Formed in 1986 while founders Scott Born (vocals/guitar) and Ron Hayes (guitar) were both still in high school, Kill Creek took to formation under the post-punk influences of Rites of Spring, Embrace, and Mission of Burma. Accompanied by their own brand of straight power pop in comparison to the likes of Hüsker Dü and the Doughboys, Kill Creek developed a sound of their own, while processing a number of what they call "embarrassing basement demos" between 1986 through 1993. In between contributing a handful of compilations and going through more drummers than Spinal Tap, Mammoth Records took notice and hooked them up with a deal in 1994. With the EP Stretch and their first full-length, entitled St. Valentine's Garage, lots of touring across the U.S. resulted for the next year to come in support of these two releases. After finally settling in with Patrick Grassy (bass) and Matt Gilhousen (drums) completing the Kill Creek lineup, their next album, Proving Winter Cruel, came out in 1996. Plans for a fourth album started taking shape in fall 1999; however, this album, tentatively titled Whimsy , was later scrapped. Some songs did make it on the 2000 release of Colors of Home. The double-disc set Will to Strike followed in 2004. ~ Mike DaRonco, All Music Guide