Recognized among the rock heavyweights of Lawrence, the Anniversary began in 1996 when Blue Valley North West High School friends Berwanger, Roelofs and Pope (then Verhoeven) formed under the name "the Broadcast". When the three began college, they joined forces with bassist James David and drummer Christian Jankowski and subsequently changed their name to The Anniversary, inspired by a plate in Adrianne's parents' living room that said "Happy 10th Anniversary." Touring throughout 1998 in the Midwest region with bands such as Superchunk, The Pulsars, Kent, Love is Laughter, The Get up Kids, Helium and Braid, The Anniversary began to make a name for themselves. They recorded six songs and decided to release a debut EP. But then in 1999, they accepted an offer from Matt Pryor of Lawrence–mates The Get Up Kids to record a full–length on the GUK's new Heroes and Villians imprint on the Vagrant label. Over a ten–day period in July of 1999 The Anniversary began recording most of what would later become Designing a Nervous Breakdown at Kingsize Sound Lab in Chicago with producer Dave Trumfio(the Pulsars). The record defined the early Anniversary sound – sentimental boy/girl vocals, dueling guitar lines mixed with Moog organ sounds and catchier–than–hell choruses. Later that July, at Red House Studios in Eudora, Kansas,

The Anniversary recorded two more songs, one of which was released in November of 1999 on a split 7" with The Get up Kids to precede the release of Designing a Nervous Breakdown. The band supported the album with relentless touring and March of 2000 saw them back in Red House Studios where they recorded two more songs with Alex Brahl, one released on the Vagrant Records sampler Another Year on the Streets and the other released in a split 7" with Hot Rod Circuit. In August of 2000 The Anniversary also recorded two more songs which were featured on a Singles Club only release on Sub Pop Records. They issued a split EP with Superdrag in fall 2001 and unveiled their second full–length "Your Majesty" in January 2002. The record marked a departure for the band, leaving the Moog organ and bouncy pop behind in favor of a riff–driven classic rock sound. Tour dates with Guided by Voices, Dashboard Confessional and Ben Kweller followed. The Anniversary are currently on a 'definite hiatus