John Carlin formed Next Big Thing in the late '80s, an alternative rock group that had dynamic music that did not quite fit into the depressing vibe of the musical climate of the time. When the band left its native New York City to record their first album in Detroit, they renamed themselves 700 Miles after the length of the drive between the two cities. The eponymous album was released by RCA in 1992, but failed to gain the record-buying public's attention. The band took one more shot at it with 1994's Dirtbomb, but the failure of the album combined with creative differences took the band apart the next year.