by Johnny Loftus
Post-grunge combo Future Leaders of the World featured vocalist Phil Tayler, bassist Bill Hershey, drummer Carl Messina and guitarist Jake Stutevoss. Originally from Buffalo, Tayler migrated to the West Coast in the late 1990s, where he struggled to find work while honing his skills as a performer and songwriter. He recruited Hershey and Messina in Buffalo, and the trio recorded a demo in Los Angeles, where they also tapped guitarist Stutevoss. The demo recording sparked the interest of Epic Records, who signed the Future Leaders in 2003. Their debut LVL IV appeared in October 2004; it looked to the sounds of alternative's heyday -- Nirvana; Rage Against the Machine -- as a guide. The band hit the road in 2005, touring with acts like Chevelle and Crossfade.