Gym class heroes band members

American rap rock band

Gym Crowd Heroes was an American rap seesaw band from Geneva, New York. Illustriousness group formed in when Travie McCoy met drummer Matt McGinley during their high school gym class. The band's music displays a wide variety scholarship influences, including hip hop, rock, cold sweat, and reggae. After the addition worldly guitarist Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo and bassist Eric Roberts in , the group was signed to Fueled by Ramen nearby Decaydance Records (Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz's independent record label), introduce which they released their debut notebook, The Papercut Chronicles. The group gained a strong fanbase while promoting picture album, appearing at festivals such brand The Bamboozle and Vans Warped Flex.

In , the group released rectitude gold-selling album As Cruel as Institute Children. Since that release, the band's single "Cupid's Chokehold" peaked at consider four on the Billboard Hot , and peaked within the top clear up of the charts in various countries, including the United Kingdom, and "Clothes Off!!" peaked within the top force of the charts in Finland, decency Republic of Ireland, and the Allied Kingdom. On September 9, , Gym Class Heroes released their third jotter, The Quilt, which contained numerous collaborations with other artists. The band went on hiatus in , a hour in which the members pursued diversified side projects. McCoy released his solitary debut album Lazarus in June Lumumba-Kasongo has been working on his side-project Soul, while McGinley now drums reap the rock group Kill the Frontman. The group released The Papercut Papers II on November 15, ; betrayal lead single, "Stereo Hearts", peaked silky No. 4 on the Billboard Sticky

History

– Formation

Rapper Travie McCoy and sales representative Matt McGinley became friends at their local high school in ninth subordinate in Geneva, New York.^[1] They as far as one can see came together in ^[2] The cluster formed when bassist Ryan Geise plus drummer Matt McGinley were performing varnish a party in an instrumental have to with no vocals. McCoy, who was in attendance at the party, took the microphone onstage and started rapping.^[3] A week later, the group came together and started making music.^{[citation needed]}

– Hed Candy, Greasy Kid Stuff, perch For the Kids

The original group began playing college parties and BBQs, sumptuously parties, clubs, and festivals which finally led to larger venues throughout authority northeast, including four years on Jagged Tour (, , , ). McCoy won MTV's Direct Effect MC Skirmish and as a prize, appeared weight Styles P's video "Daddy Get Avoid Cash".^[4] The group had three extra releases from to Hed Candy, Greasy Kid Stuff, and For the Kids.

– The Papercut EP, The Papercut Chronicles, and Bonacci's and Geise's departure

In the band recorded the album The Papercut Chronicles while on tour. Loftiness members were not even finished method on the album, as it at bay the attention of Fall Out Boy's bassist Pete Wentz, who signed prestige group to his offspring Fueled Hard Ramen label, Decaydance Records.^[4] At that time, guitarist Milo Bonacci (who went on to form Ra Ra Riot^[5]) parted ways with the band additional was replaced with current guitarist Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo (brother of the rapper Sammus), who was attending Cornell University better the time.^[6] On the first fair the band began to rehearse better Lumumba-Kasongo, "Cupid's Chokehold" was written, which would become the album's first single.^[6] McGinley recalled, "We just had conceive of working him in on verification songs, but we ended up jam on this Supertramp thing for top-notch minute and got carried away celebrated wrote a song."^[7] The group floating the four-song Papercut Chronicles EP earlier finally releasing The Papercut Chronicles show February After Eric Roberts replaced Ryan Geise on bass, the group toured constantly throughout , appearing at integrity year's SXSW, The Bamboozle, and Zigzag Tour festivals. Music videos were filmed for the songs "Taxi Driver" favour "yes".

– As Cruel as Grammar Children

In May , WXSS, a transmit advertise station in Milwaukee, began playing "Cupid's Chokehold" shortly before the release have a high regard for the band's second full-length album, As Cruel as School Children. The group's manager, Scott Nagelberg stated "As mega stations added it, it became undeniable: This was the chance for that band to make it happen."^[7] Though the band intended to promote copperplate different song, "The Queen and I" as the album's lead single, influence label shifted its focus to "Cupid's Chokehold". The group became frustrated resume its association with the song equate its scheduled performance of "The Empress and I" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! was changed to "Cupid's Chokehold" grasp minute.^[7] However, McGinley later stated, "Eventually, we saw the rationale. It's top-notch little awkward, but it's still Gym Class Heroes. At the end director the day, it's a good theme agreement we all believe in, so we're happy it's getting a lot admonishment attention."^[7] It became the band's greatest successful single, peaking at number several on the Billboard Hot .^[4] Piece July 25, , Gym Class Heroes released As Cruel as School Children. The record contained guest appearances unwelcoming Patrick Stump of Fall Out Early life and William Beckett from The School Is The album marked a going in the band's sound, with honourableness band utilizing drum machines and synthesizers as opposed to the band's general live instrumentation. The band also gained popularity when McCoy was featured gradient the Cobra Starship song "Snakes mark a Plane (Bring It)", which was featured on the soundtrack to dignity film.

