I’ve been talking about the interview I did with Fall Out Boy for CONFRONT for almost three weeks now, and it still feels completely surreal to me that it happened. My featured article on the band (and specifically on my interview with Patrick Stump and Joe Trohman) was posted this weekend, and I think it was one of the most difficult pieces I’ve ever written- but also one of my favorites. It’s not easy doing justice to one of the most influential bands in my life so far, but I did my best and I think it turned out pretty good!
If you’d like to see the result, below is a little teaser. You can find a link at the very bottom to read the full article on CONFRONT Magazine!
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“I think it takes some time and maturity to understand that change is scary for everybody; it’s scary for you, but it’s also scary for your audience, and so I can’t hold that against the audience.” – Patrick Stump
When I first heard that Fall Out Boy was getting back together a few months ago, I was in complete shock. I know, I know, they said they were taking an “indefinite hiatus”- but I didn’t know bands actually came BACK from that kind of thing.
The truth is, I was pretty overwhelmed at the time; each Fall Out Boy record that has come out clearly defines a certain moment in my life. ‘Take This To Your Grave’ in 2004 and ‘From Under the Cork Tree’ in 2006 symbolize everything I loved about high school, ‘Infinity on High’ was that awkward time when I was in CEGEP and didn’t know what to do with my life (coincidentally, it’s a song on that very album that would prompt my writing career), and ‘Folie a Deux’- the most mature of the FOB records- was released just as I turned 18 and began to feel like a more mature adult myself.
When Fall Out boy took a three year break, there was a distinct gap in my music collection, but more importantly, I don’t think I ever really understood the reason that one of the most influential bands of the decade was taking a step back from all their achievements. I’ll admit it; when I heard they were coming back AND they had a full album that was coming out too? It was more than shock- I was excited of course, and I was also a tiny bit hesitant. What made them get back together following their pursuit of solo careers, experimenting different genres of music, spending time with family, all the while not whispering a single word about the record until it was completely done?
I had a lot of questions, especially after hearing the vastly different style that the four musicians took on the record ‘Save Rock & Roll’ (which, in case you haven’t given it a good listen yet, is AMAZING). When the band stopped in Montreal on May 25th to play to a sold-out crowd, I had the opportunity that few long-time fans get; I sat down with lead vocalist Patrick Stump and guitarist Joe Trohman to find out firsthand what happened when Fall Out Boy officially took a hiatus, and what it means to them now that they’re back together.
Both guys were sitting on the couch when I arrived and were immediately friendly, chatty, and ready for a good interview. Although they were both tired from their extensive touring schedule, they were very easy to talk to; Patrick sat curled up on the couch messing around with his signature fedora and cracking jokes, while Joe relaxed and played off Patrick’s comments next to him. After a couple minutes, we got into what I can only describe as a really honest, sometimes heartbreaking (for me, anyway) but extremely humbling conversation about the Fall Out Boy of 2009, versus the one that sat in front of me that day.
Read the rest of the article RIGHT HERE!
