Joe Trohman
Encyclopedia
Joseph Mark Trohman is an American
musician. He is best known as the guitarist of the Chicago
-based pop punk
band Fall Out Boy
, as well as the lead and rhythm guitarist for heavy metal
supergroup The Damned Things
.
. He was raised in South Russell, Ohio
before his family moved to the Chicago area. His family is Jewish, although he noted to JVibe
, "I think we were more Jewish culturally than we were religiously because after my brother's bar mitzvah, we stopped going to synagogue
entirely." Trohman and Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz attended New Trier High School
in Winnetka, Illinois
, and Trohman played bass with Wentz in a band called Arma Angelus
.
and spent a summer touring as the group's bassist. He developed a friendship with the group's vocalist, Pete Wentz, and the pair discussed forming a more melodic band influenced by groups such as Green Day
. Trohman then met Patrick Stump
in a Borders
bookstore, and recruited him to join the band, which was subsequently named Fall Out Boy
.
With bassist Pete Wentz as Fall Out Boy's primary lyricist and vocalist Patrick Stump
as the primary composer, Fall Out Boy reached mainstream success with its major label debut, From Under the Cork Tree
. Released in 2005 by Island Records
, the album debuted on the US Billboard 200
at No. 9, won several awards and achieved double platinum
status after selling more than 2.5 million albums in the United States. The album spawned two top 10 hits; "Sugar, We're Goin Down
which reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has sold more than 2 million digital downloads in the US, and "Dance, Dance
" which peaked at No. 9 and certified platinum. To support the album, the band headlined tours around the world in 2005 and 2006. In 2007, the band released the follow-up album Infinity on High
, to major chart success, debuting No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with first week sales of 260,000. The album was certified platinum one month after its release. Infinity on Highs lead single, "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race
", reached No. 1 on the defunct-Pop 100
and No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100
. The second single, "Thnks fr th Mmrs
", sold more than 2 million copies in the US. In 2008, the band released their fifth studio album, Folie à Deux which debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 with 150,000 first week sales and was later certified gold. The band opened for Blink-182
's 2009 reunion tour and shortly released their first greatest hits compilation album, Believers Never Die - Greatest Hits in November 2009 before announcing an indefinite hiatus. Patrick Stump
has embarked on a solo career and Pete Wentz has formed an electropop/experimental band with vocalist Bebe Rexha. Trohman and Fall Out Boy
bandmate Andy Hurley
started a band called The Damned Things
with Anthrax
members Scott Ian
and Rob Caggiano
and Every Time I Die
vocalist Keith Buckley
. They released their debut album in 2010, Ironiclast
.
Guitars by Fender
, the Joe Trohman Telecaster. He is also a Star Wars
enthusiast, and told starwars.com, "I still collect tons of action figures. My closet in my apartment is full — 95% of Star Wars toys."
Trohman's house in Chicago was featured in a 2007 episode of MTV Cribs
.
He married his long-time girlfriend, Marie, on October 29, 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician. He is best known as the guitarist of the Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
-based pop punk
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
band Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy is an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, formed in 2001. The band consists of vocalist, guitarist and composer Patrick Stump, bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz, guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurley. The band released five studio albums from 2003–2008...
, as well as the lead and rhythm guitarist for heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
supergroup The Damned Things
The Damned Things
The Damned Things are a heavy metal supergroup consisting of Joe Trohman and Andy Hurley of Fall Out Boy, Scott Ian and Rob Caggiano of Anthrax, Keith Buckley of Every Time I Die and Josh Newton formally of Every Time I Die The band's name is inspired by the lyrics in Ram Jam's '70s version of...
.
Early life
The son of a cardiologist, Trohman was born in Hollywood, FloridaHollywood, Florida
-Demographics:As of 2000, there were 59,673 households out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of...
. He was raised in South Russell, Ohio
South Russell, Ohio
South Russell is a village in Geauga County, Ohio, United States. The population was 4,022 at the 2000 census.-Geography:South Russell is located at ....
before his family moved to the Chicago area. His family is Jewish, although he noted to JVibe
JVibe
JVibe was a bimonthly magazine for Jewish teens aged 12-18, published by a company called JFL Media between 2004 and 2009. Lack of funds forced the publisher to close down all activities in October 2009, including the publcation of JVibe...
