The story of Planes Mistaken For Stars begins within the confines of a paltry Midwestern town in Illinois called Peoria. Peoria, only hours away from big city living in Chicago, was culture starved and nothing like the northern city by the lake. It was this very atmosphere that fueled the raw, somber and fervent songs that PMFS would ultimately become so well known for. With little more than dilapidated foundries and strip malls as its backdrop, life long friends Gared O'Donnell, Matt Bellinger, Mike Rickets and Aaron Wise plotted their escape from this run down middle American suburbia.

Shortly after their debut release, a self-titled EP on Deep Elm Records, Wise was replaced by bassist Jamie Drier. With Drier in the line up, the band released the Knife In The Marathon EP, the Fuck With Fire LP and the Spearheading The Sin Movement 7”/CD Single. Also upon Drier’s entry into the band came a commitment to touring. PMFS averaged over 100 shows per year from ’99-’03 playing in various venues worldwide.

PMFS saw its second line up change in the bass position in mid- ’03 where Chuck French replaced Drier. That same year Gared O’Donnell, Matt Bellinger, Chuck French, and Mike Ricketts began the writing process for Up In Them Guts, which came out in July of 2004 on No Idea Records. With each past record being done hastily and on a minimal budget, the band wanted to take their time on what many suspect will be their definitive album. "Writing is always first and foremost a catharsis," said O'Donnell. "And all we really want to be able to do is go on tour to play for the people we love, and the people who love us back."
And tour is exactly what they did. The band hit the road hard in 2004 with support tours with The Ataris, Against Me!, Cursive, Dillinger Escape Plan, and Hot Water Music. In 2005 they continued to support Guts with High On Fire as well as headline three tours of their own, one in the UK and two in the US. The band is currently taking a break from the road to write. They plan to release their next full length on 06/06/06 on Abacus Recordings!