EP (entitled Fiver) for the independent Third Gear Records. The band became darlings of the music press, making an appearance on the cover of an Alternative Press "Bands to Watch" issue. Slot received more critical praise for their 1995 EP Rule of :45 (Third Gear), garnering another great review from AP. Although they didn't tour as heavily or as frequently as other alternative bands, Slot played with the likes of the Rollins Band, the Cows, and the Afghan Whigs, and appeared on Lollapalooza's second stage. The group launched a nationwide tour in 1996, and although they had recorded a full-length album the preceding year, Slot disbanded and the album went unreleased. Sadly, Rivkin died of cancer in 2004. Slot's full-length Sweet Black Bear finally saw release on the Small Stone Records label in 2006, emerging as a worthy tribute both to the band and its guitarist. ~ Greg Prato