Pete Wentz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pete Wentz
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Wentz in 2015
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Peter Lewis Kingston Wentz III
June 5, 1979 Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.
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| Years active | 1993–present |
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| Partner(s) | Meagan Camper (2011–present) |
| Children | 3 |
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Peter Lewis Kingston Wentz III (born June 5, 1979) is an American musician. He is best known as the bassist and main songwriter for the rock band Fall Out Boy. Before Fall Out Boy started in 2001, Pete was active in the Chicago hardcore music scene. He was the lead singer and songwriter for a metalcore band called Arma Angelus.
During Fall Out Boy's break from 2009 to 2012, Wentz formed an experimental music group called Black Cards. He also owns a record label, DCD2 Records. This label has signed popular bands like Panic! at the Disco and Gym Class Heroes.
Fall Out Boy made a big comeback in February 2013. Since then, they have released four successful albums: Save Rock and Roll, American Beauty/American Psycho, Mania, and So Much (for) Stardust.
Besides music, Wentz has explored other interests. These include writing, acting, and fashion. In 2005, he started a clothing company called Clandestine Industries. He also hosted a TV show called Best Ink and runs a film company, Bartskull Films. Pete Wentz is also a part-owner of the Phoenix Rising FC, a professional soccer team.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Peter Lewis Kingston Wentz III was born in Wilmette, Illinois. This is a suburb near Chicago. His parents are Dale, a high school counselor, and Pete Wentz II, a lawyer. Pete has English and German roots from his father's side. His mother's family is of Afro-Jamaican descent. He has a younger sister, Hillary, and a younger brother, Andrew. His grandfather, Arthur Winston Lewis, was a U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone. Arthur Winston Lewis's cousin was General Colin Powell.
Wentz went to North Shore Country Day School. He was a talented soccer player there. He thought about playing soccer professionally. However, he chose music instead. He felt music was a bigger challenge and more interesting. After high school in 1997, he studied political science at DePaul University. He left college early to focus on Fall Out Boy.
Music Journey
Early Bands and Arma Angelus (1993–2002)
Pete Wentz was very involved in the Chicago hardcore punk music scene. He played in several bands in the late 1990s. His first band, First Born, started in 1993. He also played bass for Racetraitor sometimes.
Wentz then formed the metalcore band Novena, which later became Arma Angelus. They released their first EP, the Grave End of the Shovel, in 2000. In 2001, they released their first album, Where Sleeplessness Is Rest From Nightmares. They toured with bands like Throwdown and Hatebreed.
Around this time, Wentz also played in other bands like Birthright and Yellow Road Priest. He and Arma Angelus's bassist, Joe Trohman, decided to start a new pop-punk band. Trohman introduced Wentz to Patrick Stump. Andy Hurley later joined them as the full-time drummer. This new band became Fall Out Boy. Arma Angelus played its last show in 2002.
Fall Out Boy's Rise to Fame (2001–2009, 2013–present)
In 2002, Fall Out Boy released an EP called Fall Out Boy/Project Rocket Split EP. In 2003, they released their mini-LP Fall Out Boy's Evening Out with Your Girlfriend. Later that year, they released their first full album, Take This to Your Grave.
Fall Out Boy signed with the major record label Island Records in 2003. In 2004, they released an EP and DVD called My Heart Will Always Be the B-Side to My Tongue.
Their second album, From Under the Cork Tree, came out in 2005. Wentz wrote the lyrics for the hit song "Sugar, We're Goin Down" with his dad. This song became very popular, reaching No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The album was certified double platinum, meaning it sold over two million copies.
In 2007, Fall Out Boy's third album, Infinity on High, was a huge success. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. The song "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race" was a top ten hit. Their fourth album, Folie à Deux, was released in December 2008. The band toured a lot to support their albums.
In November 2009, the band members announced they would take a break. Wentz felt that his fame and marriage to singer Ashlee Simpson were distracting from the band. He said, "I think the world needs a little less Pete Wentz."
On February 4, 2013, Fall Out Boy surprised everyone by announcing their return. They released a new album, Save Rock and Roll, on April 12, 2013. The lead single was My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up). The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Fall Out Boy toured worldwide in 2013 and 2014. In October 2013, they released another EP, PAX AM Days.
The band's sixth album, American Beauty/American Psycho, also hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It included the popular song Centuries. Another song, Uma Thurman, was released in 2014 and became platinum.
In April 2017, Fall Out Boy released "Young and Menace". This was the first song from their seventh album, Mania. Mania was released on January 19, 2018. It also debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.
In 2018, Fall Out Boy played a major show at Wrigley Field in Chicago. This was a big moment for the band, as it was their first time headlining a stadium.
Black Cards (2010–2012)
In July 2010, Wentz started a new band called Black Cards. He formed it with singer Bebe Rexha, guitarist Nate Patterson, and drummer Spencer Peterson. The band planned to release an album in 2011. However, after some delays and changes in band members, they decided to release a mixtape instead. They also planned to write new songs and remix other artists' tracks.
Wentz said that during his break from Fall Out Boy, he was inspired by Jamaican reggae music. He wanted to mix ska, dance, and reggae with 80s British rock and pop. This would create a new, experimental sound.
On January 12, 2012, the band announced that Bebe Rexha was no longer their singer.
Musical Gear
Pete Wentz often uses the Fender Precision Bass. He said his first "real" bass was a Sunburst 1957 Fender Precision Bass. In 2007, Wentz worked with Fender to create his own signature Precision Bass. This bass has a black body with a red pickguard and his special red bat/heart design. It also has his signature on the back.
In 2023, Wentz partnered with Sterling by Music Man. They released his own signature StingRay Bass. For effects, Wentz has used a Line6 HX Stomp in recent years.
Other Projects
Pete Wentz has many business ventures outside of music. His bandmate Patrick Stump has said that Wentz makes many decisions quickly. Wentz's company, Clandestine Industries, sells books, clothes, and other items. In 2007, the fashion company DKNY partnered with Clandestine Industries. Wentz even modeled for their website.
In April 2007, Wentz launched his own signature Squier Precision Bass. It has a black body with a red pickguard and his unique red bat/heart design.
Wentz also opened a nightclub in New York called Angels & Kings. He did this with his bandmates and members of other bands. In June 2007, a second Angels & Kings location opened in Chicago.
In December 2008, Wentz created art for an exhibit in Los Angeles called "Without You, I'm Just Me." He also appeared in an episode of CSI: NY with his then-wife, Ashlee Simpson. Wentz hosted the Australia MTV VMAs in March 2009.
Wentz worked with Mark Hoppus on the song "In Transit" for the Almost Alice soundtrack. This was for the 2010 movie Alice in Wonderland. He was also a judge for the Independent Music Awards.
Writing Books and Comics
Wentz has written a book called The Boy with the Thorn in His Side. This story is based on nightmares he had as a child. He explained that writing books is another way for him to express himself, beyond songwriting.
He also wrote another book, Gray, which was released on February 26, 2013. He wrote it with MTV News writer James Montgomery.
In June 2009, it was announced that Wentz was working on a five-issue comic book series. It was called Fall Out Toy Works and published by Image Comics. The story was inspired by the Fall Out Boy song "Tiffany Blews." It features a mysterious toymaker and a cyborg girl named Tiffany.
Film and TV Appearances
Wentz has a film production company called Bartskull Films. They released a DVD called Release the Bats. Wentz has said he has footage for a sequel, but hasn't released it yet.
Wentz appeared in a few episodes of the TV show One Tree Hill with Fall Out Boy. He also had a solo cameo in an episode as a romantic interest for a character. He made a brief appearance in the show Californication.
In 2009, he had a cameo as himself in Degrassi Goes Hollywood. In 2016, he was a guest on the Nickelodeon series School of Rock.
In 2017, Wentz and his bandmates guest-starred in Cartoon Network's Teen Titans Go!. They played themselves in parts of "The Night Begins to Shine." Their cover of the title song was released commercially.
Wentz hosts the TV show Best Ink. He also directed a music video for the song "If It's Love" by the band Train. He was a contestant on the Nickelodeon game show Double Dare. In 2020, he appeared in two episodes of the Nickelodeon show All That.
Personal Life
Pete Wentz has openly shared that he has faced personal challenges with his mental well-being. In 2005, he went through a difficult time and spent a week in the hospital. He later spoke about this experience, saying he felt very alone and wanted his mind to stop thinking. This experience inspired the song "7 Minutes in Heaven" on Fall Out Boy's album From Under the Cork Tree. After this, Wentz moved back in with his parents for a while. He has also spoken about his experiences to the support site Halfofus.com, which helps teenagers.
In 2006, Wentz began dating singer Ashlee Simpson. They announced their engagement in April 2008 and were married on May 17, 2008. Their son was born on November 20, 2008.
In February 2011, Simpson filed for divorce, and their marriage ended in November 2011.
Wentz is currently in a relationship with Meagan Camper. They have two children together, a son born in 2014 and a daughter born in 2018.
Helping Others
Wentz supports Invisible Children, Inc., an organization that helps refugees in Uganda. He and Fall Out Boy traveled to Uganda and filmed their music video for "I'm Like a Lawyer... (Me & You)" there. He also participated in an event called "Displace Me" to raise awareness for displaced people.
Along with Mary J. Blige and Billy Corgan, Wentz is a spokesperson for The Jed Foundation's Half of Us campaign. .....
Music Releases
With Arma Angelus
- Where Sleeplessness Is Rest from Nightmares (2001)
With Fall Out Boy
- Take This to Your Grave (2003)
- From Under the Cork Tree (2005)
- Infinity on High (2007)
- Folie à Deux (2008)
- Save Rock and Roll (2013)
- American Beauty/American Psycho (2015)
- Mania (2018)
- So Much (For) Stardust (2023)
With Black Cards
Other Songs and Albums
- "If You Could Remember" (2007) with Damnation A.D. and Patrick Stump
- "One And Only" (2007) for Timbaland
- "Catch Me If You Can" (2009) with Gym Class Heroes and Patrick Stump
- "You're Not In on the Joke" (2009) with Cobra Starship
- "In Transit" (2010) with Mark Hoppus
- "CYAN1DE" (2023) with nothing,nowhere.
- Hypocrisy Breeds Traitors (1999) with Extinction
- The Live and Learn EP (2007) with Not Enough Gold
Images for kids
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Pete Wentz's signature
See also
In Spanish: Pete Wentz para niños
