Welcome To The Fall Out Boy Column!

Yes, it's here. A weekly column on all things Fall Out Boy. In case you're not familiar with the band, here are some basics.

The Band

Fall Out Boy is an American pop-punk band hailing from Wilmette, Chicago, primarily. The band was formed in 2001 by guitarist Joseph Trohman and bassist Pete Wentz. Both came from the underground hardcore scene, and had been friends prior to the band. Joe met future singer Patrick Stump in a Border's bookstore, introducing himself when he heard Patrick talking about the band Neurosis. Stump originally tried out for drums, but ended up as lead singer. Guitarist T.J. Raccine and a drummer simply known as Mike rounded out the group. In 2002, they released a Split EP with the band Project Rocket. Following this was a mini LP, Evening Out With Your Girlfriend, released on Uprising Records in 2003. The band remained nameless for a couple of shows, and picked up the name Fall Out Boy when a fan yelled it out during a show. It's an obvious reference to the young sidekick of Radioactive Man in the popular adult cartoon, The Simpsons.

In late 2003, the band lost T.J. and Mike, but gained Milwaukee native Andy Hurley as a drummer and Patrick picked up the guitar. They also dropped their label, Uprising Records, and instead signed on with Fueled By Ramen before release their first full-length album, Take This To Your Grave. Fall Out Boy experienced some success with songs like Grand Theft Autumn and Saturday, but really hit the big time with the song Sugar, We're Goin' Down, off of their next album From Under The Cork Tree. Not long after, Pete Wentz started his own record label, Decaydance, and signed on artists such as Panic At The Disco and Gym Class Heroes, and also started his clothing label Clandestine.

Meanwhile, Patrick began his producing career, with artists like The Hush Sound. Their much-anticipated album Infinity On High was released in 2007, and sold 260,000 copies in its first week. Through the years, they have also released DVDs, My Heart Will Always Be The B-Side To My Tongue, Release The Bats, and most recently a live album entitled "****". These days, Pete is married to singer/reality star Ashlee Simpson and are expecting their first child, and Pete recently premiered his own video show on MTV, called FNMTV. Patrick continues to produce albums and short films [he also had a short appearance on the detective drama Law And Order. Andrew Hurley has started his own clothing line, Fuck City, and both Joe and Pete appeared on MTV's Cribs. They are currently working on their next album, which they hope to release before the end of the year.

The Members

Andrew John Hurley

Born: May 31, 1980 [28] in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, U.S.
Drummer, mogul
Facts: Straightedge and vegan. An avid supporter of Peta. Raised by his mother, a nurse, after the death of his father when he was five. Joined Fall Out Boy in 2003. Recently started a clothing line, Fuck City.

Patrick Martin Stump

Born: April 27, 1984 [24] in Glenview, Illinoise, U.S.
Lead singer, guitarist, lyricist, pianist, composer
Facts: Born Patrick Stumph, but dropped the 'h' due to pronunciation problems. Hates being called 'Pat'. Has produced artists such as as The Hush Sound, Gym Class Heroes, and Cobra Starship. Played a suspect for an episode of Law And Order. Famous for his large sideburns and his extensive collection of hats, which he almost always wears in public. His brother is an accomplished violinist.

Joseph Mark Trohman

Born: September 1, 1984 [23] in Hollywood, Florida.
Guitarist, backup singer
Facts: The only Jewish member of Fall Out Boy. Known for his signature onstage spinning trick, commonly referred to as "Trohmania". Began playing guitar at 12. Appeared on MTV's Cribs.

Peter Lewis Kingston Wentz III

Born: June 5, 1979 (29) in Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.
Bassist, lyricist, mogul
Facts: Indesputibly the most famous member of Fall Out Boy. Received a lot of unwanted attention when pictures of his "unit" surfaced on the internet. Hemmingway, his dog, is about as famous as he is. Was a soccer star in high school. Attempted suicide in February of 2005 by overdosing on pain-killers. Has a record label, [Decaydance] a clothing line, [Clandestine Industries], a bar [Angels & Kings, also known as AK-47], a book [The Boy With A Thorn In His Side], a social networking site, [Friendsorenemies.com] and a film company [Bartskull Films]. He's appeared on ABC's One Tree Hill and in a short film entitled Goodnight Moon. Avidly supports Invisible Children, a group trying to raise awareness about the war in Uganda. Often gets press because of his bisexual tendencies. Is currently married to Ashlee Simpson, and the two are expecting their first child.

