The Ataris story reads like a punk-rock fairy tale: teenager lives in boring mid-western town (Anderson, Indiana); goes to a Vandals show and gives the band a tape; weeks later gets a call from Vandals bassist (and owner of Kung Fu Records) Joe Escalante asking him to record for his label; moves to California and puts band together with drummer Derrick Plourde (ex-Lagwagon); makes record "Anywhere But Here" (produced by Vandals' guitarist, Warren Fitzgerald); gets invited to tour with some of his favorite bands (see below); puts together solid new line-up; becomes Fat Mike's (NOFX) favorite new band, who then releases their EP, "Look Forward to Failure" (Fat Wreck Chords), produced by members of the Descendents. The saga continues with "Blue Skies, Broken Hearts...Next 12 Exits" (produced by Lagwagon singer/producer, Joey Cape), for Kung Fu Records, which has sold an average of over 600 copies per week worldwide since its April 1999 release, and still growing.
Just days after completing a triumphant 3-month U.S./Canada tour, The Ataris continued supporting "Blue Skies..." on the U.S. Fat Tour 2000 with No Use For A Name and then jumped on the Warped Tour. By fall, they were opening for MXPX in Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii, ending the year in the U.K. and Europe with The Vandals.

Based in Santa Barbara, California and together just over 3 years, their unbelievably catchy songs, tireless work ethic, and non-stop touring have made them the fastest growing band in recent punk history.

Some bands The Ataris have toured with include: MxPx, Blink 182, NOFX, Social Distortion, Zebrahead, Good Riddance, Unwritten Law, No Use For A Name, Lagwagon, The Vandals, Dance Hall Crashers, Nerf Herder, Fenix TX, and Madd Caddies; will be touring the U.S. with Lagwagon and The Vandals in March 2001, then head straight to Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K. for April and early May, and finish up with a few dates with Blink-182 and Alkaline Trio in the Mid-West. June-July - Warped Tour, then a headling tour of U.S./Canada/Europe in the fall.