California rock band Rooney emerged in 2002, making their live debut warming up for Phantom Planet, a more experienced L.A.-based group who shared similar classic pop influences (ELO, the Beach Boys) along with a family member. The younger brother of actor and former Phantom Planet drummer Jason Schwartzman, Rooney maestro Robert Schwartzman was also a son of Hollywood who had dabbled in acting, but by the early 2000s had turned his full attention to crafting pleasantly retro guitar pop.