Formed in 2003 by Pittsburgh natives and friends Anthony Badamo and Ian Glinka, Black Tie Revue had a variety of lineup changes (especially in the drumming department, where they saw no less than five different players before they issued their first EP), though the core lineup — singer/guitarist Badamo, bassist Matthew Hanzes, and guitarist John-Paul McCormick (who originally played keyboards); Glinka left in order to pursue a career with the national Democratic Party — did manage to remain the same.