PUP — Pathetic Use of Potential — is a Canadian punk rock band formed in Toronto in 2010, built on gang vocals, dark humor, and relentless touring. The Dream Is Over (2016), titled after a doctor's verdict on Stefan Babcock's vocal cords, is the breakthrough; Morbid Stuff (2019) keeps the streak going. Shop PUP vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
PUP formed in Toronto, Ontario in 2010 around Stefan Babcock and his bandmates. The band's name is an acronym for Pathetic Use of Potential. They have built their audience through extensive touring and -creative DIY visual identity (use of darkly-humorous music videos and album art). They have been associated with the contemporary Toronto / Canadian punk rock and indie rock scenes alongside contemporaries like Metz, Single Mothers, and Greys. Their 2016 album The Dream Is Over (the title taken from a vocal cord diagnosis Babcock received predicting he might be unable to continue singing) brought them commercial breakthrough. Their 2019 follow-up Morbid Stuff and 2022 THE UNRAVELING OF PUPTHEBAND continued their trajectory.
PUP's sound combines punk rock, pop punk, indie rock, alternative rock, post-hardcore, and emo with Babcock's distinctive vocal delivery (use of screamed gang vocals), dual guitar arrangements, and lyrical content addressing depression, friendship, touring life, and substance abuse drawing on autobiographical and contemporary punk rock songwriting traditions.
Side One Dummy Records, Royal Mountain Records, BMG, and Little Dipper Records pressings of the PUP catalog have been issued in multiple color variant editions and limited deluxe pressings.
Listeners new to PUP typically start with The Dream Is Over (2016) or Morbid Stuff (2019).
