Heavily influenced by late-'70s acts like G.B.H. and U.K. Subs, in addition to Black Flag and one of the area's premier outfits, Rancid, Static Thought played around for several years before committing themselves to record with the 2003 EP Outta Control. It brought the guys minor local attention, and two years later (following a lineup change), they released a five-song album that caught the ear of Rancid's Tim Armstrong. This led to an appearance at one of Hellcat's infamous club nights at Los Angeles' the Echo, and in August 2006 Static Thought officially announced their new home at Hellcat Records. Following a year's worth of recording, vocalist/guitarist Eric Urbach (still just a senior in high school), bassist/vocalist Mike Have-Not (aka Mike Leon), drummer Travis Davant, and guitarist/vocalist Danny Garcia released their label debut, In the Trenches, in late January 2007. ~ Corey Apar