The Academy Is...
Chicago rock band known for emo-pop and a 2026 reunion album.
The Academy Is... is an American rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 2003. The band consists of William Beckett, Adam Siska, Mike Carden, and Andy Mrotek. They were signed to the Decaydance imprint of Fueled by Ramen in 2004 and have released four studio albums, including their 2026 comeback album Almost There.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
- Genre
- Pop-punk
- emo pop
- indie rock
- Years active
- 2003–2011; 2015; 2022–present
- Label
- LLR
- Fueled by Ramen
- Atlantic
- Decaydance
- I Surrender
- Current members
- William Beckett
- Adam Siska
- Mike Carden
- Andy Mrotek
- Past members
- Mike DelPrincipe
- AJ LaTrace
- Thomas Conrad
- Michael Guy Chislett
Facts from the source article.
History
William Beckett and Adam Siska decided to start a band together on March 4, 2003, after becoming friends at Barrington High School. They recruited guitarist Mike Carden after his former band Jodie broke up, then added lead guitarist AJ LaTrace and drummer Michael DelPrincipe. The band recorded their self-titled debut EP, The Academy (2004), for Chicago-based LLR Recordings, which had previously released Beckett's solo project Remember Maine's debut album and Mike Carden's solo folk album. The EP was recorded in Villa Park, Illinois at The Gallery of Carpet by producer Brian Zieske. Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy heard the EP and was impressed. In 2004, due to legal reasons, the band changed their original name "The Academy" to "The Academy Is...". Fueled by Ramen immediately signed the band. In July and August, they toured with Fall Out Boy, Bayside, Name Taken, and Armor for Sleep. The band then went to Florida to record their Fueled by Ramen debut Almost Here, produced by James Paul Wisner. After recording and a summer tour, the lineup changed: Thomas Conrad replaced LaTrace as second guitarist and backing vocalist, and Andy Mrotek replaced DelPrincipe as drummer. Mrotek and Conrad are listed in the liner notes but were added after the recording of Almost Here. The album was released on February 8, 2005, and peaked at No. 7 on Top Heatseekers, No. 16 on Independent Albums, and No. 185 on The Billboard 200. Later in 2005, Pete Wentz discovered Panic! at the Disco and helped them release their debut album through his label Decaydance; The Academy Is... was also signed to Decaydance that year.
TAITV
TAITV, standing for The Academy Is... TV, was a video podcast series created by the band to give fans a look into their offstage life. Episodes were available on iTunes and YouTube, airing every Sunday night at 9/8c on the band's website. The series included a show within the show called "Guy Ripley's True Things", featuring Ryland Blackinton of Cobra Starship as Guy Ripley. The third season premiered June 1, 2008. Episodes were made by the band's photographer and friend Jack "the Camera Guy" Edinger, who also appeared in cameos, did voiceovers, co-wrote, edited, and shot each episode. He took a break to tour with Cobra Starship filming their podcast CobraCam.Tv until their album Hot Mess was released. No new episodes were released after mid-2009, though bassist Adam Siska stated in December 2009 that TAITV was not dead. Due to the band's disbandment, TAITV was discontinued.
Bill & Trav's Bogus Journey Tour
On October 1, 2008, the band began a co-headlining tour with We the Kings called "Bill & Trav's Bogus Journey Tour", named after the 1991 film Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey. Carolina Liar and fellow Decaydance band Hey Monday also performed. On November 6, 2008, at the House Of Blues in Chicago, William Beckett debuted a new song called "Winter Passing", written only days before and about winter in the Midwest. The track was released on iTunes on December 2, 2008.
Frequently Asked Questions
What genre of music does The Academy Is... play?
The Academy Is...'s music is classified as Pop-punk, emo pop and indie rock.
Which record labels has The Academy Is... released music on?
The Academy Is... has released music on LLR, Fueled by Ramen, Atlantic, Decaydance and I Surrender.
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