Smashmouth was a ban formed by guitarist Steve "Smash Mouth" Pedersen, who was also in another band called Slowdown Virginia from Omaha, Nebraska at the time. He recruited bassist Bart Volkmer and drummer Clint Schnase. It was a trio that had grown out of a four-piece called Gravy Train that had originally included Ted Stevens, who had left the band when he moved to Lincoln to attend UNL (and form Polecat). Smashmouth was the first band to feature Pedersen's songwriting skills.