I would estimate that Pie in the Sky started in the Fall of 1997. I was in a band called CFD with both Joe Reid and Jamey Johnsen, we were around from the summer of 1996 and played our 4th and last show in the spring of 97. In February of 1997 I have a few recordings done at Mike Farmers house, who at the time was in Eternal Bliss, a band CFD played with and partied with more then a few times.
Farmer's house (like any house with bands in it) became sort of a hang out around this time. Washburn was in some bands in high school and after, and I dont know which one or for certain but I'd guess he was not in a band at this time and hadn't been for probably a year or less. Washburn was friends with Rocky Renghini (original bassist of PITS) and Rocky was probably friends with Jamey, or maybe Reid. I'm not sure exactly thru what association they ended up at Farmer's, I definately knew them both, tho I hardly knew Washburn I had partied with Rocky many times.
Well Eternal Bliss played for a while and CFD did too and we recorded like a 17 song set or something ridicolous. It was in the afternoon and people weren't really drinking or anything. At some point maybe we were taking a break, or probably Reid offered his guitar to Washburn to bang on. I attempted to jam with them but my skills as far as being able to pick up jams were greatly limited at that time (had been playing for about 1 year). I gave my bass to Rocky and they started to bust out some riffs they both knew. Some of this stuff was the basis for future Pie in the Sky songs. Jamey played along with them on the drums and they fucked around for only about 5 minutes or so. This is truly the original Pie in the Sky session, before that band or that name was proabbly even an idea in anyones head.