Fall Out Boy talk pop, rock crossover appeal

Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz has spoken about the band’s ability to appeal to both pop and rock fans.

And while he reports his friends think it must be easy for the group to have commercial success, the vocalist and bassist says there are two sides to the story.

Wentz tells Rolling Stone: “It’s strange when it feels a little like being on an island – and it’s still a constant fight. Some of my friends are like, ‘It seems so easy for you guys, getting songs on the radio and stuff.’ I’m like, I wish you knew.

“When we first played Uma Thurman for Top 40 radio, it was like the look on the face of a puppy when they don’t understand the command.”

He adds: “But there are cool moments. We played a pretty heavy Australian festival, Soundwave, and we felt like oddballs. Then Rob Halford from Judas Priest sits down at our trailer, and he’s like, ‘That Irresistible video is so good.’ We’re like, ‘What the fuck?’”

Wentz will turn 37 this summer and he says getting older makes him wonder what’s in store for Fall Out Boy.

He continues: “It does make me think what are the next steps for our band. We’re in such an in-between thing.

“We’re not a legacy act, and we’re not in this echelon of bands that automatically plays the halftime show. We’re not there yet. And that’s OK. There’s still more for us to do. How do we play Wrigley Field? How do we headline festivals?”

Fall Out Boy are currently on tour across the US with Awolnation and Pvris.

Fall Out Boy 2016 US tour

Mar 01: Charleston North Charleston Coliseum, SC
Mar 02: Charlottesville John Paul Jones Arena, VA
Mar 04: New York Madison Square Garden, NY
Mar 05: Mashantucket Foxwoods Resorts Casino, CT
Mar 06: Syracuse The Onecenter War Memorial Arena, NY
Mar 08: Grand Rapids Van Andel Arena, MI
Mar 09: Dayton Wright State University Nutter Center, OH
Mar 10: Louisville KFC Yum! Center, KY
Mar 12: Chicago United Center, IL
Mar 13: Saint Paul Xcel Energy Center, MN
Mar 14: Des Moines Wells Fargo Arena, IA
Mar 17: Birmingham BJCC Arena, AL
Mar 18: Memphis FedEx Forum, TN
Mar 19: New Orleans Smoothie King Center, LA
Mar 20: San Antonio Freeman Coliseum, TX
Mar 22: Wichita InTrust Bank Arena, KS
Mar 23: Colorado Springs The Broadmoor World Arena, CO
Mar 25: Phoenix Talking Stick Resort Arena, AZ
Mar 26: Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, CA
Mar 27: San Francisco Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, CA
Jul 22: Minot North Dakota State Fair, ND
Jul 23: Cheyenne Frontier Nights, WY

The 10 best Fall Out Boy songs, by Pete Wentz

Scott has spent 37 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in 2014 before moving into e-commerce in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, highlights deals, and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 12 years, Scott has written more than 11,500 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from news and features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.