A punk revival quartet from Vancouver, Gob was formed in 1994. Soon after, Tom Thacker (guitars/vocals), Theo Goutzinakis (guitars/vocals), Craig Wood (bass), and Gabe Mantle (drums) issued their debut album, Too Late...No Friends. In addition to several split releases with other Canadian punk bands, the band recorded the full-length How Far Shallow Takes You in 1998; it was reissued in the U.S. the following year. The World According to Gob appeared in early 2001. But despite their prolific output, a large Canadian following, numerous appearances on the Vans Warped Tour, and their energetic, hyperactive hooks, it wasn't until fellow Canadian pop-punks Sum 41 took Gob out on tour with them that things really started to happen stateside. That exposure led to a successful label showcase for L.A. Reid's Arista imprint, and soon the boys found themselves in the studio with Mark Trombino, who had produced such like-sounding groups as blink-182 and Jimmy Eat World. The F.U. EP appeared in early 2003 as a precursor to the full-length Foot in Mouth Disease, which arrived in April of that year. Following the release of the proper Arista full-length, Gob embarked on a three-month tour opening for fellow Canadian/Arista artist Avril Lavigne. ~ Johnny Loftus