In the opening months of 2000, hardcore punk outfit Over My Dead Body assembled in Southern California following the dissolution of earlier groups including Unbroken. Vocalist Daniel Sant, guitarist Aaron Cooley, bassist Rob Moran, drummer Tommy Anthony, and guitarist Scott Lopian immediately coalesced into a committed straight-edge unit that began playing local and regional shows. Multiple split 7-inches appeared across the remainder of 2000, after which Indecision Records issued the band’s debut EP, No Runners, in early 2001. Their first full-length, Rusty Medals and Broken Badges, surfaced at the close of the same year.
Lopian exited shortly after the album’s release. Ex-Built to Last guitarist Dave Kennedy filled the position on a short-term basis until his commitments with Boxcar Racer took precedence; longtime roadie and merch person Mike Arney then assumed the guitar role. A 2002 split single with Death Threat produced a co-headlining club tour the following summer. Upon returning home, Moran departed for personal reasons, and fan-turned-bassist Adam Meehan joined the lineup.
With producer Paul Miner, the group completed work on its second album. After Sink or Swim arrived in summer 2003, the members toured alongside Miner’s band, Death by Stereo.
