During the mid-1980s, a musical approach known as "new sincerity" briefly appeared poised to gain widespread popularity. The style originated in Austin, Texas, where groups including Glass Eye, the Reivers, True Believers, the Wild Seeds, and Texas Instruments embodied a fresh post-punk and new wave sensibility. Steve Collier, vocalist and principal songwriter for one of the scene's most promising acts, Doctors' Mob, later recalled that "The whole idea of the band was to have these really melodic songs that you played really heavy."
Doctors' Mob came together in the early 1980s and took its name from an article the members discovered in an old almanac describing the first American riot, "Doctor's Mob of 1728." Internal difficulties plagued the group almost immediately. After a 1985 show, founding bassist Jimmy Doluisio quit, forcing cancellation of the final four dates on the tour supporting the band's debut album, Headache Machine. With Tim Swingle stepping in on bass, Doctors' Mob secured a deal with Relativity and cut its follow-up, Sophomore Slump, under the guidance of Ramones producer Tommy Erdelyi. The label then insisted on a complete re-recording, which pushed the release back several months. By the time Sophomore Slump appeared in 1987, the band had lost its earlier momentum; although two tours were mounted in support, Doctors' Mob soon disbanded. Drummer Glenn Benavides later joined Buick MacKane, Collier became a member of the Sidehackers, and guitarist/vocalist Don Lamb took over management of Waterloo Records.
In 1999 the original members reconvened to mark the appearance of Last One in the Van Drives, a collection drawn from both of their albums.
