The Rain Parade were part of the Paisley Underground scene that emerged in the West Coast during the mid-eighties and also included groups like The Dream Syndicate. The band was founded by college roommates Matt Piucci (guitar, vocals) and David Roback (lead guitar, vocals) in 1981, originally as The Sidewalks. David's brother Steven Roback (bass, vocals) joined the band shortly thereafter. David and Steven had been in a band called The Unconscious