Located in the suburbs of NY, melodic pop-punkers Chris Hughes (guitar), Phil Robinson (drums), Chris Johnson (guitar/vocals), and Rob Kucharek (bass) had been referred to as Cooter from 1996 before summer season of 2002, once the bandmembers rechristened themselves Autopilot Off. The Florida-based Fueled by Ramen Information released the band’s 1999 self-titled debut EP, and the next year Cooter’s initial album, FINDING OUT ABOUT, turned out by using Fastmusic Information.