The Academy Is... is a pop punk 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 and Atlantic Records.
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. 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
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