For a band for whom line up problems had been non existent throughout the bulk of their high profile career to date it came as somewhat of a shock to fans of the highly respected platinum Metal band QUEENSRŸCHE when, in late 1997, guitarist and founder member Chris DeGarmo announced he was to quit. DeGarmo, often viewed as the creative catalyst in QUEENSRŸCHE, soon busied himself recording with INFLATABLE SOULE frontman Peter Cornell, brother of SOUNDGARDEN's Chris Cornell. However, in June of 1998 he would be surprisingly was unveiled as a member of ALICE IN CHAINS guitarist JERRY CANTRELL's solo touring band.

De Garmo would later demo material with other ex ALICE IN CHAINS men bassist Mike Inez- also a veteran of OZZY OSBOURNE, and drummer Sean Kinney. This union, together with SPONGE / CRUD singer Vinnie Dombroski, would transpire as SPYS 4 DARWIN and eventually resulted in an eagerly awaited EP 'Microfish'.

In March of 2002 Inez would be announced as touring member for Seattle AOR superstars HEART.