Gym Class Heroes Biography

news-detailsIt doesn't take much to grab people's attention when you are innovative in music, have relatively good looks and cool personality. Gym Class Heroes own all three factors plus a Top 5 single, a lethal combination for an instant fame. The group shone brightly at 2007 MTV Video Music Awards particularly for snagging Best New Artist. The awards event that was held September 9, 2007 in Las Vegas presented the group with the title after their name received highest number of votes, way over Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen and other booming acts. Just few weeks prior the winning, the band have enjoyed the honor from younger fans by being named Teen Choice Awards for 'Choice Music: Breakout Group'. This at the same time, has also proven that the indie band won popularity that is personally favored by their fans, regardless age, heavy promotion or number of records.

Picking a rare genre for their music, the 'Heroes' combine hip-hop and live instruments, a plausible explanation of why their music is catchy. This was apparently the idea since DJ Travis McCoy met his school mate Matt McGinley in the gym back in 1997. Matt plays the drum and was interested in forming a band with Travis who then took guitarist Milo Bonacci and bassist Ryan Geise to complete the group. From 1999 on, the band plays in a number of clubs, parties and small events that grew steadily to larger venues. Already gaining local popularity, the group thought that it was time for an album. Independently released 'For the Kids' hit the stores in 2001 but was not enough to catapult the group into bigger stardom. For the next few years they kept sticking together until Milo decided to continue his study in architecture and left the lots. Shortly after, Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo from Earl's Garage was brought in to replace the original guitarist. Right before the fame came upon them, Ryan also decided to walked his own way in 2005 and was eventually replaced by Eric Roberts.

The line-up change didn't stop them from being more creative. The demo tape for their second album landed on the hand of Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz who immediately signed the boys to his label Fueled by Ramen. The album called 'The Papercut Chronicles' was released in February 2005, containing the early version of their hit 'Cupid's Chokehold/Breakfast in America' feat. Patrick Stump. But it was the second version of the song that was included in their next album 'As Cruel as School Children' (2006) that really brought the attention. The song hit #4 post in Billboard Hot 100 chart and #3 in U.K. Singles chart. The band was immediately put on the spotlight with huge expose from broadcast, online and printed media. It was then that the band was known to have a personality that scarcely any other has, subsequently making them one of the highly-anticipated acts in joint treks like Warped Tour. Their third album was sold 408,964 copies in U.S. alone as in July 2007 and as many as five singles are pulled out of it, including the popular 'Clothes Off'.