, "I think we were more Jewish culturally than we were religiously because after my brother's bar mitzvah, we stopped going to synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
entirely." Trohman and Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz attended New Trier High School
New Trier High School
New Trier High School is a public four-year high school , with its major campus located in Winnetka, Illinois, USA, and a second campus in Northfield, Illinois, with freshman classes and district administration...
in Winnetka, Illinois
Winnetka, Illinois
Winnetka is an affluent North Shore village located approximately north of downtown Chicago in Cook County, Illinois. Winnetka was featured on the list of America's 25 top-earning towns and "one of the best places to live" by CNN Money in 2011...
, and Trohman played bass with Wentz in a band called Arma Angelus
Arma Angelus
Arma Angelus was a metalcore band from Chicago. The band formed in 1998 and broke up in 2002. Members of the band were Pete Wentz , Tim McIlrath , Jay Jancetic , Daniel Binaei , Adam Bishop Arma Angelus was a metalcore band from Chicago. The band formed in 1998 and broke up in 2002. Members of the...
.
Musical career
In high school, Trohman became involved with the Chicago hardcore scene. At the age of sixteen, he joined local band Arma AngelusArma Angelus
Arma Angelus was a metalcore band from Chicago. The band formed in 1998 and broke up in 2002. Members of the band were Pete Wentz , Tim McIlrath , Jay Jancetic , Daniel Binaei , Adam Bishop Arma Angelus was a metalcore band from Chicago. The band formed in 1998 and broke up in 2002. Members of the...
and spent a summer touring as the group's bassist. He developed a friendship with the group's vocalist, Pete Wentz, and the pair discussed forming a more melodic band influenced by groups such as Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
. Trohman then met Patrick Stump
Patrick Stump
Patrick Vaughn Stump is an American singer-songwriter, composer, record producer, and music critic. He is the composer, lead singer, and multi-instrumentalist of Fall Out Boy, an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, and is also a solo artist...
in a Borders
Borders Group
Borders Group, Inc. was an international book and music retailer based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The company employed approximately 19,500 throughout the U.S., primarily in its Borders and Waldenbooks stores....
bookstore, and recruited him to join the band, which was subsequently named Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy is an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, formed in 2001. The band consists of vocalist, guitarist and composer Patrick Stump, bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz, guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurley. The band released five studio albums from 2003–2008...
.
With bassist Pete Wentz as Fall Out Boy's primary lyricist and vocalist Patrick Stump
Patrick Stump
Patrick Vaughn Stump is an American singer-songwriter, composer, record producer, and music critic. He is the composer, lead singer, and multi-instrumentalist of Fall Out Boy, an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, and is also a solo artist...
as the primary composer, Fall Out Boy reached mainstream success with its major label debut, From Under the Cork Tree
From Under the Cork Tree
From Under the Cork Tree is the third studio album by American rock band Fall Out Boy. It was released on May 3, 2005, through Island Records as the band's major label debut...
. Released in 2005 by Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
, the album debuted on the US Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
at No. 9, won several awards and achieved double platinum
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
status after selling more than 2.5 million albums in the United States. The album spawned two top 10 hits; "Sugar, We're Goin Down
Sugar, We're Goin Down
"Sugar, We're Goin Down" is a song by American rock band Fall Out Boy, and the lead single from their third album, From Under the Cork Tree . With the music composed by lead vocalist and guitarist Patrick Stump and all lyrics penned by bassist Pete Wentz, the single reached No...
which reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has sold more than 2 million digital downloads in the US, and "Dance, Dance
Dance, Dance
"Dance, Dance" is a song by American rock band Fall Out Boy and the second single from their third studio album, From Under the Cork Tree. Released in late 2005, in the United States it reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 2006, becoming the band's second consecutive top 10 hit single....
" which peaked at No. 9 and certified platinum. To support the album, the band headlined tours around the world in 2005 and 2006. In 2007, the band released the follow-up album Infinity on High
Infinity on High
Infinity on High is the fourth studio album by American rock band Fall Out Boy, released on February 5, 2007 by Island Records as the follow-up to the band's commercially successful 2005 album From Under the Cork Tree. Pre-production began in the group's hometown of Chicago, where writing and...
, to major chart success, debuting No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with first week sales of 260,000. The album was certified platinum one month after its release. Infinity on Highs lead single, "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race
This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race
"This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race" is a song by American rock band Fall Out Boy and the lead single from their commercially successful fourth studio album Infinity on High . The song was first played on September 30, 2006 at a Philadelphia radio station, 102.1, and leaked onto the internet...
