Formed in December 1981 as a two piece consisting of Alan Rider & Phil Clarke, by early 1984 they had released two high quality cassette albums, and featured in numerous cassette compilations and fanzines worldwide.
October 1984 saw the first vinyl statement by Stress, the track 'The Prayer Clock' on the 'Life At The Top' compilation LP. More compilation LP appearances followed, 'Compulsory Overtime' (USA), and 'A Touch Of Class' (UK) to name but two.
June/July 1985 saw the release of the first and only LP by 'Stress', a 6 track mini album entitled 'The Big Wheel' on Alan Rider's 'Adventures In Reality Recordings' label (ARR 014).

In their music, Stress combine electronic rhythms, sequences, keyboards with bass guitar, vocals, percussion, cut - up tapes, and a variety of acoustic instruments to provide a sound that fuses commercial & experimental elements with a pointed lyrical edge.
Being a two piece, Stress had found that the freedom to use whatever instruments necessary for a particular sound means that they need never limit themselves to a particular format.
1991, after the band's final release 'Nostalgia' [a best of cassette and CD with two new tracks], they ceased to continue with their music.

August 2012 saw San Francisco based label Dark Entries issue a vinyl only collection, 'Conspiracy Theory', containing re-mastered early material from the first two cassette albums and rare compilation LP appearances, a 16 page Stress fanzine and badge. February 2013 saw CD and limited edition cassette re-issues of 'The Big Wheel' LP on Russian label Other Voices, re-mastered and including 7 bonus tracks.