SR-71 was an American rock band formed in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1998. They are best known for their 2000 single "Right Now", their 2002 single "Tomorrow", and as the original authors of Bowling for Soup's 2004 hit "1985" (which was released first on their album Here We Go Again). The name of the band came from SR-71 Blackbird, a supersonic surveillance aircraft of the United States Air Force. The band was originally known as Honor Among Thieves and Radiostar, and as was later the case with SR-71, lead singer and rhythm guitarist Mitch Allan was the only constant member.

The band was formed in 1998, as a continuation project for frontman Mitch Allan after the demise of his previous band, Honor Among Thieves. The band chose the name "SR-71" because all the members' parents came from the United States Air Force. The band was quickly signed to RCA Records, where they recorded their debut album, titled Now You See Inside, which was released on June 20, 2000, and produced by David Bendeth (Underoath, Killswitch Engage), Gil Norton (Foo Fighters, Pixies) and John Shanks (Unwritten Law, Jane's Addiction). The album proved successful for the unknown band, and peaked at number 81 on the Billboard 200 and number 2 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart. The album spawned the band's debut hit single, which remains the band's only hit single to date, "Right Now". Written by frontman Mitch Allan and songwriter Butch Walker from a raw script purchased for $1,500 from a friend, it reached number 2 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, number 102 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 38 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks.

The band's original drummer, Dan Garvin, left the band soon after the supporting tour of the album, to join alternative rock outfit Nine Days while their drummer was unable to perform on the supporting tour for The Madding Crowd.

All of 2002, the band recorded their follow-up to Now You See Inside. In the recording sessions for the album, they recorded a cover of the Dazz Band song "Let It Whip" for the soundtrack of the movie The New Guy.

Their second studio album, entitled Tomorrow, was released on October 22, 2002, and was produced by Neal Avron (Fall Out Boy, Yellowcard), Butch Walker (American Hi-Fi, Avril Lavigne), Bendeth and frontman Mitch Allan himself. On this album, Mitch Allan contributed songwriting to all the songs in the album, with most of them written only by him, except a few, written along with Butch Walker, Kevin Kadish, and the other members of the band. It was the band's first album with new drummer John Allen.

The album was much darker, and proved to be less successful than its predecessor, only peaking at number 138 on the Billboard 200. The first single "Tomorrow", reached only number 18 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, which was far less successful than "Right Now's" number 2 peak. The song "My World" was later recorded for American Idol runner-up Bo Bice's debut album, The Real Thing, where frontman Mitch Allan played guitar and bass on. The song "Goodbye" was used by WWE as the theme song for the 2004 edition of WWE No Way Out.

Despite the commercial failure, RCA still heavily promoted a supporting tour for the album from late 2002 until 2003. The tour also proved unsuccessful. Soon tensions began to arise in the band, resulting in the departure of guitarist Mark Beauchemin after the end of the tour in 2003. Bassist Jeff Reid also left at this time, due to lung cancer, which he died from the following year. Mark Beauchemin went on playing guitar for soft rock artist Vanessa Carlton.

The band was then joined by new members guitarist Pat DeMent and bassist Mike Ruocco, only to be dropped by RCA not long afterward.