Formed in 1996, Drive-By Truckers has become one of the most influential alternative country bands of the last several decades. After independently releasing its third album "Southern Rock Opera" in 2001, Drive-By Truckers signed a record deal with Mercury and Lost Highway Records. The album was reissued the following year to meet distribution demands. Additionally, in 2002, the quarterly music journal "No Depression" named Drive-By Truckers "Band of the Year." While the band originally produced more fun-loving singles and concept albums, much of their repertoire is overtly political with 2016's "American Band" focusing almost entirely on issues like gun control, presidential politics, and related themes. While the band has not achieved the level of commercial success experienced by other country artists that emerged in the mid-'90s, Drive-By Truckers have earned a dedicated cult following.