Formed: 2004 in Mission, British Columbia, Canada

Active Decades: 2000

The spirited pop-punk band Faber Drive were originally known as Faber, but the name was changed after the group signed to Universal's Republic imprint, due to unspecified worries over potential copyright infringement claims. (It's unclear whether they were worried more about the American pencil manufacturer or the British publishing house.) The band comes by the name honestly, however, through singer, songwriter, guitarist, and overall bandleader Dave Faber. Living in the semi-rural Vancouver bedroom community of Mission, Faber supplemented his income by working as a private music teacher, giving guitar and drum lessons. After three years of instruction, Faber formed a band with one of his first drum students, Ray "red" Bull, in 2004. Adding lead guitarist David Hinsley and bassist Jeremy "krikkit" Liddle to complete the lineup, Faber's demo tape caught the attention of Nickelback producer Joey Moi and his creative partner, Brian Howes, who -- much as he had for the Oklahoma City dude-rockers Hinder -- started co-writing with Faber the songs that would eventually make up the band's debut album. The Nickelback and Hinder connections also garnered the nascent band a contract with Hinder's manager, Kevin Zaruk, and opening slots on some of Nickelback's Canadian tour dates, as well as an eventual deal with those bands' label. Produced by Moi and Howes, Faber Drive's debut album, Seven Second Surgery, was released in the spring of 2007. ~ Stewart Mason, All Music Guide