No More Kings

Pete Mitchell, the singer and songwriter from Providence, Rhode Island, serves as the primary force behind No More Kings. His childhood involved frequent relocations because his father served in the Air Force. During middle school, he formed a close friendship with guitarist Neil Robins. The pair performed together in various shows while attending high school. Only upon entering college did they establish the initial version of No More Kings as a formal group. Bassist Adam DeGraide joined them, and the trio toured extensively across New England. Later, Mitchell and Robins relocated to Los Angeles alongside another band they had joined, which brought an end to the original No More Kings lineup. Following the breakup of that Los Angeles project, Mitchell pursued opportunities in visual arts, a field he had explored during his college years, securing positions animating video games for Disney and The Jim Henson Company. In 2005, feeling weary of contributing to others' projects, he sought to prioritize his personal creative endeavors. Unexpectedly, Robins, now performing with Dirt Poor Robins, contacted him with news that DeGraide had launched Astonish Entertainment and expressed interest in signing No More Kings. This opportunity prompted Mitchell to revive the band name and compose sufficient songs for a full album. Robins took on production duties, leading to the release of No More Kings' self-titled album via Astonish in March 2007. Mitchell viewed the record as a "thank-you letter to the '80s," incorporating references to pop culture icons like The Karate Kid, Knight Rider, and The Muppet Show into energetic pop/rock tracks that incorporated a subtle funk influence.