MxPx started as three 15-year-old kids calling themselves Magnified Plaid pounding out music inspired by and similar to The Descendents and other Southern California pop-punk bands. They didn?t really love their band name, however, which was a tribute to the original guitarist?s penchant for wearing one particularly loud plaid shirt. Consequently, the name was abbreviated to M.P., but in Yuri?s handwriting, periods become ?X??s and since he made up the show posters for the band, the four-letter moniker stuck.

Andy Husted, the former guitarist, left the band in 1995 to continue college.

Andy was replaced by Tom to solidify the line-up that would take the band into their post-teen years. Maybe Tom?s background as a drummer made up for his relative inexperience playing guitar (he had only played for a year at the time). He and Yuri lock into backbreakingly fast rhythms that rank with vintage Minor Threat for speed and percussive attack. Mike then adds to the mix his signature sing-along melodies that call to mind SoCal punk bands from the early ?80s.

Bremerton had been a town most famous for its naval shipyards until MxPx caught the attention of Tooth & Nail Records when they played a ?showcase? for the T&N label in 1993 in Herrera?s parents? garage. Mike Herrera had practiced so much before the first show, he lost his voice.

MxPx released three albums with Tooth & Nail Records: Pokinatcha in 1994, Teenage Politics in 1995, and Life in General in 1996. After a falling out with Tooth & Nail, MxPx left the label and signed with A&M Records.

MxPx are a punk rock band from Bremerton, Washington with connections to the Christian punk scene. The band has recorded eight studio albums, four EPs, four compilation albums, a live album, a VHS tape, a DVD and released 20 singles. Their sound has gone though many stages, though still has roots of punk, and now they're compared to the likes of bands like New Found Glory and Hawk Nelson (both associated acts) with more of a pop punk sound.

All the members of the band are Christians, and this is reflected in some of the band's songs. However, they prefer not to be called a Christian band. On the topic of their faith Mike Herrera has been quoted saying "We are Christian. It?s not a cult or something. It?s part of our story and I guess it?s different and controversial. But it?s a personal thing. It?s what we choose to believe. That?s all there is to it. We don?t preach to anyone."

The band's lineup includes Mike Herrera on bass guitar and vocals, Tom Wisniewski on guitar and Chris Wilson on drums. Until Yuri Ruley's retirement in 2010, the band only had one major lineup change, early in their career, when founding guitarist Andy Husted left the band after the release of their first record and was replaced by Wisniewski.