Indie rock outfit Desaparecidos became a side project for Bright Eyes' singer/guitarist Conor Oberst by the end of 2000. The band's debut came when they played live for the first time at a benefit concert on April 21, 2001. Named Desaparecidos after the 1970s practice of some South American governments kidnapping dissidents and tossing them out of airplanes into the ocean, Desaparecidos' lyrics are based on the loss of human values, supported by high-energy vocals, heavy drums, and powerful chords. In 2001, the single "The Happiest Place on Earth" brought forward their debut album, titled Read Music/Speak Spanish.