Originally comprised of guitarist Kid Kevin, drummer Dan Bush, keyboard player Dustin Apodaca, and bassist Lee Rickard, the Anaheim, CA-based group was initially conceived as a grittier and garage-ier band than it would prove to be in its later years (Thee Makeout Party!'s name is actually a Billy Childish reference). Their first success came in 2002 when one of their early singles, "Can't Leave the House," was selected for Let's Get Rid of L.A., a punk rock-oriented compilation disc released by Revenge Records. The disc eventually made its way to the BBC's John Peel, who played Thee Makeout Party!'s track on his show in the fall of 2003. Thee Makeout Party! then underwent the first of several major lineup changes that would take place over the course of the next few years; Kevin departed soon after the band made its debut on Peel's show, followed by Apodaca, who went on to form Dusty Rhodes and the River Band. Bush took over as the band's guitarist, and the remaining members brought drummer Chris Zeigler into the fold -- all of which led up to the release of Thee Makeout Party!'s debut 7" single, featuring "Wreckless Epic" and "It's All Right," on Kapow! Records in 2005.

With the exception of the release of its first single, the band was on hiatus for most of 2005 while Bush focused his energies on his work with the psychedelia-slicked indie act the Willowz; during this time, Zeigler left the group. Thee Makeout Party! sprang back to life the following year, featuring a couple new members, drummer Mike G. and guitarist Sean Thomas Bohrman, and rehearsing when Bush wasn't on tour with the Willowz. One year later, Mike G. left the group and was replaced by Willowz drummer Alex Nowicki. The addition of Nowicki didn't sit well with the Willowz, and they asked Bush to leave the band soon after. In the end, the Willowz's decision to oust Bush prompted Nowicki to split with the Willowz. Armed, at long last, with a solid lineup, Thee Makeout Party! released what would become their signature single, 2EZ2LUVU, on their home-cooked label, Burger Records, in 2007. Their debut album, Play Pretend, was released on Teenacide and Recess the following summer. Two split 7" releases, one with Audacity (Burger Records) and another with Skipper (Recordstar), were also released that year. ~ Margaret Reges