Taking Back Sunday

Adam Lazarra – vocals
Fred Mascherino – guitar, vocals
Eddie Reyes – guitar
Mark O’Connell – drums
Matt Rubano – bass

Taking Back Sunday have not had a particularly easy ride.  From various line-up changes and inter-band bust-ups to suspicion from the media, the ascent to their current status has been intense.  The band formed, in its first manifestation, in 1999 with singer Antonio Longo and drummer Stevie D.  They released a self-titled EP in 2001, which went relatively unnoticed.  It took a major line-up change – Taking Back Sunday became Lazarra, Reyes, O’Connell, bassist Shaun Cooper and guitarist John Nolan – for the band to become a true, stable unit, and they were signed to Victory Records in 2002.  Their label debut, Tell All Your Friends, certainly caught the eye of the band’s new fan-base, who found a connection with their hardcore tendencies and emo lyrics. 

The band toured constantly throughout 2002/2003, a situation that strained the band’s partnership and forced Nolan and Cooper to leave.  For a while it seemed that the Long Island band would have to split, but luckily they found Fred Mascherino and Matt Rubano eager to fill the empty spots.  It is this line-up that wrote and released Where You Want To Be in 2004, again on Victory Records.  Seemingly endless touring again followed, including stints on the 2004 Warped Tour, and opening for Blink-182 and Green Day.  However, these pressures on the group paid off as they have a massive, dedicated fan-base, buying millions of their first two full-length albums.  Summer 2005 brought further joy for Taking Back Sunday, as they were signed to major label Warner Bros.  Hitting the studio straight away, the result was April 2006’s album, Louder Now.  Despite being leaked onto the internet beforehand, the album has proved popular, debuting at #2 on the US Billboard Charts.  This new album shows a more confident sound, suggesting that Taking Back Sunday are now happier in their own skin.  Let’s just hope that this line-up lasts.

Discography

Taking Back Sunday EP - 2001 (Independent)
Tell All Your Friends - 2002 (Victory Records)
Where You Want To Be - 2004 (Victory Records)
Louder Now - 2006 (Warner Bros.)