Glendale High alum Jon Pebsworth (Buck-O-Nine) spent 2001 to 2011 working for SideOneDummy Records, before funding his 2013 solo full-length Let It Sting, recorded with the Midnight Welders, via Kickstarter.
According to Pebsworth, “When I first joined [Buck-O-Nine], I was answering an ad in the Reader that said, ‘Ska band looking for punk singer.’ I loved ska, but I came from punk. When we started, most ska bands were traditional. We were more like Operation Ivy. I remember going to [the now defunct] Off the Record on El Cajon Boulevard and buying the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. That was exactly what I wanted — ska rhythms with a punk singer.” As 2013 dawned, “We decided to go on a semiretirement program,” says Pebsworth. “Most of the guys have families and kids.”
The Covid pandemic of 2021-2022 was only one of his problems during those years. "I’m slowly coming out of my post heart attack Hibernation," he reported in early 2022. "My doctors are happy with my recovery and have given me a good bill of health. Still have some work to do, but I’m out of any danger and headed in the right direction. I would like to sincerely thank all of you for all your support and so much love during the weirdest and scariest time of my life. Your calls, texts, emails and visits have been a HUGE part of my recovery. Also, thanks to everyone who helped me with the GoFundMe campaign. It seriously helped me and Nuryah get through the chaos. Since my heart attack on December 30, I’ve been spending most of my time (while not in the hospital or at a doctors appointment) writing a bunch of new songs. My goal this year is to record new music and play some shows with Buck-O-Nine. I’m also planning more solo stuff this year."
Pebsworth said at the time that he had "roughly 10 to 12 songs somewhat ready to record. I also have a new band I am starting with my bro Jeff Hawthorne. We’re doing kind of a ska/reggae/punk kinda thing and would like to record and play live this year."