Kurt Osterbusch and Scott Lizakowski formed Cycle Sine in 1986. The partnership continued through 1989 when Scott lost his life suddenly to a previously undiagnosed heart condition. Kurt and Scott met at Downers Grove North High School, through WDGC, the high school radio station, where they hosted the Crash and Burn radio show on Wednesday and Sunday nights. The second hour of each show was dedicated to the Industrial Thing - a weekly mixtape of industrial, punk, spoken word and ambient tracks produced by Kurt and Scott.

Cycle Sine influences include early Chicago House (Joe Long of The Children, and Mark Imperial also DJ'd at WDGC), Downers Grove label Shit on Toast and band Denied Remarks, Ministry, Front 242, Skinny Puppy, Nitzer Ebb, Cabaret Voltaire and New Order