The Music

Evening Out With Your Girlfriend (2003)

1. "Honorable Mention" – 3:25
2. "Calm Before the Storm" -- 4:41
3. "Switchblades and Infidelity" – 3:13
4. "Pretty in Punk" – 3:37
5. "Growing Up" – 2:56
6. "The World's Not Waiting (For Five Tired Boys in a Broken Down Van)" – 2:38
7. "Short, Fast and Loud" – 2:16
8. "Moving Pictures" – 3:33
9. "Parker Lewis Can't Lose (But I'm Gonna Give It My Best Shot)" – 3:23

Take This To Your Grave (2003)

1. "Tell That Mick He Just Made My List of Things to Do Today" – 3:30
2. "Dead on Arrival" – 3:14
3. "Grand Theft Autumn / Where Is Your Boy" – 3:11
4. "Saturday" – 3:36
5. "Homesick at Space Camp" – 3:08
6. "Sending Postcards from a Plane Crash (Wish You Were Here)" – 2:56
7. "Chicago Is So Two Years Ago" – 3:19 (guest vocals by Justin Pierre of Motion City Soundtrack)
8. "The Pros and Cons of Breathing" – 3:21
9. "Grenade Jumper" – 2:58
10. "Calm Before the Storm" - 4:29
11. "Reinventing the Wheel to Run Myself Over" – 2:21
12. "The Patron Saint of Liars and Fakes" – 3:19

From Under The Cork Tree (2005)

1. "Our Lawyer Made Us Change the Name of This Song So We Wouldn't Get Sued" – 3:08
2. "Of All the Gin Joints in All the World" – 3:11
3. "Dance, Dance" – 3:00
4. "Sugar, We're Goin Down" – 3:49
5. "Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner" – 3:20
6. "I've Got a Dark Alley and a Bad Idea That Says You Should Shut Your Mouth (Summer Song)" – 3:11
7. "7 Minutes in Heaven (Atavan Halen)" – 3:02
8. "Sophomore Slump or Comeback of the Year" – 3:23
9. "Champagne for My Real Friends, Real Pain for My Sham Friends" – 3:23
10. "I Slept with Someone in Fall Out Boy and All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me" – 3:30
11. "A Little Less Sixteen Candles, a Little More "Touch Me"" – 2:49
12. "Get Busy Living or Get Busy Dying (Do Your Part to Save the Scene and Stop Going to Shows)" – 3:27
13. "XO" – 3:40

Extra tracks

1. "Snitches and Talkers Get Stitches and Walkers"
2. "The Music or the Misery"
3. "My Heart Is the Worst Kind of Weapon (Demo)"
4. "Sugar We're Goin Down (Patrick Stump Remix)"
5. "Dance, Dance (Lindbergh Palace Remix)"

Infinity On High

1. "Thriller" – 3:29
2. "The Take Over, the Breaks Over" – 3:33
3. "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race" – 3:32
4. "I'm Like a Lawyer with the Way I'm Always Trying to Get You off (Me & You)" – 3:31
5. "Hum Hallelujah" – 3:50
6. "Golden" – 2:32
7. "Thnks fr th Mmrs" – 3:23
8. "Don't You Know Who I Think I Am?" – 2:51
9. "The (After) Life of the Party" – 3:21
10. "The Carpal Tunnel of Love" – 3:23
11. "Bang the Doldrums" – 3:31
12. "Fame < Infamy" – 3:06
13. "You're Crashing, But You're No Wave" – 3:42
14. "I've Got All This Ringing in My Ears and None on My Fingers" – 4:06
15. "G.I.N.A.S.F.S." (a.k.a. Gay Is Not a Synonym for Shitty) (Limited Edition bonus track)
16. "It's Hard to Say 'I Do' When I Don't" (Limited Edition bonus track) - 3:24