", reached No. 1 on the defunct-Pop 100
Pop 100
The Pop 100 was a songs chart that debuted in February 2005 and was released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States until its discontinuation in 2009...
and No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. The second single, "Thnks fr th Mmrs
Thnks fr th Mmrs
"Thnks fr th Mmrs" is a song by American rock band Fall Out Boy, released March 27, 2007, as the second single from their fourth studio album, Infinity on High...
", sold more than 2 million copies in the US. In 2008, the band released their fifth studio album, Folie à Deux which debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 with 150,000 first week sales and was later certified gold. The band opened for Blink-182
Blink-182
Blink-182 is an American rock band consisting of vocalist and bass guitarist Mark Hoppus, vocalist and guitarist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. They have sold over 27 million albums worldwide since forming in Poway, California in 1992...
's 2009 reunion tour and shortly released their first greatest hits compilation album, Believers Never Die - Greatest Hits in November 2009 before announcing an indefinite hiatus. Patrick Stump
Patrick Stump
Patrick Vaughn Stump is an American singer-songwriter, composer, record producer, and music critic. He is the composer, lead singer, and multi-instrumentalist of Fall Out Boy, an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, and is also a solo artist...
has embarked on a solo career and Pete Wentz has formed an electropop/experimental band with vocalist Bebe Rexha. Trohman and Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy is an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, formed in 2001. The band consists of vocalist, guitarist and composer Patrick Stump, bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz, guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurley. The band released five studio albums from 2003–2008...
bandmate Andy Hurley
Andy Hurley
Andrew John Hurley is an American musician and drummer. He is best known as a member of the Chicago-based rock band Fall Out Boy. Prior to Fall Out Boy, Hurley played in several different bands. He is currently the drummer in the heavy metal supergroup The Damned Things with Fall Out Boy guitarist...
started a band called The Damned Things
The Damned Things
The Damned Things are a heavy metal supergroup consisting of Joe Trohman and Andy Hurley of Fall Out Boy, Scott Ian and Rob Caggiano of Anthrax, Keith Buckley of Every Time I Die and Josh Newton formally of Every Time I Die The band's name is inspired by the lyrics in Ram Jam's '70s version of...
with Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
members Scott Ian
Scott Ian
Scott Ian Rosenfeld , better known by the stage name Scott Ian, is an American musician, best known as the rhythm & lead guitarist for the heavy metal band Anthrax. Ian is also the guitarist and a founding member of the crossover thrash band Stormtroopers of Death...
and Rob Caggiano
Rob Caggiano
Robert Caggiano is an American guitarist and producer best known as the lead & rhythm guitarist of the Heavy Metal band Anthrax. His first professional band was Boiler Room that formed in 1996. The band caught the attention of Roadrunner Records after an opening slot for Orgy in 1999...
and Every Time I Die
Every Time I Die
Every Time I Die is a metalcore band from Buffalo, New York, formed in 1998. Their musical style is rooted in technical hardcore with strong southern metal and mathcore elements, and is also characterised by their cryptic, bitingly sarcastic lyrics. The band announced on July 14, 2008 that they had...
vocalist Keith Buckley
Keith Buckley
Keith Buckley is the lyricist and vocalist for the metalcore band Every Time I Die and the heavy metal supergroup The Damned Things.-Family:...
. They released their debut album in 2010, Ironiclast
Ironiclast
Ironiclast is the debut album the American heavy metal supergroup The Damned Things. The album was released on December 14, 2010 internationally and a day later in North America. The supergroup includes Joe Trohman and Andy Hurley of Fall Out Boy, Scott Ian and Rob Caggiano of Anthrax and Keith...
.
Personal life
Trohman collects guitars, and has his own Signature guitar made by SquierSquier
Squier is a musical instrument brand name owned by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.-History:Fender, under the ownership of CBS, acquired the Squier brand name in 1965 when it bought a USA based string making firm , but it lay dormant for many years...
Guitars by Fender
Fender
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, commonly referred to as simply Fender, of Scottsdale, Arizona is a manufacturer of stringed instruments and amplifiers, such as solid-body electric guitars, including the Stratocaster and the Telecaster...
, the Joe Trohman Telecaster. He is also a Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
enthusiast, and told starwars.com, "I still collect tons of action figures. My closet in my apartment is full — 95% of Star Wars toys."
Trohman's house in Chicago was featured in a 2007 episode of MTV Cribs
MTV Cribs
MTV Cribs and CMT Cribs, depending on which channel it airs, is a franchise reality television program that originated on the MTV Networks' MTV. It later aired on its CMT channel that features tours of the houses and mansions of celebrities. The first show aired September 2000...
.
He married his long-time girlfriend, Marie, on October 29, 2011.