(Band bios are boring to everyone but the author, so I'm making this interactive. I'd like your help, and I'm specifically appealing to former band members of mine, fans, family, friends, etc. Read to the end, and you'll see what I mean.)

How to Vanish was founded in 2004. We’re based in Columbia, S.C., where we've been a part of the music scene for a few years now.

Here’s what the Free Times (Columbia’s weekly entertainment and arts publication) thinks of us:

"The real interest may be the debut of How to Vanish. Recently formed, How to Vanish is a Columbia supergroup, of sorts. … This quartet—comprised of Columbia rockers who arguably bowed out at the height of local popularity—could take Columbia by surprise, or even by storm. With their powers combined, they could be captains of Columbia’s slipping rock scene.”

(If you're not interested in our obscure history, skip to the end. If you know us and feel nostalgic, please continue, by all means.)

How to Vanish is a relatively new project for me, but this band has been together, in one form or another, since my sophomore year of high school in Georgetown, S.C.

That was the mid-to-late '90s, and at the time, our four-piece basically played for kicks and free booze. Except we were teenagers, so the booze part didn't always work out. We were known as Junction 51 then. We stole the name from a road sign near my house (and then we stole the sign itself) after realizing we needed to call ourselves something for the Georgetown High School talent show.

Which, I might add, we won. The prize was $50 bucks and a free meal at Pizza Hut. After that, we walked our school's halls as gods.

Some of you will remember the lineup fondly: Justus Jagger on guitar (yes, that's his real name); James Touzel on bass; Ronnie Cleland on drums; and me, Kenley Young.

Junction 51 released one album under that name, "Bull in a China Shop." If you happen to have a copy, lucky you. Now go burn it. We were 16 years old, for crying out loud! We sucked!

When the four of us came to Columbia and the University of South Carolina, we started playing semi-seriously. After cycling through many monikers, we eventually settled on the name Fling. Ask around town, and you’ll find vestiges of that fan base, a few incriminating photos, and maybe some copies of our first EP, “The View From the Valley.” Southeast Performer magazine had nice things to say about it:

“Take a moment to recollect the last time a pop album was praised for its depth and emotion. Kenley Young is not only the strength behind the vocals, but the poetic genius that delivers compelling, passionate lyrics.”

Aww, shucks.

Anyway, in 2002, Fling released a second EP, which you can listen to on this site.

And then, rather unceremoniously, we broke up. I got a real-world job, and one by one the boys made their way to California. There was no drama or anything. We just had other stuff going on. Much love to Justus, James and Ronnie. No ill will. Seriously. Don't go startin' rumors.

But after Fling parted ways, I did a lot of solo work and a lot of writing, from which How to Vanish was born last year. The band continues to evolve, and I’m playing with several new faces in town. I also do plenty of shows all by my lonesome, and I have a solo acoustic gig in Columbia every week.

This past July, James, Ronnie and I got back together to record a new three-song demo as How to Vanish. We're pretty excited about it, and you can check it out yourself on this site.

(I think you're caught up with our history now. But my plan is to update this, or make addendums, so here's where you come in. If any fans, former band members, or family types wish to add memories or anecdotes about Junction 51, The Speakeasies, Fling, R.C. and the Early Men, or How to Vanish, just send us an e-mail through this Web site. I'll post any cool nuggets that I get. If I get none, I'm taking my ball and going home.

Not really.)