Conversation so far:
What was the Throwdown band doing in 1997?
Throwdown is an American straight edge metalcore band from Orange County, California, formed in 1997.
Who were the original members of Throwdown?
Throwdown was formed in 1997 by vocalist Keith Barney, guitarists Tommy Love and Javier Van Huss, bassist Dom Macaluso, and drummer Marc Jackson.
Where were some of Throwdown's first gigs?
That fall they toured with Norma Jean before closing the year with a successful tour with Lamb of God, Fear Factory and Children of Bodom.
Did Throwdown have any personnel changes over those first years?
Schieppati left the band to concentrate full-time on his other band Bleeding Through, being replaced by Dave Peters.
Was Dave Peters the only changes to Throwdown in the first years?
Barney was asked to step-down to make Mentley his official replacement.

Question: Was the band very popular at first?
Self-contained rewrite: Was the band Throwdown very popular at first?