Liz Phair was born Elizabeth Clark Phair on April 17, 1967. She was adopted in infancy in New Haven Connecticut. Her father, John Phair, is an AIDS researcher and Chief of Infectious Diseases at Northwestern Hospital. her mother, Nancy Phair, is an art instructor at the Art Institute of Chicago. The Phairs later moved, first to Cincinnati, then to Winnetka, Illinois, where Liz grew up with her older brother.

Liz Phair attended New Trier High School (class of 1985). After graduating, Liz attended Oberlin College in Ohio. She majored in Art History/Studio Art. After graduating, she was urged by a friend who had heard her play to make a demo tape. Liz, taking his advice, she recorded a series of thirty songs on a four-track in her bedroom. These recordings were dubbed the infamous "Girlysound" tapes, and they were soon in wide circulation through the indie rock scene.

In 1992, the Girlysound tapes made their way to the fine folks at Matador Records (you know, the label Pavement are on). Impressed by Liz's alarmingly frank writing about sex, relationships and modern life, they signed her immediately. Her first album "Exile In Guyville" was released in 1993 to almost universal critical acclaim. "E.I.G" was a track-by-track response to the Rolling Stones classic "Exile On Main Street". It has been certified gold by the RIAA.

In 1994, we saw Liz's second album "Whipsmart" released. It has also been certified gold by the RIAA. Whipsmart certainly confirmed her reputation for offsetting searing subject matter with her own quirky and distinctive sound. In 1995, Liz got married to film editor Jim Staskausas, who worked on her videos, and with whom she had a child, Nick, in December 1996. They live with Jim's teenaged son Aidan in Illinois. In the summer of 1998, Liz did a few shows with Sarah Maclachlans "Lilith Fair", filling in for Sheryl Crow on a few dates. Liz's new album "Whitechocolatespaceegg" was released on August 11, 1998. Ms. Phair is also doing alot of tour dates.