Blackbud features Joe Taylor (vocals/guitar), Sam Nadel (drums), and Adam Newton (bass). The English indie rock trio met while attending St. Laurence School in their native Wiltshire. They became fast friends, instantly bonding over their shared appreciation for Radiohead, Jimi Hendrix, and Jeff Buckley, thus forming Blackbud in December 2002. Two years later, Blackbud played Glastonbury and joined Hope of the States for a tour of Spain. A limited-edition one-off single for Fierce Panda was also released; however, Blackbud gained momentum by the end of 2004 with the release of the Livewire EP. The British indie imprint Independiente was so impressed with Blackbud's brash appeal that they inked the young teens a recording contract in 2005. A second EP, Heartbeat, was produced by Youth (Killing Joke, Embrace, Beth Orton) and arrived in November. Plans to release the group's debut full-length, From the Sky, were slated for July 2006 in the U.K.