Avalon Drive were formed as a rock group in 2005 in Brisbane by Benjamin John "BJ" Dillewaard on keyboards, Damion James Douglass (as Damion Page) on lead vocals, Shane Anthony Holmes on drums, Ryan Lloyd Kennedy on bass guitar and William "Wil" Morris on lead guitar and backing vocals.
[2][5] The Metal Forge's reviewer, Justin Donnelly rated the music disc at seven-out-of-ten, "first class all the way, and by far the most promising emo-rock act on the Australian scene.
"[6] Avalon Drive toured Australia variously supporting the Veronicas,[9] INXS,[9] the All-American Rejects,[9] Yellowcard,[10] Houston Calls[11] and Matchbook Romance.
[7] In March 2006 when Avalon Drive supported Yellowcard on their Australian tour, they played to a crowd of over 3000 at the Luna Park Sydney's Big Top.
[11] They had to cut short their set after their fans broke the crowd barrier, forcing the Houston Calls to abandon their performance.
[18] It is "an energetic rock song full of mood lifting spirit," according to Holmes who notes their March 2007 arena shows with Fall Out Boy as the highlight of his musical career.
After two months and three rounds in the first Tooheys Extra Dry UncharTED competition of 2008, the group won a record deal with Sony BMG.
[22] In November 2008, Avalon Drive released a statement, mid-tour, saying the band had separated due to "irreconcilable differences" with all unfilled tour dates cancelled and pre-sold tickets refunded.
[23] Avalon Drive founders Douglass, Holmes and Morris performed a one-off reunion show at The Hi-Fi Bar in Brisbane on 5 February 2011.