Introducing: Fall Out Boy
You would think that a band who recently signed with a major label would head out on tour in the lap of luxury. Perhaps a big tour bus fully-loaded with a wide screen TV, DVD and Playstation 2. Separate bunks in the back along with a private room for those private rock n' roll moments. You would think that, but then you'd think wrong. Island records latest acquisitions, Fall Out Boy, are touring the nation with Mest and Matchbook Romance in a small, crowded van with nothing to look at except the windows and each other. "The difference between a van and a tour bus is that when you get mad at somebody you're only five feet away from them for all those long hours of the drive and your alone time is limited," admits Pete Wentz, bassist and founding member of Fall Out Boy.
Yeah, the quarters are tight, but these Chicago natives aren't complaining, in fact their psyched because their living out their dreams and it doesn't matter how they get there. "These guys are like my family pretty much, so traveling in this van gets easy to do," continues Wentz, "our chemistry is awesome now. I mean, we always had a good chemistry, but the touring helped it so much more." Drawing influences from rock, pop and hardcore, Fall Out Boy have constructed a distinctive sound of unforgettable melodies, multifaceted guitar hooks and clever lyrics that has converted fans and critics alike. They have had rave reviews everywhere from MTV and Fuse and named the #2 most under-rated band of 2003 by Alternative Press.
All the positive hype led Fall Out Boy to a contract with Island Records and the quartet has already begun demoing tunes for their major label debut. "This stuff is a bit more mature," contends Wentz. "I think we wanted to expand, you know. It would feel claustrophobic if we wrote the same record again. It would be too easy if we didn't take a chance and evolve." Wentz and his mates, (Patrick Stump, Joe Trohman and Andy Hurley), will head into the studio in May to begin recording and are hoping for a late summer release. "I just think there's more dynamics to the new stuff," says the bassist. "It sound cliché but the heavy parts are heavier and the melodic parts are more melodic. We expanded our influences and we're just willing to take more chances with the music."
This summer Fall Out Boy will load up their van once again and head out on the Vans Warped Tour as well as the Skate & Surf Festival. "We want kids to walk away knowing that we're getting up there doing something honest and sincere," Wentz said, "and that's what should be with all music, not just punk rock, but everything. We ant the kids to have a good time and hang out with us."