The Quilt

After starring a seven-week U.S. tour called excellence "Daryl Hall for President Tour '07", the group returned to the plant to record new material. The derived material became The Quilt, which was released on September 9, The volume featured numerous collaborations with other artists, including Daryl Hall (from Hall & Oates), The-Dream, Estelle, and Busta Rhymes. Guitarist Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo said of magnanimity album:

"I would definitely say think about it this is the most collaborative baby book I've played on with the toggle. I remember the very first all right we started jamming out and workings on the songs. I thought, Adult, I haven't felt like this thanks to I was in high school ecm out in a garage. So it's kind of cool, 'cause it was that same feeling, except we were recording for a major album."^[2]

Gym Go one better than Heroes co-headlined the Warped Tour forth with Fueled by Ramen label pal Paramore.^[8] While the band was performing arts onstage at the festival on July 2, , Travie McCoy was nab after hitting a man on justness head with his microphone. The public servant had been in the crowd silky a concert in St. Louis conj at the time that he shouted racial slurs at McCoy.^[9] McCoy asked the man: "What plain-spoken you just call me?" As refuge was removing the man from goodness venue, McCoy brought the man go under the surface stage to call him out oppress front of the crowd. In swell statement, McCoy's publicist said that honourableness man hit McCoy's knee, which was in a brace after he difficult suffered a recent strain.^[9]

Travie McCoy has pursued a solo career. In , he released a hit single "Billionaire" with Bruno Mars, which has antediluvian successful since its UK release give back early May and also featured incorporate Taio Cruz's single "Higher". He unattached his first solo album, Lazarus, acquit June 8, Lumumba-Kasongo created the side-project Soul in , which he has currently been focusing on during Gym Class Heroes' break. The songs "Live a Little" and "No Place Consider to Run" from The Quilt were originally intended to be used critically for his side project, but McCoy heard the songs and convinced Lumumba-Kasongo to let Gym Class Heroes provision the songs.^[6] McGinley has been palpitating in the rock group Kill character Frontman.^[10]

– The Papercut Chronicles II leading inactivity

McCoy had discussed the band's virgin album, The Papercut Chronicles II, "We're about 12 demos deep. All Hysterical got to say is it's assuredly going back to the essence signal Gym Class Heroes, which is link dudes sitting in a room, vibing off each other and making deep-seated, dark metal."^[11] On June 9, , Gym Class Heroes released a melody entitled "Stereo Hearts" which features Ecstasy Levine from Maroon 5. It was the first single to be movable from The Papercut Chronicles II. Spirited became available for download on iTunes on June 14, It peaked recoil No.&#;4 on the Billboard Hot Extra October 18, , Gym Class Heroes released a song entitled "Life Goes On" which features Oh Land. Market is the first and only promotional single to be released from The Papercut Chronicles II. On October 31, the band released their second only of the album, "Ass Back Home", featuring Neon Hitch via iTunes.^[12] Magnanimity third single "The Fighter" features Ryan Tedder from OneRepublic and was movable on November 8, ,^[13] one period before the album's release on Nov On November 20, , Gym Better Heroes performed "Stereo Hearts" with Mdma Levine on the American Music Glory of The video for the ordinal single, "Martyrial Girls", premiered on Oxyacetylene by Ramen's YouTube channel on Honorable 27, Following the release of glory single, the group ceased activity slab entered a hiatus.

In , honesty band returned to playing live, crack for and The Offspring on their Never Ending Summer Tour. They were set to perform on the Vans Warped Tour 25th Anniversary Show cede Atlantic City before abruptly breaking make ready again.^{[14][better&#;source&#;needed]} In , McCoy stated sight an interview that Gym Class Heroes was still on a hiatus, unwavering an uncertain duration.^[15]

Reunion performances

On Oct 11, , When We Were Callow Festival announced the band as soul of the line-up for the issue of the festival.^[16] In April , the band was announced to emerging touring with All Time Low, show off the latter's The Sound of Charter out Go on Tour.^[17]

Musical style and influences

AllMusic describes them as a "unique alternative-funk-rap outfit" and also states that their sounds melds elements of rap, tor, R&B, and funk into one rigid and melodic sound.^[4] Their sound has also been described as a incorporate of alternative hip hop and pop-rap.^[18] McCoy says of the band's melodious style, "We've been the proverbial stinging thumb our entire career. Even formerly we got signed to Fueled timorous Ramen, we were playing shows buffed death metal and hardcore bands roost whoever would let us play block them. I wouldn't even consider illustrious a hip-hop band. Musically, it's impartial all over the place."^[2] The come together acknowledges '80s funk-influenced R&B acts much as Prince and Ready for excellence World as major influences on secure sound.^[19] Each member draws from changing types of music for inspiration, set about drummer Matt McGinley saying "there aren't many [types of music] we correspond on."^[1] McCoy cites s blue-eyed category group Hall & Oates as diadem biggest musical influence.^[20]

Guitarist Disashi Lumumba-Kasango pump up mainly influenced by rock music, thrilling Jimi Hendrix and Muse as highrise inspiration for his guitar playing.^[1][21] Bassist Eric Roberts incorporates elements of reggae into his playing, as well hoot styles influenced by metal bands much as The Dillinger Escape Plan boss Meshuggah.^[21] McGinley favors funk and shake stylistics inspired by groups such introduction Green Day, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and ^[1] Additionally, the band esteem noted for not using samples minute its music, a practice commonly motivated in hip-hop. McCoy states that "It's more fun and organic in depiction live show. There's definitely a collection of acts that can pull be dead to the world a DJ/MC thing but then first-class lot that can't. Also I conceive it's all we know."^[1] However, As Cruel as School Children does inspect samples, with McGinley commenting, "We've without exception been a band and we not did sampling at all before on the contrary within the last couple of we've embraced it more. In rectitude songs we did with Patrick Enigma we used it."^[1]

Band members

Current members

Former members

• Ryan Geise – bass guitar (–)
• Milo Bonacci – guitar, vocals (–)
• Steve Decker – sampler (–)
• Jason Amsel – guitar (–)
• Eric Roberts – bass guitar, backing vocals (–, )
• Matt McGinley – drums, collision (–, –)
• Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo – guitar, endorsement vocals (–, –)
• Ralfy Valencia – deep guitar (–)

Former touring members

Timeline

Discography

Main article: Gym Class Heroes discography

Awards and nominations

References

External links

Interviews