HOOBASTANK is a Northern Californian modern Rock outfit assembled during 1994. Guitarist Dan Estrin and bass player Markku Lappalainen had earlier been members of the 1992 formation IDIOSYNCRATIC. Upon this band's demise Estrin united with singer Doug Robb, re-enlisting Lappalainen and finding THUNDERSLUGS drummer Chris Hesse by way of an avert in The Recycler local newspaper. The quartet considered taking on the title MENACE II SOCIETY but instead chose HOOBUSTANK, a made up word from their school days. Their debut gig, held in a backyard, saw HOOBUSTANK headlining over THE TOURISTS (later re-billed as AUDIOVENT) and LINKIN PARK. Indeed, both Robb and Estrin both attended Agora High School alongside Mike Shinoda and Brad Delson from LINKIN PARK.

Initially the band, originally going under the title HOOBUSTANK and often performing ROD STEWART's 'Do Ya Think I'm Sexy' at shows, purveyed a humourous Ska edged post-Grunge sound, complete with saxophonist sax player Jeremy Wasser (responsible for the sax solo on the INCUBUS track 'Summer Romance (Anti-Gravity Love Song)') and fellow horn players Derek Kwan and Sam Sadigursky, but would adopt a more melodic stance as local success grew. HOOBUSTANK's burgeoning appeal, bolstered by the demo 'Hoobustank Muffins', would partly be attributed to exposure garnered by support slots to friends INCUBUS at such mainstay clubs as the Troubadour, the Whiskey and the Roxy.

The group debuted with the self financed ' They Sure Don't Make Basketball Shorts Like They Used To' in 1998. Oddly, the group's intensive live schedule slackened off to such a point that many fans believed the group had folded. However, they returned, albeit minus Wasser, signing to Island Records in August of 2000. Not all would run smoothly though as a subtlt name change to HOOBASTANK was adopted and Immortal Records engaged a legal action claiming the band was due to sign to them.

The major label support of Island Records immediately raised HOOBASTANK"s profile out of the Californian club scene and onto the national touring circuit partnered with the likes of INCUBUS, LIVE, DAVE NAVARRO, SUM 41 and ALIEN ANT FARM. The debut album, an eponymous Jim Wirt produced outing arriving in November of 2001, quickly scored gold sales status fired by radio and Billboard hits 'Crawling In The Dark' and 'Running Away'. As 'Hoobastank's sales increased beyond the million selling platinum marker tour work was to increase, finding the band covering North America HOOBASTANK extended their touring reach into Europe and Asia.

A 2003 headline tour of the USA was curtailed when Estrin was injured on a mini-bike, suffering a head wound that required twenty five stitches. With their guitarist recuperated HOOBASTANK headed out on the road once more on a Nokia sponsored package billing allied with OZOMATLI, DIFFUSER and THE ALL AMERICAN REJECTS. The single 'Out Of Control' preceded the December Howard Benson produced 'The Reason' album, this record bowing in at no. 45 on the Billboard charts as HOOBASTANK were out on the US live circuit with label mates ANDREW W.K. and DIE TRYING.