US alt-rock behemoths Better Than Ezra were founded in 1988 in Baton Rouge,
Louisiana by Kevin Griffin (vocals, guitar), Tom Drummond (bass), and Joel
Rundell (lead guitar), with Cary Bonnecaze later joining on drums. They rose to
fame in the mid-1990s, after releasing their cassette-only debut Surprise in
1990. Joel Rundell died by suicide on 8 August 1990 and the band took some time
out to process their loss, before returning to the informal live circuit—playing
house and frat parties—at the end of the year. Their breakthrough arrived in
1993 with the release of their sophomore...