Conversation so far:
What was the band doing in 1997?
Throwdown was formed in 1997.
Who were the original members?
Visions, guitarists Tommy Love and Javier Van Huss, bassist Dom Macaluso, and drummer Marc Jackson.
Where were some of their first gigs?
The band released their debut, self-titled 7-inch single that same year through Prime Directive Records.
Did they have an personnel changes over those first years?
Van Huss left the band, and was replaced by Brandan Schieppati.
Were those the only changes in this first years?
Schieppati left the band to concentrate full-time on his other band Bleeding Through, being replaced by Dave Peters.
Was the band very popular at first?
CANNOTANSWER.

Question: Did the band get a recording contract in those early years?
Self-contained rewrite: Did Throwdown get a recording contract in the early years?