Formed in Wilmette in 2000, the members of Fall Out Boy have become local boys made good.
Their first album, “Take This to Your Grave,” has sold more than 100,000 copies, and the pop-punk outfit has gigged with everyone from Blink-182 to Cypress Hill. Rolling Stone dubbed FOB one of the 10 bands to watch in 2005.
The quartet has been tapped for next summer’s Warped tour, and the band will record its major-label debut for Island Records in the fall.
During a recent break, bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz phoned RedEye to fill us in on the latest.
You guys have come a long way in four years. Did you think it would happen so fast?
It was all a complete fluke–you just keep waiting for it to be over. But at the same time, when you’re there every single night, it doesn’t feel so fast. Last year we played 295 shows. Half of those shows were probably really bad–we played in Dallas one time to, like, two people.
That many shows sounds brutal. What’s going through your head on night No. 293?
It’s weird because the grass is always greener. We’ve been home for three weeks now, and I’m going insane; I’m so bored right now. Whether you’re a porn star or a hit man, it’s a routine. It stops being this crazy, exciting thing.
You toured with Blink-182. Were they cool or are they divas?
They’re legitimately famous people. If I walk around Warped Tour, I’ll get mobbed. If they walk down the street in Wilmette, they’ll get mobbed. That’s an insane thing to have to think about. That made us nervous–there’s always that star-struck quality in the back of our heads, but they were super nice and super cool to us.
What was it like growing up on the mean streets of Wilmette?
(Laughs) Exactly. It’s cool because it’s kind of like Orange County. The adults here are conservative for the most part, and it spawns a core subculture among the kids. People do whatever they can to make it a little bit dangerous, but at the same time, it’s never really gonna be dangerous.
Where do you hang out when you’re in Chicago?
When I’m in town, we hang out around Belmont and Clark kind of all night. There’s either parties or there’s weird stuff going on because of the people. The Bottom Lounge is [near] there. The Metro has probably been the biggest supporter of our band.
Sox or Cubs?
I’m Cubs. Most people on the South Side and people outside the city are Sox, but I’m definitely a Cubs fan.
David Schwimmer or Joan Cusack?
Joan Cusack, just for being related to John.
Bill Murray or John Belushi?
Belushi, man. Gotta go with him. He was a punk-rocker back in the day. On “Saturday Night Live,” he was bringing Fear and bands like that onto the show.
Kanye West or Twista?
Kanye West for sure.
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Edited by Cara DiPasquale (cdipasquale@tribune.com) and Kris Karnopp (kkarnopp@tribune.com)
