Taking Back Sunday is an American rock band from Long Island, New York. The band was formed by guitarist Eddie Reyes in 1999. The band's members are Adam Lazzara (lead vocals), John Nolan (lead guitar, keyboards, vocals), Shaun Cooper (bass guitar), and Mark O'Connell (drums). Nolan is the only remaining founding member; Nolan had also left the group in 2003 before rejoining in 2010.

The band has released studio albums with various past members Fred Mascherino (guitar, vocals), Matthew Rubano (bass guitar), Matthew Fazzi (guitar, keyboards, vocals), and Eddie Reyes (guitar). Louder Now (2006) was the band's breakout mainstream album, notably because of the popularity of its lead single "MakeDamnSure". The album sold over 900,000 copies and peaked at No. 2 on the United States Billboard 200, surpassing the band's previous Billboard 200 peak in 2004 at No. 3 with Where You Want to Be.

Before the release of their first studio album Tell All Your Friends (2002), they released Taking Back Sunday's EP in 2001, when the band featured former lead vocalist Antonio Longo. At that time, the EP received very little attention, eventually resulting in the band seeking a new lead singer, Adam Lazzara. Lazzara had at first joined the band as its guitarist, left a few months after it formed, then replaced original bassist Jesse Lacey (now of Brand New) during the EP's recording sessions. John Nolan and Shaun Cooper left the band in 2003 only to rejoin in 2010, in time for the band's release of their eponymous album Taking Back Sunday (2011). The album was produced by Eric Valentine and released through Warner Bros. Records.

In 2014, the band released their sixth studio album Happiness Is to positive reviews. The album reached number 10 on the US Billboard 200. In 2016, they released their seventh album Tidal Wave.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Early years (1999–2002) 1.2 Victory Records (2002–2005) 1.3 Major label debut (2005–2007) 1.4 Departure of Fred Mascherino and New Again (2007–2010) 1.5 Taking Back Sunday and lineup change (2010–2012) 1.6 TAYF10 anniversary tour (2012–13) 1.7 Happiness Is, Tidal Wave and departure of Eddie Reyes (2014–present) 2 Band members 3 Discography 4 References 4.1 Additional notes 4.2 Citations 5 External links History Early years (1999–2002)

Guitarist Eddie Reyes, who had played in The Movielife, Mind Over Matter and Inside, and guitarist Jesse Lacey of the Rookie Lot[11] founded Taking Back Sunday in Amityville, New York in November 1999.[12] Lacey moved to bass with the addition of guitarist John Nolan. The group also included vocalist Antonio Longo of One True Thing[11] and drummer Steven DeJoseph.[13] At a party, Nolan reportedly romanced Lacey's girlfriend, after which Lacey left the band.[14][nb 1] Lacey formed Brand New a year later.[16] Nolan contacted Adam Lazzara to fill in on bass,[11] which resulted in Lazzara moving from North Carolina to New York. Lazzara had met the band when they played a show near his hometown in North Carolina.[12][nb 2]

DeJoseph left, leaving the band without a drummer. Mark O'Connell, a friend of Reyes, heard about the vacancy and joined the group.[18] After recording Taking Back Sunday's self-titled EP, Longo left the band and eventually played with The Prizefighter and the Mirror.[16] In December 2000, Lazzara switched from bass to lead vocals.[19] He never thought he would become the group's singer: "I remember getting into Windstar with that and just driving around singing those songs, just to make myself actually do it."[20] O'Connell suggested that the group needed a bassist, and brought in Shaun Cooper[20] of Breaking Pangaea.[16] In February 2001, Taking Back Sunday released a five-track demo[19] before touring for a year.[21]

Victory Records (2002–2005)

Prior to the release of their debut album Tell All Your Friends, a music video for "Great Romances of the 20th Century" was released on March 4, 2002. It was directed by Christian Winters, a friend of the band.[22] Winters made the video before the group signed with Victory, and the record company enjoyed it.[23] The song was distributed to radio stations on March 12,[22] and the full album was released on March 25.[22]

Around this time, Nolan (citing exhaustion from touring) left the band, and Cooper followed shortly afterwards. According to Lazzara, Nolan and Cooper were "having trouble because everything was happening so fast. Going from being home ... to being gone all the time and having your whole life consumed and almost defined by the band that you’re in is a lot to handle". The band briefly considered breaking up.[24] Nolan and Cooper formed Straylight Run with Nolan's sister, Michelle, and Breaking Pangaea drummer Will Noon.[25] Taking Back Sunday added Fred Mascherino on guitar and vocals as well as Matt Rubano on bass.

The group's second album, Where You Want To Be, was released on July 27, 2004, on Victory Records. Although sounding slightly different from Tell All Your Friends by using some different musical instruments,[26] the new album managed to do well commercially; propelled by the single "A Decade Under the Influence", Where You Want To Be went on to debut at the No. 3 spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart, with around 220,000 copies sold. It became one of the best-selling independent rock albums within a year, selling 634,000 copies by June 2005.[27] Rolling Stone Magazine listed Where You Want To Be as one of the top fifty records of 2004.[28] Instead of spending marketing money towards trying to get radio play, Victory Records used the internet and fans to spread the word about the upcoming album. They targeted consumers familiar with Victory Records as well as fans of emo music. They distributed a label sampler that included songs from Where You Want To Be to get fans excited about the release. They used the Taking Back Sunday street team, consisting of about 25,000 individuals, to promote the album. In return fans could get pre-sale tickets, win shoes and other various prizes.

Taking Back Sunday toured frequently for eight months in support of Where You Want to Be.[29] The band received even more mainstream exposure by appearing on late night talk shows Jimmy Kimmel Live!; as well as contributing Where You Want to Be's second single, "This Photograph Is Proof (I Know You Know)", to the soundtrack for Spider-Man 2. They also contributed the song "Your Own Disaster" to the Elektra soundtrack.[citation needed]

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