John Kastner, ex-Doughboys veteran and the project’s chief songwriter, supplied vocals and guitar when he launched All Systems Go! After teaming with guitarist and singer Mark Arnold in Montreal during 1998, the pair moved to Toronto with the explicit aim of laying down their first record. Bassist Frank Daly and drummer Matt Taylor completed the lineup, and the quartet booked time in a local studio under producer Daniel Rey (the Ramones, L7, the Misfits). The self-titled debut All Systems Go! appeared shortly afterward, prompting an extended run of live dates that featured support slots for Pearl Jam plus an appearance on the Warped Tour. Following a period of inactivity, the band reconvened late in 2000; Dean Bentley replaced Taylor on drums while Peter Arsenault joined on guitar. Months of concentrated touring across Canada and the United States led to a deal with Australia’s Shock Records, which re-energized the original album. All Systems Go! then prepared a new itinerary alongside the Satanic Surfers that took the group through both Europe and Australia.
