Singer/songwriter Rob Thomas was born in Germany, but he returned to the Southeast U.S. in time to play in high school bands and to formulate his songwriting skills. Hooking up with Matchbox 20 drummer Paul Doucette and bassist Brian Yale, Thomas formed the group, Tabitha's Secret. After a few years on the road and playing primarily in Florida, the trio added Adam Gaynor on rhythm guitar and Kyle Cook on lead guitar and vocals. Now complete, Matchbox 20 began a recording session that would result in Top 10 air play.

Matt Serletic, co-producer of Collective Soul, was the band's producer of choice. The tracks laid down got notice from the Lava/Atlantic label where the band remains today. Together with Serletic, the band recorded Yourself Or Someone Like You and released the LP in 1996. The debut album demonstrated the band's obvious creative chemistry.

Yourself Or Someone Like You deals with taboo subjects and moved the band from alternative music into the mainstream. The first song to get notice, "Long Day," gave way to the track, "Push," the second hit from the album. "Push" went on to become a Top 10 hit. The LP reached album Top 40 and went gold.

Since the release of Yourself Or Someone Like You, the group has spent over 600 nights on the road. Returning to the studio in late 1999, the group began laying down tracks with producer Matt Serletic. In the Spring of 2000 the album, Mad Season was released. At the same time, Matchbox 20 announced a change in the band's name; Matchbox 20 is now Matchbox Twenty.