PUP is a Canadian punk rock band formed in Toronto, Ontario in 2010 by Stefan Babcock (vocals/guitar), Steve Sladkowski (guitar/vocals), Nestor Chumak (bass/vocals), and Zack Mykula (drums/vocals), who met in elementary school. Originally named Topanga, they shifted from indie rock to a heavier punk sound and adopted the PUP moniker, standing for Pathetic Use of Potential, in 2013 after their first headlining show where an amp caught fire. Their self-titled debut album, released in 2013 via Royal Mountain Records and reissued by SideOneDummy, earned critical praise and CBC Radio 3 awards for Best Live Show and Best New Artist. Subsequent releases include The Dream Is Over (2016) and the Juno Award-winning Morbid Stuff (2019). The band signed with SideOneDummy and toured extensively across Canada, the US, UK, and Australia. PUP is known for high-energy live performances honed in Toronto dive bars like the Silver Dollar and Bovine Sex Club, maintaining a scrappy punk ethos with extensive touring.