Current members consist of frontman Chris O'Connor, who performs vocals and bass guitar; percussionist Tim Lauterio; and Luke McAuliffe, who contributes various additional instrumentation (guitars, violins, piano) as well as much of the art that has appeared on the band's albums and website.
Former member Jeff Sparks wrote, sang, and played bass before leaving the band to pursue other music projects in 2001.
Formed in the late 1980s, The I-Rails were an independent alternative rock band based in Oxnard, California.
While Sparks and Lauterio went on to pursue other potential careers, O'Connor continued to work with material originally intended for a fifth I-Rails album.
Inspired by bands such as Public Enemy, O'Connor recorded additional material and ultimately mixed a total of ten tracks.