Singer/guitarist Ryan Sheely and bassist Sean Humeston formed the Christian punk rock group Value Pac while still in high school in 1995. The Orange County, SoCal, band started as "as a joke" and later turned into "an even bigger joke," Sheely would later say. Value Pac's very Christian self-titled debut was released on Tooth and Nail, and was soon followed by Jalapeno on Chordant, which featured more everyday lyrics and a punk-pop sound. In 1998, after drummer Ben Cater left for college and Sheely's mother died, the band broke up. But the following year Sheely and Humeston reunited, went on tour, and joined the Internet-based label Four Door Entertainment. The band recorded Incognito, produced by Social Distortion guitarist Dennis Danell. The band broke up again after Humeston left and Sheely decided to become a secular musician. ~ Ron DePasquale