Biography
Hailing from Los Angeles, Controlling the Famous produce an angular, groove-centered fusion of melodic post-rock reminiscent of Minus the Bear and Cursive. Most members first connected as college students in the city, yet the absence of a drummer prompted guitarists and vocalists Max Hellmann and Johnny Collins, together with bassist Brendan Hughes, to place an advertisement on craigslist. Mike Schneider replied, and after several rehearsals he abandoned his previous outfit to occupy the drum stool. The band issued its debut recording, the 2002 EP Maybe It Won't Kill You, But Probably It Might, then followed with the 2003 split We Are Bounty Hunters for Hire alongside California’s Operatic. Over successive years the quartet performed alongside Sparta, the Mooney Suzuki, Say Anything, and the Anniversary. They next self-released the 2005 EP Two Birds vs. One Stone and signed with The Militia Group that October. Alex Newport, previously associated with At the Drive-In and the Mars Volta, produced the resulting label debut Automatic City, which arrived in May 2006 as a concept album portraying the frenetic pace of city life in locales such as Los Angeles. The group entered hiatus that October amid breakup speculation. Although the members apparently reconvened in early 2007 to resume playing, they formally announced their dissolution by late February.