Formed in 2007, all four members had been part of various now-defunct bands. Vocalist Tom Hudson had fronted Mother Vulpine, guitarist James Brown was in It Takes Bridges, and bassist Rob Lee had been part of Concentration Champ, while drummer Lee Vincent had been a fixture on the local scene for years. Describing their sound as "back door scuzz rage pop," Pulled Apart by Horses played their first show, a secret gig that attendees were invited to by text, in the pub they used to rehearse above. They soon built up a loyal following and began to receive music press attention thanks to headline performances at local festivals Manfest and Nasty Fest IX. In 2008, the group earned a slot on the BBC Introducing... stage at the Reading/Leeds Festival. Their self-titled debut album arrived in 2010 on Transgressive Records and following its release they were invited to tour with Muse, and later in the year Biffy Clyro. Work then began on their sophomore record in 2011, and the band headed to Monnow Valley Studio in Wales to lay down the tracks for Tough Love, which appeared in 2012. They left Transgressive Records for a third effort, Blood, which was expected to appear on their own label Best of the Best Records in 2014. ~ Jon O'Brien & Scott Kerr