Later Days is an American rock band from Naples, FL formed in 2001. The band consists of vocalist and guitarist Mike Wassef, lead guitarist John Faratzis, bassist Paul Martello, and drummer Derrick "D-Rock" Peltz. In January 2010, the band recruited Paul Martello to play bass. The foursome has played multiple shows at The Canyon Club, El Rey Theatre, Whisky A Go Go, Troubador and a sold-out show at the Knitting Factory. In 2010, Los Angeles based radio station KIIS FM named Later Days the winner of their Taco Bell Breakout Star contest where they won $10,000 and a spot to play their annual Wango Tango concert.[9][10] From a video submission Later Days was picked to perform in the semi-finals at Universal CityWalk and then went on to win the finals one week later. After their performance at KIIS FM's Wango Tango, online music blog "I Am Pop Culture" featured them as a band to keep an eye out for calling them, "great entertainers" and "really exciting to watch on stage."[11] Noted Upstate New York blogger Jeanie DiNapoli from Times Union (Albany) called their KIIS FM win "the big break they have been waiting for."[12] Their single P.C.H. (Hustle This Place) is currently in rotation on KIISFM. The band formed in 2001 in Naples, FL when vocalist Mike Wassef recruited John Faratzis to play lead guitar. Soon after, Ft. Myers resident Derrick Peltz joined on the drums and the band was complete. For the next 3 years, they released numerous demos and played shows throughout South Florida, many with good friends and contemporaries Fake Problems. This period culminated with the release of "I've Got My Fingers Crossed, But I'm Not Holding My Breath" in 2003, which was recorded at Skylab Studios in Gainesville, FL. In 2005 the band recorded with Jim Wirt at 4th Street Studios in Santa Monica, CA and Ameraycan/Paramount Studios in North Hollywood, CA, releasing a five-song EP, featuring guest piano parts from Andrew McMahon of Something Corporate and Jack's Mannequin.[1] The band toured on this release for the next year, playing with acts like Black Light Burns, Horse the Band, Foxy Shazam, and Forever the Sickest Kids at places ranging from small venues to ones as big as the Masquerade in Atlanta, GA. In the Summer of 2005 the band was chosen to play on the Ernie Ball Stage of the Vans Warped Tour at Vinoy Park in Tampa, Florida. The band returned to the studio with Jim Wirt to record the follow-up "I Heard They're Getting Huge". Two of these, "Shake It" and "Everything," were then mixed by multi-platinum Grammy-nominated producer David Bendeth.[2] The album was quickly chosen for sale at Hot Topic stores nationwide, and Alternative Press dubbed them "damn good in our book".[3] After this release, the Naples Daily News described Later Days as "writing and performing rock songs that would make party-boys Blink 182 envious."[4] Soon after, CSTV selected Later Days from over 2,000 submissions as their top collegiate band and sent them to Reno, Nevada to perform at the Collegiate Nationals Musical Festival.[5] While there, the band recorded an interview with skier Johnny Moseley for his show on Sirius Radio Channel 28 The Faction. In 2009, the group entered the studio with producer Steve Evetts, and in three months emerged with the break-out "Don't Forget the Name".[8] They used their connections with Home Grown bassist Adam Lohrbach and News Years' Day singer Ashley Costello to bring her into the studio to record guest vocals. The band relocated to Los Angeles full-time to support it.