Hovercraft, who had been included in the grunge music documentary Hype! (1996), had existed for four years before they released their first and only 7" single, "0,0,0,1," (1995). The band worked together with Bobby Tamkin of Xu Xu Fang, on and off for years before taking a serious turn as a real band. Drums on early recordings were provided by Bobby Tamkin, using the name "Paul 4" (not Eddie Vedder, under the name "Jerome230", as initially reported). Hovercraft's first tour of the United States was as the opening act for the Foo Fighters and Mike Watt. Vedder initially began the tour but was replaced after a few performances by Bobby Tamkin. The band later found a new drummer, Dave Krusen, a.k.a. Karl 3-30, who had been the drummer on Pearl Jam's record "Ten". With Krusen they recorded Stereo Specific Polymerization on their own label, Repellent Records. In 1997 they were signed by Daniel and Paul Smith to London-based Mute Records.