The Academy Is...: Biography

• Overview
• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

• The Early November
• The Audition
• Days Away
• Hellogoodbye
• Gatsbys American Dream
• Say No More
• Powerspace

• The Get Up Kids
• Marvelous 3
• The Cars
• Foo Fighters
• U2
• Death Cab for Cutie
• Weezer

• Amber Pacific

• Cobra Starship
• S*A*M & Sluggo

Formed:

Jan 1, 2002 in Hoffman Estates, IL

Genres:

Rock Music, Alternative Rock Music, Punk and Hardcore Rock Music, Emo

Decades Active:

2000's

Artistic Quality

Low

Ratings Guide

Formerly in rival bands on the Chicago local scene, guitarist Mike Carden and vocalist William Beckett came together in 2002 to mark the beginning of indieemo rockers the Academy Is... (originally just named the Academy). Naming influences from U2 to Weezer to Pink Floyd, the duo added bassist Adam Siska, along with a second guitarist and drummer, to record 2004's The Academy EP for hometown label LLR Recordings. As luck would have it, fellow Chicagoan Pete Wentz (Fall Out Boy) heard the release, brought the band to the attention of his current label, and the guys were soon welcomed to the roster at Gainesville's Fueled by Ramen. Six months after Carden and Beckett got to work writing their fulllength, the band headed to Florida to record. 2004 saw a few lineup changes, as guitarist/vocalist Tom Conrad and drummer Andy Mrotek joined on as permanent members of the group. Relentless touring with the likes of Fall Out Boy, Something Corporate, Midtown, and Armor for Sleep steadily built a devoted fan following around the country before their label debut, Almost Here, was issued in February 2005. The Academy Is... released the sixsong acoustic EP From the Carpet exclusively on iTunes in early 2006. It contained three new songs (including a cover of John Lennon's "Working Class Hero") and acoustic versions of tracks from Almost Here. Around the same time, the band could be found on the road headlining soldout venues across the country with Acceptance, Hellogoodbye, and Panic at the Disco.

- Corey Apar, All Music Guide