Permanent ME is a pop-punk quartet from the tiny Long Island suburb of Bellmore, NY. Consisting of singer and guitarist
Brian Kapler, guitarist
Joseph Guccione, bassist
Justin Morrell, and drummer Mike Fleischmann, the group formed under the name "Yes, Virginia" while its members were still in high school. Through maintaining a strong online presence that gained both junior-high-age fans on MySpace and a number of helpful industry fans such as
Sum 41 lead singer (and Mr.
Avril Lavigne)
Deryck Whibley and
Panic! at the Disco producer
Matt Squire, the band was quickly signed to the small indie I Surrender Records. Following a name change to Permanent Me (due in part to
the Dresden Dolls titling their second album
Yes, Virginia...), the band released their debut EP,
Dear Virginia, in May 2006. The full-length album
After the Room Clears, reprising the EP's power poppy opening track, "Allison," followed in January 2007 on Stolen Transmission Records. ~ Stewart Mason