Alternative rock trio the Sheila Divine officially formed in Boston; guitarist/vocalist Aaron Perrino and drummer Shawn Sears met in a music theory class at Oneonta State University in New York, and Sears ended up managing Perrino's band the Waverlys. That group broke up after a move to Boston, and Perrino formed the Sheila Divine with Oneonta friend Jim Gilbert (bass). Sears eventually replaced their original drummer, and three months later, the group scored a deal with Roadrunner Records. A five-track debut EP was issued in 1998 to establish the group's name prior to the 1999 release of their first full-length, The New Parade. ~ Steve Huey