The band's name came from the lyric "Suburban Get Up Kids" in a song by a previous band called Secular Theme featuring future Get Up Kids members. However, lead singer Matt Pryor's previous bands all had names that started with "S", so the "suburban" was dropped. Further, the band reasoned, they were more likely to be noticed in the "G" section of a record store since fewer band names start with "G" than "S." When the Get Up Kids formed in 1995, the lineup consisted of Matthew Pryor (guitar/vocals), Jim Suptic (guitar/backup vocals and occasional lead vocals), Robert Pope (bass), and Nathan Shay (drums). Pryor and Suptic met playing shows in different bands in the Kansas City area. In 1995, Pryor, Suptic, and friend Kevin Zelko saved to put out their very first 7" on Huey Proudhon Records. However, due to a reluctance to tour, Shay was replaced by Robert's younger brother Ryan in April of 1996. Soon afterward, the band was signed to Doghouse Records, where they put out their first EP, Woodson.