Justin Mauriello started I Hate Kate in 2004, while still in Zebrahead, as a creative outlet. The band has seen a steady rise in success. I Hate Kate played with bands such as Social Distortion, Chevelle, Hot Hot Heat, The Bravery, The Living End, My Chemical Romance, Unwritten Law, Secondhand Serenade, and Shiny Toy Guns.

Tours have taken them throughout the U.S., Canada, and Japan. December 2007, the band took to the studio with platinum producer Mark Trombino (Jimmy Eat World, blink-182, Sugarcult), recorded new songs and remixed previous tracks.

They released their first full-length album Embrace the Curse on June 24, 2008 under Glassnote Records. In early 2010, the band recorded a new album entitled Race to Red, with producer Lee Miles (Tickle Me Pink, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Puddle of Mudd).

The band released the first single off the album, "Free Without You", on January 12, 2010. They have released music videos for "Free Without You" and "Unspoken". In June 2010, a woman named Kate, after whom the band was named, left lead man Justin Mauriello an angry voicemail about the use of her name for the band and threatening legal action.

The band felt it was in their best interest to change their name to Darling Thieves, under which name the new album was released on June 17, 2010. As the Darling Thieves they have been headlining their own shows and sharing the stage with the likes of The Smashing Pumpkins, Chevelle, OK Go, Anberlin, Flobots, Hollywood Undead and more.