History
2000–2003: Debut album and acclaim
In 2000, Not by Choice recorded and self-released a self-titled demo EP at MDS Recording studio in Ajax featuring Dave Baksh of Sum 41 (formerly Kaspir) and mixed by Murray Daigle of Toronto-based bands Emerald Rain and Pain with a version of the track The Way It Used To Be appearing on their debut album, Maybe One Day. In 2002, Not By Choice signed with Hamilton-based Linus Entertainment, and in that same year, the band released, Maybe One Day, which earned a CASBY award for "Best Independent Album", and released two singles; "Now That You Are Leaving" which won "Best Independent Video" at the 2003 MuchMusic Video Awards and "Standing All Alone", with both singles included on two Much Music Big Shiny Tunes compilations, (7 and 8). In 2003, the band was nominated for "Best New Rock Group" at the 2003 Canadian Radio Music Awards. In November 2003, the band signed with MapleMusic Recordings. Maybe One Day was released in Japan in December 2003, selling over 25,000 records in the country.
2004–2005: Second album, Bovaird departure
The band's October 2004 release of their second album, Secondhand Opinions, presented a different direction from the pop-punk roots of Maybe One Day with a more mature-sounding musical approach, but not well received by commercial radio, and did not meet the expectations set by the success of their first album. Despite a heavy push from MuchFACT with their video for the first single Days Go By, the band did not tour outside of Southern Ontario for more than a handful of sporadic dates. They were given the opening band slot for Avril Lavigne's 2005 summer tour in Southern Ontario, but the effort came almost 8 months after the release of Secondhand Opinions.
The band did prove to have a faithful following in Japan, and Secondhand Opinions did manage to receive a great deal of attention. The band was able to tour Japan in March 2005, performing a week of headlining shows followed by a week as the opening band for Simple Plan.
After the departure of bassist AJ Bovaird during the summer of 2005, Not by Choice took a break from touring and began writing songs for a new album. However, the band later stopped progress on their third studio album and took an indefinite hiatus.
2017–2018: Reunion
On April 10, 2017, Not By Choice announced that the classic lineup would be reuniting to play live as the main support for Simple Plan's No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls 15th anniversary tour stop in Toronto. This show occurred on September 16, 2017.
In 2018, Not By Choice performed at the Sound of Music Festival in Burlington, Ontario, and resumed inactivity.
Death of Mike Bilcox
On June 21, 2025, Not by Choice's lead singer Mike Bilcox died from cancer at the age of 48 in Ottawa having worked as a real estate agent, survived by daughter Isabelle Bilcox with partner Nadine Roberge.
