The Academy Is...

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The Academy Is…
Background information
Also known as	The Academy
Origin	Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genre(s)	Indie rock
Years active	2002–present
Label(s)	Fueled by Ramen
Website	http://www.theacademyis.com/
Members
William Beckett Michael Carden Adam T. Siska Andy Mrotek

The Academy Is… is a rock band based in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. They were originally known as "The Academy", but added the "Is..." in 2004, to avoid legal complications with other established bands already going under that name. They are currently signed to Fueled by Ramen.

1 History
2 Discography
3 References
4 External links

[edit] History

Frontman William Beckett and guitarist Mike Carden grew up in rivaling bands in the local Chicago music scene. Beckett eventually ended his short-lived solo project Remember Maine, wanting to take music more seriously and looking for someone who shared his passion. When Carden's band broke up, the two gradually found themselves talking more and more, engulfed in deep conversations about music. After realizing they were very much alike, they decided to try their hand at writing songs together and The Academy was born.

Since Beckett and Carden first came together in 2002, the band has paved their way with lightning speed. After adding Adam Siska on bass, Adrian LaTrace Jr as a second guitarist and drummer Mike DelPrincipe, the full band headed into the studio and recorded their self-titled debut EP, The Academy (2004), for the Chicago-based label LLR Recordings, who had previously released Remember Maine's debut album The Last Place You Look in 2002. The ep was recorded in Villa Park,IL at The Gallery of Carpet. Peter Wentz from Fall Out Boy heard it and was so impressed that he convinced his label, Fueled by Ramen, to fly out and see them. The label immediately signed the band. Contrary to popular belief and what has been said in the press, a good portion of the music written on the album has actually been done by LaTrace as he was the lead guitarist and Carden was the rhythm guitarist at the time.

In 2004 the band headed to Florida to record their Fueled by Ramen debut Almost Here. After recording and a summer tour, the band underwent a lineup change. Tom Conrad, formerly of Chicago local band 504 Plan, replaced LaTrace as their second guitarist/backing vocalist and Andy "The Butcher" Mrotek replaced DelPrincipe as their drummer. They hit the road hard, touring with Fall Out Boy, Something Corporate, Midtown, Matchbook Romance, Motion City Soundtrack and Armor For Sleep.

The album was released on February 8, 2005. During the spring of 2006, the band embarked on their first headlining tour alongside hellogoodbye, Acceptance and Panic! at the Disco.

Members of The Academy Is... recently did a cameo appearance in Fall Out Boy's latest video for their single "A Little Less Sixteen Candles, a Little More 'Touch Me'", as vampire enemies alongside members of the bands Panic! at the Disco and Gym Class Heroes. William Beckett and Mike Carden played vampire dandies, and Beckett was their leader.

They were featured on the Warped Tour for all of the venues on Warped Tour 2006. While on the tour, they began the process of writing songs for their upcoming sophomore release, which will be produced by Butch Walker and released on Fueled by Ramen. The album, called Chop Chop, is due out in March. [1]

William Beckett has also collaborated with Cobra Starship, Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes, and Maja Ivarsson of The Sounds for the song "Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)".

As of October 23, 2006, The Academy Is... has announced on the blog of their official website that Tom Conrad and the band have parted ways.