an early incarnation of the group that would become 12 rods was formed in oxford, ohio in may 1992, initiated by talawanda high school student ryan olcott. friends and fellow students christopher mcguire, matt flynn, and daniel perlin were included as members of the band. at this time, the group was known as ryan'z bihg hed, a name coined by flynn in reference to olcott's purported behavior during their rehearsals. the band prepared numerous songs for a performance early in the summer of 1992 at a local high school graduation party named "field fest 3". a cassette recording of this performance, titled "helikopter hundrid dolurz", became their first release before the group disbanded until july 1992 when olcott was invited to join a new group formed by mcguire, flynn, and daniel burton-rose at a performance at the end of the summer. olcott accepted and the roster went on to name themselves "12rods", a title discovered by flynn in a passage from a children's bible.