The Class of 98

The Class of 98 was founded by Steve Wilson in 2005, who had moved to the Nashville, TN area in 1998.[1] (The group's members did not graduate from any educational institutions in 1998.)[2] Wilson made home demos before putting together a four-piece influenced by second-wave emo acts such as Braid and Jimmy Eat World.[3] The group played locally in Nashville and opened for John Davis of Superdrag and The Juliana Theory over the next year.[4] They signed with The Militia Group in 2005 and recorded their debut full-length in less than three weeks.[3] It was released under the title Touch This and Die! in 2006,[5][6] and won comparisons to Jimmy Eat World, Gin Blossoms,[2] Third Eye Blind, and Copeland.[7] Along with playing shows/touring with Relient K, Cartel, Jonezetta, and others, they also played both Cornerstone festivals. Songs from the album were featured on MTV, E!, and The WB television programs.[8]

The group went on hiatus in 2007, with Wilson continuing his producing/songwriting career, Harms going on to play with The Glorious Unseen, Baumhardt with Thousand Foot Krutch, Stellar Kart, and Fireflight, and Pitts moving to Phoenix, AZ to pursue other ventures.[9] The group returned in 2010 with Matt Fine, formerly of Celebrity on drums, with an EP Eye of the Needle and a full-length album Heaven in 2011.

In 2016, with all four original members residing in Nashville, TN again, the band reunited for a "10 year anniversary" show.

In 2022, Wilson and Pitts released the "Rehab EP".

All involved in the band over the years are still friends and write & record together from time to time.

• Steve Wilson - guitar, vocals
• Colby Pitts - drums
• Ben Harms - bass
• Nick Baumhardt - guitar
• Matt Fine - drums

• Touch This and Die! (The Militia Group, 2006)
• Eye of the Needle EP (Self-released, 2010)
• Heaven (Legion of Boom, 2011)
• Rehab EP (Ghosthood Records, 2022)