Girls Under Glass were founded in 1986 by Thomas Lücke (singer), Hauke Harms (electronics & keyboards) and Zaphor aka Volker Zacharias (guitars).
Their debut album was recorded in 1987: Humus. For this record Dr. Fluch joined the band and played bass guitar.

During 1989 Girls Under Glass supported bands such as Fields of the Nephilim, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry and were just big stars in the german gothic-wave-scene. At this point of time the band was playing togther with two guest musicians (Marcel Zürcher, drummer of Abwärts, Schwansee, Shanghaid Guts) and Olaf O (bassplayer). Flowers (second album was recorded). Members: Thomas Lücke (vocals) Zaphor (guitars) Hauke Harms (keyboards), Axel Ermes (bassplayer). Axel joined the band and was integrated into the real band-line up. Axel and Zaphor played at this point of time parallel in the german cult band Cancer Barrack.

In 1990 Zaphor left Cancer Barrack and concentrated on the third GUG album. Main singer Thomas Lücke left the band and Zaphor took over the singers part. Rodney Orpheus of The Cassandra Complex produced the third GUG album called Positive and started a friendship with Zaphor. Zaphor joined The Cassandra Complex studio and live-lineup and was working together with Rodney for many years. 1990 was really a year of changes and re-starts.

In 1991 Project Pitchfork were playing their first gigs as support band for the Positive-tour.

Darius, the 4th album was recorded in 1992. This is the first CD recorded with a real drummer (Marcus Giltjes, ex Pink Turns Blue). As a new guitar player Girls Under Glass welcomed Raj Sen Gupta.

Christus was recorded in 1993, also with Raj Sen Gupta plus Markus Giltjes. For the following tour Raj left the band and Girls Under Glass worked together with Robert Wilcocks of Sleeping Dogs Wake and Cobalt 60 for the next 3 years.

Crystals & Stones (1995) was recorded as a trio again (Volker, Axel & Hauke) The band recorded this album in their new own studio. Die Krupps did a remix of "Die Zeit", which became a club hit in Germany. For this record the band was touring with Robert Wilcocks again. Additional drums on tour were played by Tippi Agogo (musician from Vancouver and close friend to The Legendary Pink Dots and Skinny Puppy musicians-scene).

Firewalker was recorded in 1997. The hardest record GUG ever made. Totally inspired by the american industrial metal & electro music scene such as NIN, KMFDM, Stabbing Westward, Gravity Kills, etc. Girls asked ex-KMFDM drummer Rudi Naomi to join the band for the tour. GUG toured together with Deathline Int´l, a German-American-electro-act.

In 1998 Equilibrium was recorded. GUG calmed down a bit and found their way back to the more Gothic and Wave orientated style.

The seminal anthology record Nightmares for the United States was compiled in 1999. The record includes the biggest hits of GUG's career as well as out of print and new unreleased tracks including a cover of the classic track "Halloween" theme by John Carpenter.

In 2001 Minddiver was recorded. First album on their own label Aragon Records, includes a cover version of Madonna's "Frozen". First appearance in London (UK), co-headlining the famous GOTHAM – Festival with Clan Of Xymox European Tour together with Fair Sex.

2002 European Tour had been recorded on 16 Tracks. Released on Aragon as first real live album Live in Light & Darkness.

During 2003 GUG paused for a bit more than 1 year. No gigs or studioworks.

In 2004 new material was written and recorded. Producer JP Genkel joined the production and recorded the album Zyklus in his IMPULS studio, Hamburg. Zyklus was released in February, 2005 on Metropolis Records.