Editing Zebrahead (section)

=== 1996–2001: Formation and early years ===
[[File:Zebrahead-Logo.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.6|Zebrahead's logo]]
In summer 1996 in La Habra, California,<ref>{{cite web | last = Boehm | first = Mike | date = October 13, 1998 | title = Bold News Stripe
| newspaper = Los Angeles Times | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-oct-13-ca-31903-story.html| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210427132245/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-oct-13-ca-31903-story.html | archive-date = April 27, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last = Pin | first = Phua MEI | date = January 8, 1999 | title = Zebras Get Out of Orange County | newspaper = The Harvard Crimson | url = https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1999/1/8/zebras-get-out-of-orange-county/| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150605021058/https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1999/1/8/zebras-get-out-of-orange-county/ | archive-date = June 5, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OJ9DBWkJaT-RbmQLN-WCkHl_28kUbg1gKu651WNcvcw/edit#gid=0|title=ZEBRAHEAD – Tour Archive [1996-2016]|access-date=January 18, 2018}}</ref> guitarist Greg Bergdorf and drummer Ed Udhus (both formerly of the band 409), bassist Ben Osmundson (formerly of 3-Ply) and singer/rhythm guitarist [[Justin Mauriello]] (formerly of Once There) all became acquainted with one another after experimenting with different music styles together, as the bands they were in at the time shared the same practice space. Subsequently, all four left their respective bands to form their own, which they named Zebrahead.<ref>{{cite web| last = Daley| first = David| title = Zebrahead show off the New Stripes of Cali-Punk| url = https://uc925e28ba3232f1cff794b62d86.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/cd/0/inline/BNbSFFw_WvoNQIfT9LL84v57-dwiV2MgMzgeYsP4b674cAh2sGwg4f_arYQitgiHh23e9b7Vg4rtxFAjMoYSk0d6OMHuP8bfDbOVicGZjgTAzQpC-BjbES5Nox2kR83dalHOHDQtP3o0bUXaKSere7gF/file| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210427134339/https://uc925e28ba3232f1cff794b62d86.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/cd/0/inline/BNbSFFw_WvoNQIfT9LL84v57-dwiV2MgMzgeYsP4b674cAh2sGwg4f_arYQitgiHh23e9b7Vg4rtxFAjMoYSk0d6OMHuP8bfDbOVicGZjgTAzQpC-BjbES5Nox2kR83dalHOHDQtP3o0bUXaKSere7gF/file| archive-date = April 27, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title = Getting to know Zebrahead* with Ali Tabatabaee| url = https://livelifethrumusiccom.wordpress.com/2016/05/27/getting-to-know-zebrahead-with-ali-tabatabaee/| newspaper = Live-Life-Thru-Music| date = May 27, 2016| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210427134433/https://livelifethrumusiccom.wordpress.com/2016/05/27/getting-to-know-zebrahead-with-ali-tabatabaee/| archive-date = April 27, 2021}}</ref> Inspired by bands such as [[Fugazi]] and [[Descendents]] and uninterested in the [[ska-punk|local musical trends of the time]], Zebrahead began experimenting and incorporating elements of [[Hip hop music|hip-hop]] into their sound, leading to the inclusion of rapper [[Ali Tabatabaee]] as a co-vocalist.<ref name="Zebrahead Biography">{{cite web|title=Zebrahead Biography|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/zebrahead-mn0000965438/biography|work=AllMusic|publisher=Jason Ankeny|access-date=November 10, 2013}}</ref>  The first song ever composed was "Check", which was later included on their first demo tape, ''One More Hit'', released shortly after.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hiponline.com/504/zebrahead.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427150130/http://www.hiponline.com/504/zebrahead.html|url-status=live|archivedate=April 27, 2021|title=Zebrahead|date=January 7, 2008|publisher=Hip Online}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zebrahead.org/disco.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010305035147fw_/http://www.zebrahead.org/disco.html|url-status=usurped|archivedate=March 5, 2001|title=Zebrahead Discography|date=March 5, 2001|publisher=Zebrahead.org}}</ref>

The band issued their [[Zebrahead (album)|self-titled debut album]] in April 1998 through indie label [[Doctor Dream Records]], before signing with major label [[Columbia Records]] to release their mainstream debut ''[[Waste of Mind]]'' later that year.<ref>{{cite web|title=Waste of Mind at Discogs|url=http://www.discogs.com/Zebrahead-Waste-Of-Mind/release/4977505|work=Discogs|access-date=November 10, 2013|format=Database|year=1998}}</ref> The album contains several re-recorded songs from their demo release alongside new tracks, including the minor radio hit "[[Get Back (Zebrahead song)|Get Back]]", which charted at No. 32 on the U.S. [[Alternative Songs|Hot Modern Rock Tracks]] charts. This album's version of "Check" also appeared on the soundtrack for the game ''[[Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Music and Influence of Tony Hawk Pro Skater Games and Soundtracks |url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/music_and_influence_of_tony_hawk_pro_skater_games_and_soundtracks-99707 |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=www.ultimate-guitar.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Barnfield |first=Oliver |title=Ranking the Songs in 'Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3' |url=https://westwoodhorizon.com/2021/04/ranking-the-songs-in-tony-hawks-pro-skater-3/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=Westwood Horizon}}</ref>

The band's follow-up ''[[Playmate of the Year (album)|Playmate of the Year]]'' was released in August 2000 and charted at No.4 on the U.S. [[Top Heatseekers]] chart. The extended play ''Stupid Fat Americans'' followed in February 2001 as a Japan-exclusive release.