Protein

Forming their first band after they were kicked out of a San Francisco area high school, vocalist/guitarist Josh Zee (the son of a professional folk singer) and drummer Dan Thompson played for several years in various local bands before forming the grungy alternative-pop band Protein in 1994. The duo played several shows before replacing their part-time bassist with Russ Violet, and made a good showing at a San Francisco music-industry showcase in 1996. Signed to Sony’s Work subsidiary, Protein released their debut album, Ever Since I Was a Kid , in early 1997.