Story of the Year began as Big Blue Monkey in St. Louis, MO. At the time (the late '90s), the band's sound was much heavier (think Deftones), and the lineup that would become Story of the Year was not yet in place. Big Blue Monkey played frequently in and around St. Louis, issued a few EPs, and endured the lineup fluctuations typical to any struggling combo. Creative and persistent self-promotion caught the ear of producer John Feldmann, who in turn brought Maverick Records into the picture. By 2002, Big Blue Monkey had become Story of the Year, moved to Southern California, and toured with Feldmann and Goldfinger. The lineup of vocalist Dan Marsala, guitarists Ryan Phillips and Phillip Sneed, bassist Adam Russell, and drummer Joshua Willis entered the studio with Feldmann, emerging in spring 2003 with the full-length Page Avenue.

Story of the Year began as Big Blue Monkey in St. Louis, MO. At the time (the late '90s), the band's sound was much heavier (think Deftones), and the lineup that would become Story of the Year was not yet in place. Big Blue Monkey played frequently in and around St. Louis, issued a few EPs, and endured the lineup fluctuations typical to any struggling combo. Creative and persistent self-promotion caught the ear of producer John Feldmann, who in turn brought Maverick Records into the picture. By 2002, Big Blue Monkey had become Story of the Year, moved to Southern California, and toured with Feldmann and Goldfinger. The lineup of vocalist Dan Marsala, guitarists Ryan Phillips and Phillip Sneed, bassist Adam Russell, and drummer Joshua Willis entered the studio with Feldmann, emerging in spring 2003 with the full-length Page Avenue. Story did some Warped Tour dates that summer, and issued the record the following September. By this point the Story sound had morphed completely and comfortably into emo-inflected post-grunge, akin to groups like Thrice or the similarly Feldmann-shepherded Used. The CD/DVD set Live in the Lou/Bassassins followed in spring 2005; it was a precursor to In the Wake of Determination, which appeared in October. Three years later, Story of the Year released their third album, The Black Swan, on Epitaph Records, which they helped promote by extensive Warped Tour dates. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide