Skip to content

Pete Wentz

Full Name Peter Lewis Kingston Wentz III
Age 44
Birthday June 5, 1979
Born Wilmette, Illinois, United States
Instagram @petewentz
Twitter @petewentz

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Born in Wilmette, Illinois, Wentz developed a love for music early on and was heavily involved in the Chicago hardcore punk scene as a teenager. He was part of several local bands, most notably Arma Angelus, where he began honing his bass skills and charismatic live performances. It was clear even then that Wentz had a knack for connecting with crowds and crafting memorable hooks and lyrics.

The founding of Fall Out Boy stemmed from Wentz‘s introduction to Patrick Stump in 2001. He was soon blown away by Stump‘s vocal abilities and they began collaborating. Rounding out the band with guitarist Joe Trohman and drummer Andy Hurley, Fall Out Boy was formed and started gigging around Chicago. The name was inspired by the fictional character Fallout Boy from The Simpsons. Little did they know how far this new pop punk outfit would go.

Meteoric Rise and Mainstream Success

After releasing several EPs, Fall Out Boy‘s 2003 debut studio album Take This to Your Grave put them on the map. But it was their major label breakthrough From Under the Cork Tree in 2005 that propelled them into the stratosphere. Smash singles like "Sugar, We‘re Goin Down" and "Dance, Dance" introduced the world to Wentz‘s introspective lyrics and brooding yet infectious basslines.

Wentz, with his guy-liner and scene hair, quickly became the posterchild of emo culture in the mid-2000s. His clothing line FOBidden Knowledge (later Clandestine Industries) was all the rage. Fall Out Boy followed up their mainstream success with hit albums Infinity on High (2007) and Folie à Deux (2008), cementing their status as icons.

Candid Songwriting and Performance Style

As Fall Out Boy‘s primary lyricist, Wentz dug deep into his feelings of heartbreak, anxiety, and depression – touching on universal themes that made the band hugely relatable. His poetic candor on tracks like "Dance, Dance" resonated with millions:

I‘m two quarters and a heart down
And I don‘t want to forget how your voice sounds

Beyond his lyrics, Wentz‘s high-energy stage presence became iconic. He would prowl the stage, whipping his bass around aggressively as he exchanged grins with Stump. It was clear his passion shone through in every performance.

Hiatus and Side Projects

After 2008‘s Folie à Deux, the band went on hiatus from 2009-2013 as the members pursued other creative interests. Wentz formed the electropop outfit Black Cards and later the experimental project Damnesia. He also co-created the rap-rock-electronic duo Black Cards with vocalist Bebe Rexha.

His most notable collaboration during Fall Out Boy‘s hiatus was with the late rapper Lil Peep. Their 2018 single "I‘ve Been Waiting" brought together Wentz‘s signature emo style with Peep‘s trap-infused cloud rap. This demonstrated Wentz‘s versatility and relevance across genres.

Return to Fall Out Boy

Legacy and Influence

Tags: