They had been friends since the seventh grade, but when John left to attend college in New York City, the band dissolved.
Impressed with his solo songwriting, Robinson agreed to sponsor a demo if Balicanta could assemble a band.
After finding Alex Smolinski in New York, John called on Spina and McIvor who moved to Brooklyn immediately [2].
Lola Ray was signed to Good Charlotte's record label DC Flag and opened for the band on a nationwide tour.
Post-Lola Ray, James McIvor pursued a PhD in mathematics at UC Berkeley.