While growing up in Stillwater, Oklahoma, both All-American Rejects vocalist/bassist Tyson Ritter and guitarist/programmer Nick Wheeler played guitar in junior high bands, turning to music to escape the small-town doldrums. Yet the two budding musicians didn't cross paths until Nick and his band performed at a party one night, where Tyson--who'd never played bass before in his life--impulsively joined them onstage as their bassist. Determined to stay in Nick's band, Tyson immediately purchased a bass guitar and learned to play within weeks.

Nick, a big Def Leppard and '80s glam-rock fan, and the AC/DC-inspired Tyson built a songwriting friendship throughout high school, and as the rest of the group disintegrated, they stuck together and played gigs around Stillwater as a duo, backing themselves with programmed drum loops on Nick's keyboard. The pair recorded several demos  after the band became official with the addition of Mike Kennerty (guitar) and Chris Gaylor (drums).

The All-American Rejects released their first independent album in spring 2000, which hit the airwaves of local Oklahoma radio stations, consequently creating a massive local buzz and helping them land gigs opening for the Flaming Lips and Caroline's Spine. The following summer, they released the EP Same Girl, New Songs and toured the Midwest, returning home with a record contract with Doghouse Records. DreamWorks re-released The All-American Rejects a year later, and the album's unbelievably catchy, powerpoppy first single, "Swing Swing," immediately received nationwide radio airplay.

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