The duo of Mansfield and Rinnig recorded a five-song 12" EP, Strobelight Funeral, released in 1986 on their own Dark Illusion Records label.

English bassist Billy Budd and local drummer Bobbi Drier joined in 1987, and the band became regular performers at LA clubs such as Scream, The Roxy and the Whisky A Go Go.

In 1988, L.A. Weekly held a citywide Rock Music Awards poll, and Screams for Tina placed in the Top 5 of the Best New Band and Best Underground Band categories, as well as in the Top 10 for Independent Album.

In 1990, Rinning was replaced by Kent Bancroft (Like Wreckage, Spahn Ranch). They released the double-7" EP Judgement Day in 1992 on Piece Of Mind Records.

Cleopatra Records included the band's song "11:11" on the 1993 compilation album The Whip. This led to the release of their eponymous first full-length studio album that year by Cleopatra in the US and Talitha Records in Germany.

In 1998, the group disbanded.

Screams for Tina reformed in 2002 as a duo of Mansfield and Budd, and signed to Austrian label Strobelight Records, releasing the four-song EP 2003 A.D. in 2003.