Still calling them P.I. Rebel? If so, its probably best that you brush up on your Shooter history in the news archive section.
o Say that Shooter McGavin started off with humble beginnings would be to lie. In the beginning, there was no SM, there was only Hunter and Dylan McKee.
On March 6, 1999 Hunter McKee was given an Epiphone P-Bass knockoff and a practice amp. This would start it all. Armed with only his beginners bass, some incorrect internet tab and a desire to play that incorrect tab, Hunter began working diligently to "master" his instrument (he's still, of course, waiting). Meanwhile, Dylan picked his guitar back up (he had taken lessons for a few months years before and had quit playing when he quit the lessons) and began to really dig into his instrument. This as-yet unnamed duo would spend hours practicing together, sealing the bond that would catapult their musical collaboration skills in years to come. Eventually, the band began referring to themselves as the Traveling Circus Freaks.
TCF's run would be a long one, albeit the guys never received any publicity and wrote only a small amount of original music together in this incarnation. In 2001, they would rename their band P.I. Rebel and would throw Amos into the mix as a background vocalist. The name-change proved to be symbolic, as the band considerably upped their output during this time. Also, the focus of the band began to become more and more clear, as the band's lyrics began to be more and more politically/socially charged. Additionally, it became clear that the word "genre" didn't apply. They would explore songs in any medium any time.
In early 2002 the badn switched names once more, and began calling themsleves Empire Reign. ER's run would last nearly a year, and was crucial to the bands development in that it was during this time they made a much needed change. In November of 2002, the band added a much needed component when Hunter's long-time friend Scott Swanson joined the band on the drum kit. The new trio instantly clicked and set about immediately arming themselves with a diverse and quality repitoire of music. The band also, you guessed it, changed their name, opting to don the monniker Shooter McGavin. Where their new name and style will take them, only time will tell.