Rx Bandits formed in 1995 in Seal Beach, California, initially as Pharmaceutical Bandits, emerging from the Southern California ska-punk scene alongside acts like Reel Big Fish. Founding members included singer-guitarist Matt Embree and drummer Chris Tsagakis, with early releases like Those Damn Bandits (1997) and Halfway Between Here and There (1998) on Drive-Thru Records featuring third-wave ska elements. The lineup evolved, stabilizing around Embree, Tsagakis, bassist Joe Troy, guitarist-keyboardist Steve Choi, and others by the early 2000s. The band's sound progressed from ska-punk to an eclectic mix of progressive rock, reggae, dub, and punk, evident in albums such as Progress (2001), The Resignation (2003), And the Battle Begun (2006), and Mandala (2009). They performed at festivals including Warped Tour, Bonnaroo, and Coachella, building a national following through extensive touring and Embree's Mash Down Babylon label. Rx Bandits took a touring hiatus in 2011 but have remained active.