Throughout his musical career, Drive By lead singer/guitarist Todd Price said he's seen bands come and go.
"With all the different bands I was in, there was always a time when they'd break up and I'd not want to do music again," Price said during a phone call from San Jose, Calif. "I would go back to painting houses.
"But then I'd be standing on a ladder getting stung by bees and decided to make more music. However, there was a time when my family actually intervened and told me that I had to get another band going for my own sanity. They told me that I would never feel happy if I didn't try again."
So, back in the early 2000s, Price formed the band. Recruiting guitarist Dan Fitzgerald, drummer Jaeson Hertzberg and later bassist Chris Perino, Price knew there was a chance for some quality tunes.
"We spent three years doing stuff ourselves," Price said. "We toured constantly and played anywhere we could."
Even now, the band, which is opening for My Chemical Romance, is still the same four guys they were in 2004.
"We still are riding in a van with the gear on top of itself," Price said with a laugh. "The touring has forced everyone in the band to grow up quickly. Tours like this test each person's dedication to the band."
This isn't the first time Drive By has toured with My Chemical Romance. Before My Chemical Romance hit the big time with the "Black Parade" CD, Drive By has been a band to be counted on to tour.
"Funny thing is, the success hasn't spoiled anyone in My Chem," Price said. "They're the same dudes, and the crew is the same. We've worked with all of them quite a bit in the past. So it's like a family on tour."
Drive By released its new CD, "A Delicate Situation," on Tuesday. Price said the creative process wasn't based on typical writing-and-recording sessions.
"I actually approached making the CD as I did going to work," he said. "It was a job. I sat down with the intent of writing and recording the CD in one month. So I said I would got to the studio every day for eight hours. Within that time I would write a song, and we'd (make a) demo (recording of) it."
The structure backfired, because by the time they were ready to make a full album, the band had demo recordings of 30 songs.
"It worked well when you look at the productivity," Price said. "In fact, I kind of want to use the same method when we make the next CD.
"Anyway, we ended up whittling down that pile of songs to 11," he said. "But it wasn't as hard as it could have been. We have a core group of people — family and close friends — who help us choose. They can tell us which songs sound good, even when we're sick and tired of the music."
And getting sick of the songs was unavoidable, Price said. "We worked those songs to death. We made two demos and then recorded the songs again for the CD. Sure, we had everything in place when we went to do the final takes, but we got so tired of the songs. It was crazy."
If you go ...
What: My Chemical Romance, Drive By, Billy Talent
Where: Saltair, 12408 W. Salt Air Drive
When: tonight, 7 p.m.
How much: $35
Phone: 467-8499, 800-888-8499
Web: www.smithstix.com.
E-mail: scott@desnews.com