PUP (abbreviation for Pathetic Use of Potential) is a Canadian punk rock band formed in Toronto, Ontario in 2013, originally under the name Topanga.PUP's self-titled debut album was released on October 8, 2013 on Royal Mountain Records.In December 2013, PUP signed with SideOneDummy Records and re-released their debut album in the United States on April 8, 2014.The group was in the studio in late 2015 recording their second album The Dream Is Over which was released on May 27, 2016 through SideOneDummy. 　　PUP is made up of four childhood friends who went to elementary school together. They originally called the band Topanga (a Boy Meets World reference) but changed the name just before the release of their first record after learning that the franchise was set to be rebooted by Disney.The new name PUP is said to be an acronym for Pathetic Use of Potential.Babcock has stated that this was inspired by something that his grandmother had said to him, although there are rumours that they found inspiration for their logo from graffiti above a urinal at Sneaky Dee's. 　　The band originally recorded an EP and self-released it digitally.The EP started to get noticed and the group was approached by Hollerado to tour together. The band members quit their day job to pursuing full-time musician careers when Dave Schiffman (Rage Against The Machine, The Bronx, Weezer, Anti-Flag) replying their e-mail of demo album and interested to doing recording with them.PUP has been named one of Canada's up and coming bands by the Calgary Herald,as well as one of Stereogum's top 40 bands of the year.PUP won 2 Bucky Awards from CBC Radio 3 for Best Live Show and Best New Artist in 2013, as well as being nominated for Best Video.They've played festivals such as NXNE, Halifax Pop Explosion,Pop Montreal, and CMW. 　　From September to the end of November 2013, PUP joined Hollerad and the Zolas on a 24 stop tour across Canada to promote a newly released self-titled album. 2014 was a banner year for PUP, they went on their first tour of the UK, playing 8 shows around the country with the UK band Slaves. The first two shows of the tour in London were part of the NME Awards tour.After which they played South By Southwest in Austin, Texas followed by several more London shows and the Groezrock festival in Belgium. In May they started an extensive tour of the US with the Menzingers, Lemuria and Cayetana, playing 32 shows in 39 days. In August they opened for the Hives in London, England. and then playing at Reading and Leeds Festivals. later, On September 2014, they made first appearance on Riot Fest at Chicago and Toronto. 　　In late 2014, PUP completed its first head-lining tour of Canada and the US, culminating in a sold-out concert at Toronto's Lee's Palace featuring a "next level" performance.In early 2015, PUP completed a multi-city tour of Australia, supporting The Smith Street Band. PUP then participated in the 2015 Vans Warped Tour, joining the tour for the month of July, including a highly anticipated date in Toronto, the band's hometown and place where the band has enjoyed success. This was the band's first time playing the Molson Amphitheatre. 　　Between October and December 2015, the group supported Modern Baseball on their headlining US tour.In early 2016, PUP is set to headline a very select number of shows in New York City. They also released a new track, "DVP", from their second album.On May 27, 2016, PUP released their second album, "The Dream Is Over".According to the band, the title is a direct quote from Babcock's doctor after damaging his vocal chords. 　　PUP toured the US, Canada, Australia and Europe in 2016 on a headlining tour entitled "If this tour doesn't kill you, I will", which is also the name of the first track on their second album "The Dream is Over". In early 2017, PUP headlined European shows with The Wonder Years and Tiny Moving Parts. during Spring and Summer of 2017 the band made a first appearance on Shaky Knees Music Fest, Boston Calling, WayHome, Lollapalooza, and Osheaga. 　　In September 2017, PUP made their cable television debut at Last Call with Carson Daly on NBC, performing "Sleep in the Heat"and "If This Tour Doesn't Kill You, I Will / DVP".