a year by year history of the band...
1993 Mike and Cliff record 4-track demos at Mike's house under the name Sunshine Junior (Cliff was the vocalist at this point). There are 3 other guys in the band though they never play together live. The music is basically poppy rock, somewhat similar to the Lemonheads, with a hint of Dinosaur Jr.
1994 Mike and Cliff continue to record demos, now under the name Cricket. They pick up some new guys, including soon to be Huntingtons drummer Mike Pierce. A few shows are played. The music is basically the same with a small amount of college rock influence added in (Gin Blossoms or Teenage Fanclub might be ok comparisons). The trio flies to California to record some songs with Randy Rose (not Randy Rhoads....this dude was in a Christian metal band). Not much comes of the recording.
1995 Mike, Cliff, Mike P. and a dude named Marty (not the guy that filled in for Mikey on tour) record demos and play shows. The direction of the band starts to be a little more punk oriented. They sign to Flying Tart Records and record an albums worth of material with Chris Colbert in Marietta, GA (the recording was supposed to be the bands debut full length). Marty goes to Germany for a month, Mike fills in on bass. The band writes some new material (more influenced by Green Day and the Ramones than the Lemonheads). Mike starts to sing on some of the songs. Marty returns to the states and no longer wants to do the band. Mike takes over on bass and is soon singing on all the songs. Mike, Cliff and Mike P. decide to ditch the recording done earlier in the year in favor of recording the new material. They begin playing shows as a 3 piece. Several other band names are thought up. No official change is made until Flying Tart is informed that they may face a lawsuit if the band uses the name Cricket. A list of possible names is created. The Huntingtons is the final choice.
1996 The trio heads into the studio to record "Sweet Sixteen". The band also records a bunch of Ramones covers which would later be released on Burnt Toast Vinyl under the name "Rocket To Ramonia". "Sweet Sixteen" is released on Flying Tart Records in the Spring. The summer of '96 marks the bands first performance at the Cornerstone Festival.
1997 Now a 4 piece with the addition of Tom on guitar, the band heads off to Indiana to record with Mass Giorgini. Tom's career with the band is short lived, in steps Brad. "Fun And Games" and "The Only One" EP are released in late Spring. The band heads out for thier first tour in the Fall with Blaster The Rocketman. Flying Tart folds and the band is picked up by Tooth And Nail
Records. They head back to Indiana to record their first record for T&N, "High School Rock".
1998 Brad decides to leave the band. Adam Garbinski, from local band Speedy Delivery, is asked to join on 2nd guitar and takes on the name A. Jay Huntington. The band spends the first part of '98 playing local shows. "High School Rock" is released in the Spring. Mikee (drums) decides that he will not be able to do any summer touring. A. Jay's brother Justin is asked to be the touring drummer for the summer (he takes on the name Danny Huntington). The band does two, 2 week tours (with Craig's Brother, Squad Five-0 and the Halo Friendlies). The live album, "The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly" is recorded.
1999 Goodbye to A. Jay and Danny, hello to Dave and Chad (aka Davey and C.J.). Mikee remains the bands studio drummer on 4 recordings this year ("File Under Ramones", "Get Lost". "Plastic Surgery", and "Split", though he's not pictured on the last 2). The live album, "File Under Ramones" and "Get Lost" are all released this year. 3 1/2 months of summer touring finds the band traveling across the country several times. The Fall of '99 brings an end to Davey and C.J.'s terms in the band and welcomes Josh Zimmer and Josh Blackway (Danny #2 and Jonny Huntington). In the Winter of '99 the band wins a Ramones covers contest and performs a short set of Ramones tunes with Joey himself doing the vocals at CBGB's.
2000 "Plastic Surgery" and "Split" (a split full length CD with Darlington) are released early in the year. A 5 week tour with Darlington takes place in February and March. Mikey takes a break from touring and fill-in Marty takes over the vocal and bass duties for the rest of the year. A 3-1/2 week European tour takes place in late August / early September (with Mikey on bass and vocals). Marky Ramone played drums for the other band on that tour. In October the band is asked to perform at the Joey Ramone and friends concert at CBGB's along with Wheatus, Ronnie Spector and of course, Joey. The band does a short set of original material to open the show and closes with an 11 song set of Ramones covers, once again with Joey providing the voice.
2001 For the first time in the bands history a drummer other than Mikee records a full albums worth of material. Just before leaving the band, Danny (Josh Z.) records all the drum tracks for "Rock 'N' Roll Habits For The New Wave" (updated recordings of songs from the bands first 2 records which are now out of print). The band rehearses new material with Mikee on drums and records it's 6th full length album ("Songs In The Key Of You") in April. JR Smith is asked to fill in on drums for a 2 week tour in May. In August, Rick Wise (of the band Tantrum of the Muse) is asked to play drums with the band on a semi-permanent basis. In early September, founding member and guitarist Cliffy leaves the band abruptly. The band begins rehearsing with Andy DiBiaso on guitar. They play their first show without Cliffy in early October and hit the road for their first tour with the new line-up just 7 days later. "Songs In The Key Of You" is released on October 23rd. Rick decides to become a permanent fixture in the Huntingtons.
2002 The first 6 months are spent touring, almost non-stop, with 7-10 Split, Digger, Side Walk Slam, Buck Enterprises and Glu. The band hires it's first manager in March, is released from T&N Records in June and plays 2 dates on the Warped Tour in early August. 4 songs are recorded for a split EP with the European band Retarded. In September the band is robbed in Dallas, TX and $11,000 worth of equipment is gone. The tour continues on for another 2 months, borrowing equipment and picking up new stuff along the way. The end of year brings a few local shows, but mostly a break while the members try to get back on their feet after the huge loss.
2003 A 5 week tour of Europe to support the split CD released on Wynona Records fills up February and some of March. Return to the States and take an extended break from playing shows. Writing for a new album begins, rehearsals start in June and the album is recorded in July. More to come.....
Source: http://www.huntingtonsusa.com/