Endo

The band Endo originated from the partnership of vocalist Gil Bitton and bassist Zelick. Born in Israel to Moroccan parents, Bitton relocated to Florida during his childhood. After leaving high school prior to his senior year, he organized an open-mic event at the Miami establishment Cool Beans before expanding his skills to include vocals and guitar performance. His involvement with the heavy metal outfit Above and Beyond introduced him to Zelick, whose initial interests lay in acting prior to adopting the bass guitar. Together they assembled the lineup by enlisting drummer Joel Suarez, originally from Cuba, alongside guitarist Eli Parker, a former collaborator of Suarez from the group Level Nine. In 1999, Concrete Management took them under contract, leading to opening slots alongside acts like the Foo Fighters and Static X, as well as an appearance at the South by Southwest festival that secured a deal with DV8, an imprint under Columbia Records distribution. March 2001 saw the arrival of their first full-length effort, titled Evolve.