Post-grunge
combo
Future Leaders of the World
featured vocalist
Phil Tayler
, bassist
Bill Hershey
, drummer
Carl Messina
and guitarist
Jake Stutevoss
. Originally from Buffalo,
Tayler
migrated to the West Coast in the late 1990s, where he struggled to find work while honing his skills as a performer and songwriter. He recruited
Hershey
and
Messina
in Buffalo, and the trio recorded a demo in Los Angeles, where they also tapped guitarist
Stutevoss
. The demo recording sparked the interest of
Epic Records
, who signed the
Future Leaders
in 2003. Their debut
LVL IV
appeared in October 2004; it looked to the sounds of alternative's heyday --
Nirvana
;
Rage Against the Machine
-- as a guide. The band hit the road in 2005, touring with acts like
Chevelle
Crossfade
. ~ Johnny Loftus