Bailey and Hammel had been friends since orientation day at the Univ. of Maryland, and within 2 years, quit college and started writing songs as The Ropers. Hammel knew Hacker from their stints in The Lilys. After their drummer quit just before a tour, Alex switched instruments, and Pavlovcak, who had seen the Ropers playing around U of MD and was Hammel's roommate, was recruited for bass."We've made people's ears bleed, " says Bailey.