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The Starting Line music biography continued...

when Guitarist Matt Watts saw vocalist Ken Vasoli's AOL profile and invited him to jam with his band, which consisted of second guitarist Mike Golla, and drummer Tom Gryskiewicz. The new group originally called themselves Sunday Drive, and after massive self-promotion, inked a deal with Drive-Thru Records in April 2001. On Drive-Thru, they released their debut EP With Hopes of Starting Over. Subsequently, they changed the name of the band to The Starting Line when they found out Sunday Drive was a name already taken by a Christian rock band. In July 2002, the band released the full-length Say It Like You Mean It. The songs ranged from energetic and fast-paced to melancholy and calm, dealing with performing on stage ("Given the Chance"), feeling homesick ("Left Coast Envy") and getting even with Vasoli's ex-girlfriend Karina ("Up & Go", "Hello Houston", among others). The hit single "Best of Me" and its two music videos, as well as the second single "Leaving", received heavy radio and TV airplay, securing The Starting Line a spot on the Warped Tour. Soon after, the band were signed to Geffen Records. Their major label debut, Based on a True Story, came out in May 2005, and reached # 18 on the Billboard 200 chart, finally garnering the band mainstream success.



The Starting Line were dissatisfied with their relationship with Geffen, and soon after jumped to Virgin Records and released their third full-length album "Direction" in 2007. It contained the single "Island" which was written about and for Vasoli's girlfriend of the last four years, Michelle. The Album peaked at #30 on the Billboard 200 chart. In 2008, The Starting Line announced that they were taking a break to pursue other projects, but held out the promise of coming together again soon—a promise their many fans hope they keep.