Jim Adkins

Adkins grew up in Mesa, Arizona, and had been playing guitar since at least the early age of two. He has cited Def Leppard's song Photograph as an early influence that sparked his desire to become a guitarist, and had also learned songs by hair metal bands such as Mötley Crüe. Although he had an early preference for virtuosic guitar players, he broadened his horizons after being introduced to Fugazi by a cousin in Nebraska, where his family comes from. Adkins has also stated that Drive Like Jehu is his favorite guitar-based band, and his love of the band inspired him to seek out drummer Mark Trombino to produce 1996's Static Prevails. To date, Trombino has produced four of Jimmy Eat World's records.
While attending Mountain View High School, Adkins formed a band named Sonic Pudding which later changed its name, first to I Ate The Sandbox and then to Schon Theory. This band's style leaned…