Josh (b. 1972) grew up in the far northwest suburbs of Chicago and founded Speedstick with his brothers Matt and Eli while a senior in high school. The next year, the band reconfigured and as the Smoking Popes. After a drug overdose and reading C.S. Lewis, Josh converted to Christianity in 1998. While occasionally continuing work with the Popes, Josh has also done solo work, spun up a Christian band (Duvall) and a blued band (Jackson Mud), while also working with suburban-Chicago churches and their worship teams.