Fall Out Boy and Gym Class Heroes have become inextricably linked. Not only because FOB bassist Pete Wentz assumes a lot of responsibility for getting Gym Class’ music out in the public or because the two bands are currently trekking across the U. on a massive stadium tour that reveals just how big they’ve become, but because underneath all the fandom and the radio play and record sales, the two bands are good friends.
Gym Class frontman Travis McCoy and Wentz sound off on their relationship, how they met and what they know about each other’s bands.
What was it like the first time you met each other?
Pete: I was in Buffalo, NY, and Travis came to a Fall Out Boy show. I remember being like, ‘Wow, these guys don’t look at all like their music sounds.’ He came up with Matt—the drummer—and they’re both really really tall.
Travis: We met at a show in Buffalo, NY. It was actually a Fall Out Boy show. I thought they were super down-to- earth. I remember Pete looked at me was like, ‘Oh you have tattoos,’ and I was like, ‘Yeah motherfucker, black people get tattoos too!’ He gave that initial up and down, but we hit it off.
Did you ever expect you would have the sort of relationship you have now when you first met?
Pete: The truth of the matter is no, but at the end of the day I really like to romanticize everything so I’d like to say yes.
Travis: I think we hit it off right off the bat. I’m a really good judge of character and I thought those dudes were super genuine. Before we were even discussing any business and it was just a friend thing discussing what bands we were into, I remember Pete had this Sidekick 1 and I thought it was amazing. I played with it the whole time.
Did you like each other’s bands when you first heard them?
Pete: Yeah. I thought it was really good. I liked it. It was like when Bob Dylan talked about first hearing Elvis—it was a sound he had never heard before. It was just a sound I had never heard before.
Travis: The first Fall Out Boy song I ever heard was ‘Where’s Your Boy.’ Our drummer Matt played it for me and I thought it was fresh.
Did you ever expect your two bands would be playing Madison Square Garden?
Pete: It’s the dream, I guess. I don’t know.
Travis: Not in a million years. This past year has been insane for both of us. I can’t wait to see the marquee, that’s what I’m looking forward to.
